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Miss Morocco to compete in Miss Universe 2021 show for first time in 43 years

Fatima-Zahra Khayat is the first contestant selected to represent the North African country in 43 years. Photo: Brahim Taougar
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Updated 10 November 2021
Arab News
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Miss Morocco to compete in Miss Universe 2021 show for first time in 43 years

Updated 10 November 2021
Arab News

DUBAI: Casablanca-born beauty queen Fatima-Zahra Khayat is set to represent Morocco at the Miss Universe 2021 pageant in Eilat, Israel, on Dec. 12, 2021.

Khayat, who is based in Paris, is the first contestant selected to represent the North African country in 43 years, succeeding Miss Universe Morocco 1978 Majida Tazi.

The Miss Universe Morocco organization hosted the 2021 edition of its national pageant on Nov. 7 where stunning delegates from all over the country competed for the coveted title and an opportunity to represent the country at the 70th edition of the prestigious beauty pageant.

Khayat beat out 79 other hopefuls to claim the crown.

“Today, I’m proud to be the ambassador of @missuniversemorocco for this year,” wrote Khayat on Instagram alongside a beaming photo of herself donning a Miss Universe Morocco sash and crown.

“I want to thank all the people that were here to support me and encourage me. I will represent the Moroccan women the best way. Moroccan and proud to be,” the 26-year-old financial adviser added.

Khayat and the yet-to-be-announced Miss Universe UAE are the only two women representing the Arab world at the competition, although Spain’s Sarah Loinaz was born to a Moroccan mother.

Miss Universe UAE announced on Sunday it was canceling its live coronation that was to take place that day citing “time constraint.”

The 70th Miss Universe pageant will see Miss Universe 2020 Andrea Maza crowning her successor after seven months of reign. It will also see the return of veteran television personality Steve Harvey as host.

The three-hour event will be broadcasted live on Fox in the United States and in 180 countries and territories in December.

Topics: Miss Universe 2021

Couturier Gaurav Gupta on the Met Gala, dressing Beyonce and his Arab clients

Updated 14 May 2024
Hanadi Merchant-Habib
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Couturier Gaurav Gupta on the Met Gala, dressing Beyonce and his Arab clients

  • Gaurav Gupta flew to Dubai to showcase his latest collection just before he made his Met Gala debut by dressing actress Mindy Kaling
  • ‘We have many Arab brides coming to us for their wedding dresses,’ he told Arab News
Updated 14 May 2024
Hanadi Merchant-Habib

DUBAI: Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta is no stranger to the limelight. Over the past two years, his clothes have become regular sightings at the Oscars, Grammys and the Cannes Film Festival. His celebrity client list gets longer by the season, especially since his debut on the Paris Haute Couture Week calendar in January 2023.

Last year, he was in the news globally for dressing Beyonce not once but three times during her world tour and this week he made his Met Gala debut by dressing Hollywood’s Mindy Kaling at the coveted event in New York. Arab News spoke to the designer during a recent visit to Dubai, where he was exhibiting select pieces from his Spring/Summer 2024 couture collection. 

“I don’t have the entire collection here, many of the pieces are still with celebrities in (Los Angeles),” laughed Gupta. The collection, titled “Arohanam,” embodies his tryst with sculptural garments and sees him experiment with complex garment construction techniques.

“We’ve worked with new techniques like the reptilian cage embroidery with the bugle beads on some of the clothes. It was also the first time we’ve done metal casting – and there are snakes on a metal breastplate,” he explained.

“We’ve had clients from all over the world, including the Middle East,” the couturier said, adding that bridalwear is of particular interest to clients in the Gulf.

 “We have many Arab brides coming to us for their wedding dresses, so that’s why I brought the white gown that closed the Paris show,” he noted.  

As he approaches the two-decade mark of his brand, New Delhi-raised Gupta has much to commemorate. He is the third Indian designer to be a regular on the Paris Haute Couture Week Calendar and his international acclaim is skyrocketing.

In April, US icon Mariah Carey wore a crystal gown by the designer during a performance in Las Vegas, Shakira recently sported a gown by the designer in a magazine shoot and superstar Beyonce showcased three of his designs during her “Renaissance” tour — a custom crystal bodysuit, a neon green sari-style gown, and a crystal-encrusted gown that took 700 hours to create.

“Every moment we’ve shared with her has been iconic, they’re all so unique and are almost historic. Interestingly, the neon green sari wasn’t custom-made for her, it was from our ‘Hiranyagarbha’ collection. It was selected …and was sized for her.”

Did he envision this when he embarked on his journey all those years ago?

“I always felt that something significant would happen and now it’s all unfolding at once. I’m in that overwhelming swirl of things right now,” he said.

Topics: Gaurav Gupta fashion Beyonce The Met Gala

British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal named Cartier ambassador 

Updated 14 May 2024
Arab News
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British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal named Cartier ambassador 

Updated 14 May 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: British Lebanese actress Razane Jammal has been named Cartier’s newest brand ambassador. 

“It is my absolute honor to be joining the Cartier family,” the actress, famous for her roles in the Netflix series “The Sandman” and “Paranormal,” said in a statement. “I look forward to work with a Maison known for its timelessness and iconicity.” 

