DUBAI: Dubbed the “Queen of the Stage” by the Arab media, Lebanese superstar Myriam Fares has launched a collection with pocket-friendly brand Red Tag.
Fares, 34, made the announcement at an event in Dubai’s swanky Armani Prive club on Tuesday, and revealed why she partnered with the Gulf-based store on its summer 2018 line.
“This is a star wearing the same brand that is affordable for everyone to buy. This is a nice and affordable brand for every woman and young girl who wants to be fashionable,” Fares said, explaining the appeal of the budget-friendly collection.
Wearing Red Tag designs makes the international superstar feel “down to Earth,” she said, adding that “young women try to find clothes similar to the expensive pieces we stars usually wear. But today, this star is wearing clothes that those young ladies can afford — this is really valuable for me.”
Appealing to the young women in question is a major reason why Red Tag chose to approach Fares in the first place.
“Myriam is a hugely, hugely popular recording artist… and importantly to us as a brand, she is a huge style and fashion icon to her millions of followers,” COO of BMA International Group, the holding company behind Red Tag, David Pidgeon said at the event.
“Our customer is typically 15-35, she is focused on fashion, she wants good quality and she absolutely wants value for money. Myriam’s fan base is essentially the same — her fans are our customers.
“No matter how big a star you are, you have to stay in touch with your key fans and they are not all walking around in designer dresses. They want fashion, understand fashion and see fashion, but can’t afford to pay for it,” he added.
The collection is feminine and a sure win for the summer months, featuring pastel pink structured skirts, evening-ready burgundy dresses and sporty, striped trousers.
Considering curly haired Fares is a household name across the Middle East, it seems to make perfect sense that she should choose to launch a line with Red Tag, which currently has more than 160 fashion and lifestyle stores dotted around the region.
The singer, dancer and actress jetted into Dubai after a jaunt in Cyprus, where she performed a clutch of her most popular songs at a concert on April 28. Before that, she holidayed with her family in London, where she stayed at the Shangri-La Hotel and posted a flurry of photos of her time in the city.
In many of the photos, she can be seen posing in front of floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the expansive British capital, including Tower Bridge and the River Thames.
Fares released her first album in 2003 and made her acting debut with TV soap opera “Itiham” in 2014. Later that year, she played the role of Tinkerbell in a musical version of Disney’s “Peter Pan” in the UAE.
The Lebanese powerhouse is married to American businessman Danny Mitri and has a son called Jayden, who was born in February 2016.
She isn’t, however, the only star to have launched a line with Red Tag. Lebanese singer, actress and model Cyrine Abdelnour has an eponymous Spring 2018 collection with the brand, featuring fun, flirty and affordable clothes in a soft pink color palette.
Abdelnour, whose first album “Leila Min Layali” was released in 2004, launched her latest collection in February, but has been working with Red Tag on sartorial tie-ups since 2015.
Myriam Fares launches affordable fashion line
Myriam Fares launches affordable fashion line
- The “Queen of the Stage” has launched a collection with pocket-friendly brand Red Tag
- The collection is feminine and a sure win for the summer months
Arabs cheer on newly crowned Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig
DUBAI: Arabs around the world congratulated Victoria Kjaer Theilvig who was crowned Miss Universe 2024 on Sunday, becoming the first contestant from Denmark to achieve the honor.
The dancer, entrepreneur, and animal rights activist beat out more than 120 contestants in the pageant's 73rd edition held in Mexico City, two years after she visited the UAE and posed for snaps in Dubai’s desert surroundings on holiday.
“I have been waiting for my whole life for this moment,” she said during the swimsuit round of the pageant.
“No matter where you come from, no matter your past, you can always choose to turn it into your strengths,” she also said on the Miss Universe stage.
X user Asia Alwasity echoed several other commentors who praised Theilvig’s apparent lack of cosmetic surgery. “She deserves it, she is a natural beauty with no cosmetic surgeries done,” she wrote in Arabic.
Another X commentor, @goodluck11974, wrote in Arabic, “Her beauty is wow, her face reminds us of the old natural beauty with no fillers or surgeries.”
Many social media users commented on Theilvig’s “exceptional beauty,” inside and out.
“Beauty is not just about looks, but about a strong, confident personality, and this beauty embodies these in every detail,” wrote X user @alzhrany60092.
“Congratulations to this beauty, she makes history with her exceptional beauty,” wrote X user @zyz51618 in a translated post.
