Jessica Minh Anh, the woman behind J Model Management, has organised fashion shows on London's Tower Bridge, the Petronas Twin Towers' Skybridge and a catwalk 90 metres above the Seine in Paris. Her latest trick was to feature designs from Marchesa, Hong Kong's Lusan Mandongus and the Lebanese designer Aiisha Ramadan, aboard the Costa Atlantica last Thursday as it was moored in Dubai.
How did J Model Management originate?
I opened one month after graduating from the University of Birmingham during the recession. I wanted to produce my own fashion events and make full use of my skills and experience in PR, marketing, IT, finance and event management. It hasn't been simple but I believe in taking risks and going beyond the imagination. I stayed focused by implementing exceptional ideas in unique locations with an exclusive guest list.
Why did you choose Dubai as a new venue?
Dubai has always intrigued me. It is not only one of the most desirable leisure and business destinations but also a potential place for fashion development. Dubai is attracting both well-established designers and emerging talent so it is definitely the place to be.
How long did it take to pull this project together?
One of J Model Management's competitive advantages is our speed of productions. I organise four shows per year in four countries and that means we have maximum of three months to prepare for each one. The J Winter Fashion Show on Costa Atlantica took exactly two months.
How many people are involved and what are their roles in putting together a production like this?
We handle the entire event - from logistics, model casting and fittings, designing, backstage and styling to PR and guest list. We usually choose our partners very carefully to ensure a high quality event that benefits all parties involved. And I think we did it right.
What have been some of the barriers you have had to work around on this project?
Time constraint has always been our biggest challenge as we have to move things very quickly to ensure we make it on time. As this is our first outdoor event, planning and the logistics were also a lot harder than what we expected, but careful measures were implemented so everything ran smoothly. We worked closely with Costa Cruises and Fonoon Production from the start.
What would be your dream location?
I would like to actually build a brand new venue for each of my seasonal showcases in various countries in the future. I will then have the freedom to express my vision through these developments. Working with the best architects in the world is definitely my dream.
What next for the company?
I will continue looking for the most extraordinary venues worldwide to host my iconic showcases. I am looking at Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Istanbul, Singapore and New York. Finding new ways to express fashion is what I live for.
ktrotter@thenational.ae
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The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
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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.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
Anna and the Apocalypse
Director: John McPhail
Starring: Ella Hunt, Malcolm Cumming, Mark Benton
Three stars
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
ANATOMY%20OF%20A%20FALL
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88 Video's most popular rentals
Avengers 3: Infinity War: an American superhero film released in 2018 and based on the Marvel Comics story.
Sholay: a 1975 Indian action-adventure film. It follows the adventures of two criminals hired by police to catch a vagabond. The film was panned on release but is now considered a classic.
Lucifer: is a 2019 Malayalam-language action film. It dives into the gritty world of Kerala’s politics and has become one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore'
Rating: 3/5
Directed by: David Yates
Starring: Mads Mikkelson, Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Jude Law
