DUBAI: With celebrities and models jetting in and out of the city on a dizzyingly-frequent basis, Dubai is no stranger to beauty. However, pageant fans are in for a treat as a segment of the Miss Europe Continental competition is set to be hosted in the city on Oct. 11, organizers announced at a press conference on Thursday.
Since its inception in 2013, the pageant, the finale of which is to be held in Italy, has been dedicated to promoting European culture and heritage.
During the competition in Dubai, 30 contestants will be whittled down to three finalists who will then go on to compete against 30 other applicants from all over Europe in Spoleto, Italy. The glittering finale will be held on Nov. 25.
In November, one contestant will win the title of Miss Europe Continental and 10 contestants will get the chance to win titles sponsored by various international firms.
The thinking behind the event was explained during a press conference at Dubai’s Palazzo Versace hotel, where the Oct. 11 competition is set to be held. The panel included Dr. Maria Rubatti, a specialist plastic surgeon at CosmeSurge in Dubai, Hayssam Al-Amine, CEO of the RPM Group and Mona Al-Amine, managing director of entertainment company Ready Talents.
Alberto Cerqua, owner and creator of the pageant, joined the press conference via Skype to explain why he had chosen Dubai as the first non- European city to host the event.
“Our main goal is to create a strong bond between Italian fashion and UAE fashion,” he said via a translator.
“We love women who love fashion, who specifically love ‘Made in Italy’ fashion… Our goal is to scout beauties who can bridge the cultural gap and to scout people who love fashion.”
The organizers say the pageant is a platform to allow European women to display their artistic skills, intelligence, confidence, cultural pride and leadership skills in order to further advance themselves in the European fashion, movie and beauty industries.
“Miss Europe Continental is one of the largest and most influential fashion and talent shows in Europe and is now in Dubai for the first time outside of Europe... this is one way we can participate in what Dubai has become ... a hub of international culture and fashion and the movie industry,” Hayssam Al-Amine said.
The Dubai competition will have four segments, including an introduction, an evening gown competition, a talent section, and a question and answer segment.
Judges include high-end Lebanese designer Nicolas Jebran, beauty entrepreneur Joelle Mardinian and last year’s lucky winner, Russian contestant Anna Semenkova.
The 26-year-old will fly into Dubai fresh off a whirlwind modeling tour of Europe, which she began soon after her win.
The pageant hopefuls will compete for the chance to earn the Miss Europe Continental crown, which this year is a tiara ringed with gem-encrusted hearts, in a finale that will be broadcast around the world on Fashion TV.
Miss Europe Continental to be held in Dubai
Miss Europe Continental to be held in Dubai
Chopard unveils new images featuring Bella Hadid
- Wears jewelry, clothes from Happy Hearts collection
- Model also reveals images celebrating the New Year
DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Bella Hadid has become a key face for Chopard, fronting several of the maison’s campaigns and reinforcing her close ties with the brand.
She was featured in Chopard’s latest Instagram posts, pairing an off-duty outfit with pieces from the brand’s jewelry collections.
In one image, Hadid embraced understated dressing in classic blue jeans and a crisp white T-shirt, elevating the minimalist look with statement pieces from Chopard’s Happy Hearts collection.
She layered five delicate gold bracelets along her wrist, each punctuated with the collection’s signature heart motif, creating a refined stacked effect.
The look was completed with a matching gold heart necklace resting softly at the neckline, coordinating ring, and gold watch, all echoing the same heart design that defines the collection.
In another post, she wore a black halter-neck top, accessorized with rose-gold rings and a stacked bracelet set from the same collection, featuring heart-shaped motifs.
The model’s collaboration with Chopard began in 2017 when she became one of the faces of the brand’s high jewelry collections.
Since then, she has appeared in several campaigns and worn Chopard pieces at major international events, including the Cannes Film Festival, Met Gala, and Paris Fashion Week.
In August, Hadid starred in the latest campaign spotlighting Chopard’s L’Heure du Diamant collection. The brand shared a behind-the-scenes video from the shoot, showing her in a white halter-neck dress as she posed in the sparkling jewelry pieces.
Hadid marked the start of the new year by sharing a carousel of images this week, offering a glimpse into how she celebrated the occasion. She rang in the New Year in Aspen.
She spent the final moments of 2025 wearing a look by Lebanese designer Georges Chakra.
The sheer-black lace dress was intricately embroidered with black crystals, featuring sculpted lace appliques framing the neckline and bodice, with satin bands finishing the hem.
Hadid and her friends appeared to celebrate in a mountain lodge, where the group gathered around a wooden fire pit to stay warm, enjoyed a fine dining experience, and continued the celebrations into the night.
