UK blogger Amena Khan joins viral campaign celebrating strong women

Amena Khan made headlines earlier this year when she stepped down from a L’Oreal campaign due to tweets she posted in 2014. (@amenaofficial)
Updated 03 March 2018
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UK blogger Amena Khan joins viral campaign celebrating strong women

DUBAI: Hijab-wearing British fashion blogger Amena Khan is taking part in a campaign celebrating women with The Body Shop, she announced on her Instagram page on Friday.
Dubbed the #FORSTRONGWOMEN campaign, the drive encourages women to nominate a women who has “guided, empowered and inspired” them by uploading a picture and a brief description of the nominee to The Body Shop’s website. Nominations end on March 11 and the lucky winners will receive a weekend break away and beauty hampers.
The Muslim beauty blogger is taking part in the campaign and nominated make-up artist Paula Durance in a heart-warming video sponsored by The Body Shop.
Leicester-based make-up specialist Durance overcame a childhood of bullying over her hearing disability to build her own business.
In the video spotlighting Durance and her achievements, Khan explains why she is taking part in the campaign.
“This Mother’s Day, I’m working with The Body Shop to celebrate all the strong women who have inspired us.”
Of Durance, she said: “She’s positive, supportive, fierce and fabulous.”
“Having strong, supportive, authentic friends in your circle is a blessing. Today I’m celebrating strong women everywhere with @thebodyshop,” she added on her Instagram page, before encouraging other women to upload their own nominations.

Khan made headlines earlier this year when she became the first woman wearing a headscarf to feature in a major mainstream hair campaign for L’Oreal.
However, controversy ensued when just a couple of days after the announcement Khan stepped down due to anti-Israel tweets she made in 2014 during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Taking to Instagram Jan. 21, the British beauty blogger said: “I deeply regret the content of the tweets I made in 2014, and sincerely apologize for the upset and hurt they have caused.

Making a reference to the L’Oreal campaign, she added: “I recently took part in a campaign, which excited me because it celebrated inclusivity.

“With deep regret, I’ve decided to step down from this campaign because the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment it set out to deliver.”


Gigi Hadid introduces sun-washed knitwear in new Guest in Residence drop

Updated 14 February 2026
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Gigi Hadid introduces sun-washed knitwear in new Guest in Residence drop

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid this week released the first drop of her brand Guest in Residence’s spring/summer collection.

The pictures she shared with her 79.5 million followers on Instagram showed that the new offerings lean into relaxed, sun-washed dressing, blending the brand’s signature knitwear with a more playful, resort-ready mood.

The collection features lightweight cardigans, cropped knits and long-sleeve tops paired with knit shorts, relaxed trousers and soft lounge pieces designed for warm weather.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

A palette of coastal blues, butter yellow, soft red, cream and pastel tones runs throughout, complemented by subtle stripes and textured finishes.

Across the images, knits are layered over swimwear or styled as coordinated sets, aligning with the collection’s casual, seasonal direction.

Hadid wrote on Instagram that the newly launched products are now available in stores and retailers worldwide.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

The model and entrepreneur’s latest drop was a collaboration with Moon Boot, the Italian snow boot brand. Released in November, Hadid and the brand dropped 16 designs for winter.

A week before that, she launched her winter collection that expanded Guest in Residence’s knitwear offering with cold-weather staples designed for layering.

The range included chunky scarves with fringe finishes, ribbed beanies, knitted socks, striped sweaters, zip-neck tops and relaxed knit polos, alongside straight-leg trousers and casual separates.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

A muted winter palette of red, cream, brown, forest green and blue ran throughout, with stripes and textured knits adding visual contrast.

Hadid launched her clothing label, which features soft, colorful knitwear, in September 2022.

“Over the last handful of years, I didn’t want to be backed into starting my own line just because there was an offer on the table or a deal to be made,” she wrote to her followers on Instagram at the time.

“The earliest days of Guest in Residence came about when I started to question the cashmere market, and those answers gave me a path,” she added.

“I believe that because of its sustainable qualities — natural and made to cherish and to pass down — cashmere is a luxury that should be more accessible.”

Celebrities including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Taylor Swift and Bradley Cooper have been spotted wearing the label’s designs.