Mona Tougaard stars in playful JW Anderson campaign

Model Mona Tougaard kicked off 2026 strong, appearing in the latest campaign for British label JW Anderson. (Instagram)
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Updated 19 January 2026
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Mona Tougaard stars in playful JW Anderson campaign

DUBAI: Model Mona Tougaard is kicking off 2026 strong, appearing in the latest campaign for British label JW Anderson, starring alongside some of fashion’s most recognizable figures. The campaign showcases JW Anderson’s Autumn-Winter 2026 ready-to-wear collection, captured in a star-studded lookbook rather than a traditional runway presentation. It reflects Irish Creative Director Jonathan Anderson’s focus on community, craft and the relationship between people and objects, a concept he has been developing as part of the brand’s evolving identity.

In this project, Tougaard — who has Danish, Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian ancestry — shares the frame with Australian pop icon Kylie Minogue, fashion journalist Tim Blanks, designer Margherita Missoni and actress Ruth Wilson, among others — all friends, collaborators, or longstanding figures in Anderson’s creative circle.

The visuals mix portraits of the cast with still lifes and artisan objects, emphasizing the brand’s interest in curated, crafted pieces rather than seasonal trends. Tougaard models pieces from the collection and contributes to the campaign’s narrative of inclusivity and personal connection, embodying Anderson’s intent to weave together “things — and people — I like and I would like to have around me.”

Tougaard started her modeling career in 2017 after winning the Elite Model Look Denmark competition at the age of 15.

Since then, she has become a well-known figure in the fashion industry, working with top designers and luxury brands including Prada, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Chanel and Valentino.

The model had a busy year in 2025. In January, she was a part of the Schiaparelli Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2025 show at Paris Fashion Week, where she wore a halter-neck dress with a sheer, form-fitting bodice that transitioned into a voluminous skirt with meticulously folded fabric.

In February, she starred in a Versace campaign and was seen on video reclining on a deep orange sofa, her hair styled in a sleek, straight look with blunt bangs.

In August, she posed for Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2025 campaign, showing the brand’s new Cristina Satchel bag. In photos shared on Instagram, Tougaard wore a sleek, black halter-neck dress with tall black boots, accessorized with the statement bag.

In September, she starred in a campaign for H&M’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection.

Tougaard ended 2025 with a campaign for Balenciaga. In the campaign visuals, she was photographed in a hotel-style interior, seated and reclining on white bedding.


Jessica Kahawaty to narrate London concert paying tribute to Arab music icons

Updated 24 February 2026
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Jessica Kahawaty to narrate London concert paying tribute to Arab music icons

DUBAI: Australian Lebanese model and entrepreneur Jessica Kahawaty this week announced that she will serve as the storyteller for “A Night With The Legends,” a one-night musical tribute celebrating iconic women of Arabic music, taking place at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 5.

Kahawaty will portray Scheherazade and deliver spoken narration during the program.

The evening will pay tribute to the legacies of Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Warda, Sabah, Asmahan and Layla Mourad.

Vocals will be performed by Lebanese vocalist Abeer Nehme, accompanied by the UK-based London Arab Orchestra under the direction of conductor Basel Saleh, alongside the London-based Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The program will also feature a 70-member all-female choir.

“I’m incredibly humbled,” Kahawaty wrote to her 1.8 million followers on Instagram. “As storyteller, I’ll be weaving history, memory and meaning into the musical experience in a one-night tribute celebrating the iconic women of the golden era of Arabic music.”

“I cannot wait to see you all there,” she added.

Kahawaty is also an entrepreneur. She co-founded fine jewelry label Kahawaty Jewels with her father, master jeweler Ghassan Kahawaty, launching the Dubai-based brand last year as a continuation of the family’s longstanding craftsmanship tradition.

“I grew up watching my father in his jewelry trade. I saw how happy he made people when he created these beautiful pieces,” Kahawaty previously told Arab News. “I’ve always wanted to continue my father’s legacy and my grandfather’s trade. I felt like this is the perfect time to launch Kahawaty Jewels in Dubai, which is a city I’ve been in for over 13 years.”

Kahawaty and her mother are also behind UAE-based food delivery business Mama Rita. In July last year, the pair expanded the venture with the launch of a cookbook, which featured a cover endorsement from Hollywood actress and producer Courteney Cox.

Writing on Instagram at the time, Kahawaty said: “The moment we held the Mama Rita cookbook in our hands for the very first time … after two years of pouring our hearts into it. And we’re beyond thrilled to share a special surprise on the cover — a quote from the one and only (Courteney Cox). Her iconic role as Monica in ‘Friends’ — the talented chef, perfectionist and loving control freak — mirrors so much of the dynamic between mum and me. And her true persona is even more beautiful, warm and generous.”