As the world’s style elite flocked to Paris and all eyes turned to the French capital for the start of fashion week, Ameni Esseibi was busy breaking barriers.
Not only did the Tunisian-French model make her Paris Fashion Week debut, she did so as the only Arab woman to walk for Weinsanto — the event’s opening show — but also as one of only two plus-size models to feature.
With her brown hair styled in a pixie crop, Esseibi wore a long satin gown in ombre neutral shades, paired with cream elbow-length satin gloves.
“It was like a dream come true, because I was the only Arab on the runway so I was really representing all the Arabs, it was a really exciting moment — it felt amazing,” she tells The National.
“I was also one of the only plus-size models; there were only two-plus size girls on the runway, so I was not only representing Arabs but also diversity, so it was a two birds with one stone situation, which felt great. I love being on the runway — that walk, the lights, the cameras.”
Esseibi, who lives in Dubai, first walked for Weinsanto on her home turf at Arab Fashion Week earlier this year, and with the help of the Arab Fashion Council, for which she is an ambassador, was able to repeat the experience on fashion’s biggest stage last week.
Weinsanto is the eponymous label founded by designer Victor Weinsanto, who is Jean Paul Gaultier’s protege and student. The theatrical and daring collection, which he described as a “manifesto celebrating love, friendship, and creativity”, opened Paris Fashion Week on September 26.
“Fashion week is honestly crazy and super intense, but the feeling, the adrenalin, the running everywhere, I love it, I love that feeling,” the model says. “When fashion week is over, I feel empty, I’m like ‘what now?’.”
After Monday’s show, Esseibi shared her excitement with her 185,000 Instagram followers, thanking Weinsanto and the Arab Fashion Council for the experience. “Mama I made it Paris Fashion week!” she wrote. “Thank you so much @arabfashioncouncil for helping make my dream come true and @weinsanto for believing in me. This is just the beginning.”
For Esseibi, it was a pivotal moment in her modelling career, which started back in 2017 when she emerged as one of the first body-positive models from the Mena region.
In a previous interview with The National, Esseibi spoke of the power of embracing her body.
“It changed my life,” she said. “As a person who got bullied in high school, my weight affected me a lot. Body positivity taught me self-confidence, self-love, how to overcome my insecurities and to know my worth. It made me who I am today.
“I’m not modelling for the sake of modelling. I feel that, as an Arab who is bigger in size, I’m representing all the women living in the shadows, who are told they can’t celebrate their bodies and their beauty because they are not a certain size. They aren’t comfortable in their skin and I want to change that. I want to be their voice.”
MATCH INFO
First Test at Barbados
West Indies won by 381 runs
Second Test at Antigua
West Indies won by 10 wickets
Third Test at St Lucia
February 9-13
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
All about the Sevens
Cape Town Sevens on Saturday and Sunday: Pools A – South Africa, Kenya, France, Russia; B – New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United States; C – England, Scotland, Argentina, Uganda; D – Fiji, Samoa, Canada, Wales
HSBC World Sevens Series standing after first leg in Dubai 1 South Africa; 2 New Zealand; 3 England; 4 Fiji; 5 Australia; 6 Samoa; 7 Kenya; 8 Scotland; 9 France; 10 Spain; 11 Argentina; 12 Canada; 13 Wales; 14 Uganda; 15 United States; 16 Russia
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Analysis
Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more
Teaching your child to save
Pre-school (three - five years)
You can’t yet talk about investing or borrowing, but introduce a “classic” money bank and start putting gifts and allowances away. When the child wants a specific toy, have them save for it and help them track their progress.
Early childhood (six - eight years)
Replace the money bank with three jars labelled ‘saving’, ‘spending’ and ‘sharing’. Have the child divide their allowance into the three jars each week and explain their choices in splitting their pocket money. A guide could be 25 per cent saving, 50 per cent spending, 25 per cent for charity and gift-giving.
Middle childhood (nine - 11 years)
Open a bank savings account and help your child establish a budget and set a savings goal. Introduce the notion of ‘paying yourself first’ by putting away savings as soon as your allowance is paid.
Young teens (12 - 14 years)
Change your child’s allowance from weekly to monthly and help them pinpoint long-range goals such as a trip, so they can start longer-term saving and find new ways to increase their saving.
Teenage (15 - 18 years)
Discuss mutual expectations about university costs and identify what they can help fund and set goals. Don’t pay for everything, so they can experience the pride of contributing.
Young adulthood (19 - 22 years)
Discuss post-graduation plans and future life goals, quantify expenses such as first apartment, work wardrobe, holidays and help them continue to save towards these goals.
* JP Morgan Private Bank
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Norway
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Canada
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More on Quran memorisation:
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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