Lebanese TV anchor Dalia Ahmed became the centre of her own news story when a racist campaign by Hezbollah proponents was launched against her on social media after comments on her Al Jadeed show in February.
In a monologue responding to the derogatory remarks, Ms Ahmed cited verses from the Quran which prohibited slander of Muslim women and shamed those who claim piety but take actions contradicting the Islamic faith.
“Do you have a problem with my skin colour? This is how God made me,” she said during an impassioned speech lasting almost seven minutes.
Her plight brought to the fore the deep-rooted bias against women who have darker skin in the Middle East.
The issue remains prevalent in the region, where the search for a "tall and white" bride is common, said women who spoke to The National before International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Monday.
'Fair and eligible'
Esraa Mahmoud, 29, is an Egyptian mother-of-one who works in cosmetics.
She says through her work, she often sees women purchasing coloured lenses and undergoing skin-lightening procedures to alter their appearance.
"In Egyptian society, darker men are viewed as more masculine but women as less beautiful," she said. "There are names for couples where the woman is darker than her partner. People call them 'tea with milk' or a 'castle next to the sea', which basically means that the two are not made for one another."
This racism is embedded in Ms Mahmoud's own extended family, she says.
"My brother is fairly light-skinned. He fell in love with and married his wife, who is relatively darker skinned and has black, curly hair. Their son looks a lot like my brother," she told The National.
"But my brother's in-laws actually said that they were delighted at the resemblance because his wife married somebody who would 'improve the family lineage'.
Last year, Hiyam Shaheen's brother-in-law, a divorcee, asked for her help in looking for a new bride in Gaza. His expectations of a perfect match made her job very difficult.
"Every time I presented him with options, he would reject them even though the women were educated and some of them even had a job," she said.
Despite showing him nine candidates, the objections were always the same.
"They were either too short or too dark, even though he himself is dark-skinned and short," she said. "He wanted some who is white, tall and slim regardless of her level of education."
'Hooked on skin-lightening creams'
Marwa Al Khamash, 24, a local NGO worker in Jordan, said the contrast is seen too often among her cousins – two in particular who look very different despite being sisters.
"The older one is darker than her sister," she told The National.
Taking notice of this, the family continuously "teases" the elder sister about her marriage prospects.
"They keep telling her that her younger sister would get married before she does," she said. "Even though she's 16 years old, she's now hooked on skin-lightening creams and makeup that makes her appear lighter than she really is."
A 'self-hate programme'
Sudanese businesswoman Mai Abdelmoniem, 49, says being a woman is tough enough without the additional pressure of adhering to unattainable beauty standards.
She's a self-described activist in Sudan's continuing revolution towards a civilian government, which began in 2018 and was reignited in October after a military coup.
Ms Abdelmoniem says women in Sudan who are more "Arab-looking" are seen as more beautiful. "The lighter-skinned they are and the softer their hair is, the more acceptable they become to society and the more they are able to move forward in work and in life," she said.
"It's a self-hate programme that's supported by the general society and culture."
However, Sudan's revolution is slowly but surely changing public perception of beauty, Ms Abdelmoniem says.
"It's not just a political revolution that we are experiencing, but one that requires us to look inwards and question why we are who we are, and explore the mistakes committed in the past and the idea of elitism that led us here," she said.
Public figures such as South Sudanese model Alek Wek have put a new face on magazine covers often displaying a more western look.
"I think that had a spill-over effect on us as well. You see women owning that idea that we are who we are and that curly hair and dark skin are among the multitude of things that make us beautiful," said Ms Abdelmoniem.
Similarly, Ms Mahmoud said the rise of Egyptian actresses such as Sawsan Badr and Asma Abulyazeid in mainstream media helped to soften once-severe perceptions of dark-skinned women.
"Their style is being labelled as 'Middle Eastern beauty' and, while their prominence has somewhat helped change beauty standards, it isn't enough to change the overall culture yet," she said.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
SPECS
%3Cp%3EEngine%3A%20Supercharged%203.5-litre%20V6%0D%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20400hp%0D%3Cbr%3ETorque%3A%20430Nm%0D%3Cbr%3EOn%20sale%3A%20Now%0D%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh450%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Honeymoonish
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Elie%20El%20Samaan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENour%20Al%20Ghandour%2C%20Mahmoud%20Boushahri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
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How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
EU's%2020-point%20migration%20plan
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THE BIO
Favourite car: Koenigsegg Agera RS or Renault Trezor concept car.
Favourite book: I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes or Red Notice by Bill Browder.
Biggest inspiration: My husband Nik. He really got me through a lot with his positivity.
Favourite holiday destination: Being at home in Australia, as I travel all over the world for work. It’s great to just hang out with my husband and family.
Manchester City (0) v Liverpool (3)
Uefa Champions League, quarter-final, second leg
Where: Etihad Stadium
When: Tuesday, 10.45pm
Live on beIN Sports HD
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
HER%20FIRST%20PALESTINIAN
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Saeed%20Teebi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPublisher%3A%C2%A0House%20of%20Anansi%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
World Sevens Series standing after 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
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