Jammal – who also made headlines for her role in the show “Al-Thaman” – took to Instagram to share a series of images from a shoot with the French luxury label. 

In one ensemble, she wore a black suit, complemented by understated gold jewelry, including a necklace, a watch, a bracelet, a ring and earrings.

In another look, she was adorned in a white blazer, accentuating with dangling diamond earrings and a coordinating necklace.

This is not the first time Jammal has worked with Cartier. 

In March, she starred in the brand’s Ramadan campaign alongside Saudi athlete Husein Alireza, Egyptian Montenegrin model and actress Tara Emad, Tunisian actor Dhaffer L’Abidine and Emirati host Anas Bukhash. 

In March 2023, Jammal walked the runway at a Cartier event in Dubai. She wore a black form-fitting dress with a plunging neckline, a thigh-high slit from the center and padded shoulders. 

She walked alongside a long list of celebrities from the Arab world including Saudi actress and filmmaker Fatima Al-Banawi, Egyptian veteran star Yusra, Egyptian Tunisian actress Hend Sabri, French Algerian filmmaker Farida Khelfa, Somali model Rawdah Mohamed, Emad, L’Abidine, and Bukhash. 

In January this year, Jammal was also named the brand ambassador for French luxury label Dior’s beauty line Dior Beauty.

“It was such an incredible experience to represent the iconic fashion house of @dior. It is a privilege to be able to represent my culture within a brand with a strong history of empowering women,” she wrote to her Instagram followers at the time. “I’m grateful to see my Dior family grow and to be aligned with exceptional women from both sides of the pond. Thank you for your trust in me.”

In October 2022, she was named the Middle East’s ambassador for Dior, the fashion house. 

Topics: Razane Jammal Cartier

Saudi Film Commission takes charge of cinema sector

Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News
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Saudi Film Commission takes charge of cinema sector

  • First phase includes regulating licensing for the operation of permanent, temporary and special cinemas
  • CEO Abdullah Al-Qahtani: The Film Commission will undertake a comprehensive review of all procedures related to the cinematic sector
Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission has announced it will now have oversight over the cinema sector, which will no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the General Authority of Media Regulation.

The Council of Ministers had ordered the change, which has now been implemented after the completion of the required regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. 

The first phase includes regulating licensing for the operation of permanent, temporary and special cinemas, as well as the production, distribution and import of movies, videos and television programs.

Abdullah Al-Qahtani, the commission’s CEO, said: “The Film Commission will undertake a comprehensive review of all procedures related to the cinematic sector with the aim of their development and enhancement.

“Key improvements will focus on enhancing the customer experience by streamlining and optimizing the processes required for all activities in the cinematic sector. This will involve reviewing the licensing requirements for the film sector, as well as simplifying the licensing process and application for related services.”

The commission posted on X: “The film and cinema sector jurisdiction has been transferred from the General Authority for Media Regulation to the Film Commission. This move, facilitated by continuous cooperation and support between the two bodies, underscores the commission’s ongoing commitment to developing and improving the sector.”

The commission’s board has approved a reduction in fees for cinema licenses. It has also waived operational license fees for three years until 2027, covering permanent, temporary, and special cinema halls. Applications for licenses can now be made through the unified electronic platform Abde’a.

Topics: Saudi Film Commission (SFC) Abdullah Al-Qahtani

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US students stage walkout to protest Jerry Seinfeld’s ceremony speech

Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News
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US students stage walkout to protest Jerry Seinfeld’s ceremony speech

Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: Several students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday to protest its guest speaker, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, over his support of Israel amid the war in Gaza.

Video of the incident posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows a group of students walking out of their seats and carrying a Palestinian flag as soon as the comedian and TV star was called to the stage. 

The attention to the protesters was quickly diverted by the cheering crowd, who chanted, “Jerry! Jerry!” as Seinfeld would go on to give his speech and accept an honorary degree from Duke.

However, several boos and chants of “Free Palestine” could also be heard.

Seinfeld has been vocal in his support for Israel following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

The comedian also met with families of the hostages and visited a kibbutz during a trip to Israel in December.

The walkout at Duke's graduation was the latest manifestation of protests that have taken over US campuses as students call for universities to divest from arms suppliers and other companies profiting from the war.

Topics: Jerry Seinfeld

US actor Mahershala Ali to star in NYC thriller ‘77 Blackout’

Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News
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US actor Mahershala Ali to star in NYC thriller ‘77 Blackout’

Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News

DUBAI: Two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali is set to star with Tom Hardy in “77 Blackout,” a crime thriller set on the night when New York lost power and was plunged into chaos and lawlessness. 

Cary Joji Fukunaga is directing, Deadline reported.

In 1977, five rogue police officers formulate a plan to rob three criminal strongholds – the Hong Kong Triads, the Italian Mafia, and the Harlem Mob – all in one night. When a blackout sweeps the city on the night of the robbery, the crew is forced to navigate a hellish landscape.

Ali is most known for two Best Picture-winning flicks: 2016’s “Moonlight” and 2018’s “Green Book.”

Hardy is known for blockbusters such as Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” and director George Miller’s 2015 action epic “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Topics: Mahershala Ali tom hardy 77 Blackout

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