Dark humor works wonders for Arab standup Dina Hashem

Dina Hashem’s standup acts are based on cynical views on life, marriage, her Arab upbringing and living in America. (Getty Images)
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Updated 30 March 2024
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Dark humor works wonders for Arab standup Dina Hashem

LOS ANGELES: US Egyptian Moroccan comedian Dina Hashem, who is known for her trademark cynical sense of humor, is heading from the standup stage to TV screens with the upcoming animated series “#1 Happy Family US,” by Golden Globe-winner Ramy Youssef and Amazon.

The show revolves around a US-based Muslim family in the era after the September 11 terrorist attack, and Hashem voices a lamb called Lammy.

The series logline describes “#1 Happy Family USA” as an exploration of “the experiences of a Muslim-American family that must learn how to code-switch as they navigate the early 2000s: A time of fear, war, and the rapid expansion of the boy-band industrial complex.”

Unlike other comedians, Hashem’s standup act is based on cynical views on life, marriage, her Arab upbringing and living in America.

“The things I think are funny are usually more extreme than what people do on stage,” she remarked, highlighting the nuanced specificity of her humor. “Because with standup, you have to be kind of broad because you’re talking to a large group of random people, so it can’t be that specific a lot of the time. And I feel like my sense of humor is pretty specific.”

In a landscape where many comedians gain fame by addressing the negative impacts of societal prejudices, Hashem distinguishes herself by exploring the complexities of familial dynamics and personal struggles.

“The ones who are most famous right now talk about the negative impacts,” she noted. “They talk about how the world has treated them negatively because of their identity. Whereas in my life, a lot of the negativity came from my own family rather than people out in the world. So, I feel like that's sort of what makes my act a little different from theirs.”

Hashem said that growing up, she had “so many issues communicating with people” due to anxiety and mental health issues.

“With standup, I was learning how to communicate and realized that people wanted to hear what I had to say and I never really felt that way at home before,” she said.

Hashem currently writes for “The Daily Show” and has written for the HBO Max comedy series “The Sex Lives of College Girls.”


Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris

Updated 21 January 2026
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Saudi label KML unveils new collection in Paris

DUBAI: Siblings Razan and Ahmed Hassan presented their Fall/Winter 2026–2027 collection at Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday, continuing the rapid rise of their KML label.

The duo has gained international recognition since launching the brand in 2022, most recently being named semifinalists for the LVMH Prize — a prestigious annual award for emerging designers.

Creative director Ahmed’s minimalist designs and sharp tailoring mean KML — owned by his sister, Razan — has built its identity around reimagining traditional Saudi garments through a contemporary lens. Jackets are paired with shawl-like elements, large leather belts recall those historically worn by Bedouin men, and skirts nod to silhouettes once worn by men in the Eastern Province, Jazan and the Hijaz.

The collection leans on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions. (Getty Images)

The approach is reflected in the new collection, which features a restrained palette of black, white and muted earth tones, leaning on wrap constructions, asymmetry and elongated proportions.

Flowing skirts, structured wrap tops and robe-like coats dominate the lineup, with some looks referencing classical draping while others lean toward utilitarian dressing, defined by sharp shoulders, cinched waists and clean, architectural lines.

In a previous interview with Arab News, Ahmed said their grandmother was a huge influence on their lives as he and his sister grew up in Riyadh. He fondly recalled both her progressive nature and inimitable style. As a young boy, Ahmed would often accompany her to fabric shops so she could get her designs stitched by a local tailor. The experience left an impression, though fashion was not an obvious initial career path.

Ahmed studied architecture and became an intern at Zaha Hadid Architects, where he developed an appreciation for structure and form. Razan, meanwhile, pursued law at Prince Sultan University and she went on to practice full-time.

“One summer, we both realized we weren’t doing what we truly wanted to do, so I decided to go to the UK to study creative writing, and Ahmed went to Central Saint Martins (in London) for a few courses,” Razan explained.

That was the catalyst for KML. In August 2023, they launched their debut capsule collection and towards the end of that year they applied to the Saudi 100 Brands program. The Fashion Commission recognized their potential, helping KML launch collections at fashion weeks in Paris, Riyadh and Milan.