Other social media users called Theilvig as pretty “as a Barbie,” with numerous commenters comparing Theilvig to the iconic doll.
Dressed in a pink glittering gown, the 21-year-old from Soborg was crowned by Miss Universe 2023 Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua, in Mexico City on Sunday.
Crafted by Jewelmer, the crown features golden South Sea pearls, the national gem of the Philippines. Named the “Lumiere de l’Infini) tiara, the crown displays a radiant sunburst motif at its heart.
First runner-up was Chidimma Adetshina, a law student representing Nigeria, followed by Maria Fernanda Beltran of Mexico, Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand, and Ileana Marquez of Venezuela.
An avid traveller, Thielvig seems to enjoy visiting cities across the world — including Dubai in the UAE. In January 2023, she took to Instagram to post a picture of herself posing on a dune buggy in the vast deserts of Dubai. “
Adventure in the desert,” she captioned the post, along with a camel emoji.
Egypt’s Logina Salah makes history at Miss Universe pageant
DUBAI: Miss Universe Egypt Logina Salah made history when she broke into the top 30 at the grand finale of the Miss Universe 2024 beauty pageant, held in Mexico City on Sunday, making it the first time her country has made a placement in the event's 73 year history.
The glittering night came to a close with Miss Denmark Victoria Kjaer Theilvig taking home the crown — a first for a Dane. The 21-year-old, a competitive dancer, entrepreneur, and aspiring lawyer, beat more than 120 other contestants to win the annual beauty pageant.
Miss Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina was named first runner-up, and Miss Mexico Maria Fernanda Beltran was named the second runner-up. Contestants from Thailand, Bolivia, Venezuela, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Russia, Chile, Canada and Peru also made it to the top 12.
This year’s finale featured a performance by singer Robin Thicke and was hosted by “Saved by the Bell” star Mario Lopez and former Miss Universe Olivia Culpo.
Other contestants from the Middle East and North Africa region included the UAE’s Emilia Dobreva, Bahrain’s Shereen Ahmed, Lebanon’s Nada Koussa, and Iran’s Ava Vahneshan.
The pageant, in its 73rd year, also now sees married women and mothers compete.
“I feel like the world is getting closer to including everybody. It wasn’t allowed for moms to participate, or any woman above 30, and I didn’t like participating in ‘moms pageantry’; I do not like labeling,” Salah, who is based in Dubai, said in an earlier interview with Arab News of the rules that changed in 2023.
She added: “When those restrictions were lifted, I saw it as the perfect opportunity. Pageantry was always on my mind, but I always said, ‘Let me keep it for my daughter, maybe she would be interested.’ I used to dream about it, but now the dream came back to life. I applied, and, thank God, I made it to Miss Universe!”
Reflecting on her journey with vitiligo, Salah highlighted the power of living as an example. “I do not come every day and talk about vitiligo on my platform, but living my life fearlessly and unapologetically is a message to people,” she said.
“When someone comes across my profile and they see me living fearlessly, this is an inspiration. So, I do both. I like to go out and inspire, not only for people with vitiligo, but for all young girls and women.”
Miss Universe Bahrain Shereen Ahmed wins Voice for Change Silver award in Mexico
DUBAI: Miss Universe Bahrain Shereen Ahmed was announced on Thursday as one of the seven Silver winners of the Voice for Change competition at the 73rd Miss Universe beauty pageant in Mexico.
“This is for all the hardworking single moms out there,” she wrote to her followers on Instagram after the announcement was made.
Joining Ahmed as Silver winners of the Voice for Change competition were Anouk Eman of Aruba, Saran Bah of Guinea, Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand, Matilda Wirtavuori of Finland, Snit Tewoldemedhin of Eritrea, and Raegan Rutty of the Cayman Islands.
The award was presented after the preliminary round, which featured 126 contestants from around the world showcasing swimsuits, evening gowns, and national costumes.
The Gold winners of the competition were Juliana Barrientos of Bolivia, Ana Gabriela Villanueva of Guatemala, and Davin Prasath of Cambodia.
Besides Ahmed, there are two other Arabs representing their countries: Logina Salah from Egypt and Nada Koussa from Lebanon. Miss Universe UAE is Emilia Dobreva, a Kosovo-born model who has lived in Dubai for 10 years.
For the National Costume competition, Ahmed donned a flowing green gown featuring gold embellishments and a structured shoulder cape. She also wore a gold headpiece and held a large gold incense burner prop.
Salah opted for a Cleopatra-inspired ensemble in shades of blue, gold, and bronze, designed by Simeon Cayetano. The cape featured hand-painted pyramids and the Sphinx, framed by protective wings. Hieroglyphic scripts adorned the lower portion of the cape.
Koussa wore a rich purple ensemble with intricate silver embroidery. The outfit included a tall, cylindrical, metallic headpiece and a full-length cape with pronounced shoulders, adorned with leaf-like motifs that extended down the back. The dress underneath was composed of a lighter, shimmery fabric.
Saudi fashion designer and founder of Pavone Shouq Almubarak talks inspiration and innovation
- ‘My designs are a heartfelt expression,’ says Shouq Almubarak
RIYADH: Saudi fashion designer Shouq Almubarak is dreaming big, both for the Kingdom’s fashion industry and for her own brand, Pavone.
“The future holds endless possibilities, and I have ambitious plans aligned with the growth of the Kingdom’s fashion industry,” Almubarak told Arab News on the sidelines of Riyadh Fashion Week in October. “I aim to continue expanding my work with larger projects that seamlessly blend authenticity with modern creativity. My ultimate vision is to reach a global audience, sharing the beauty and pride of the Saudi identity.”
The designer also expressed her gratitude at being selected as one of the designers to represent the Kingdom on a global stage at the event, which took place from Oct. 17 to Oct. 21.
“Being part of Riyadh Fashion Week is a true honor and a moment of immense pride,” she said. “It’s not just about presenting my designs, but about contributing to the rise of Saudi fashion on the global stage. It’s an opportunity to leave my mark and help shape the future of fashion in the Kingdom.”
Almubarak established Pavone in 2016 in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia with the aim of creating innovative designs that “meet the ultimate beauty and spirit of modern women.” She told Arab News that much of her inspiration — aside from seeing beautiful things that spark her imagination — comes from within.
“I draw from moments that leave a lasting impact — whether it’s an emotion, a scene, or just a quiet moment of reflection. I then transform these moments into tangible works of art that capture and reflect the essence of those experiences. My designs are a heartfelt expression,” she said.
Those “artistic pieces” include her couture collection “Lina,” which she presented at last year’s Riyadh Fashion Week and which she describes as one of her greatest accomplishments as a designer.
“This collection was a breakthrough for me, as it challenged me to explore new, unconventional ideas,” Almubarak said. “‘Lina’ is more than just a fashion line — it symbolizes the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my career, full of opportunities; a defining moment that has shaped my journey as a designer.”
The biggest challenge Almubarak has faced so far, she said, is finding partners who not only understand her vision but also share her commitment to exceptional quality.
“Ensuring that every design was brought to life with meticulous attention to detail and delivering the level of excellence my clients deserve has always been the goal I strive to achieve,” she said.
Discussing tips for aspiring designers, she said: “My key advice is to prioritize quality; you have to select the right factory and partners. Design isn’t just about the concept — it’s about translating creativity into a finished product with precision and craftsmanship that aligns with the customer’s expectations.”
Chanel spotlights regional models in campaigns, cruise shows
DUBAI: French luxury fashion house Chanel continues to spotlight regional models in its global campaigns and cruise shows, with its latest release featuring Mona Tougaard.
The Danish model, of Turkish, Somali, and Ethiopian descent, was seen posing for Chanel’s new holiday campaign. In the image, Tougaard wore Chanel’s “Premiere Edition Original” watch in 0.1-micron yellow gold-plated steel paired with black leather.
Her look was completed with a choker, ring, and earrings from the brand’s “Camellia” collection, crafted in yellow gold and adorned with diamonds. She also accessorized with bracelets and earrings from the “Coco Crush” line, designed in beige and white gold with diamond accents.
Meanwhile, French Algerian model Loli Bahia gave fans a sneak peek of the fashion house’s cruise show in Hong Kong on Tuesday through her Instagram account.
She posted images of herself displayed on a wall, showing off pieces she wore in the show last week. In one shot, she’s styled in classic Chanel fashion, donning a cream crochet jacket layered over an intricate chain and pendant body piece.
In another image, she was seen in a brown leather vest matched with coordinating shorts and ballerina flats.
Part-Saudi model Shanina Shaik, who has Pakistani, Lithuanian and Australian heritage, promoted Chanel’s beauty line to her 3.4 million Instagram followers.
“All the beautiful products from the holiday glam,” she captioned her story, showcasing an eyeshadow palette, a face palette, a highlighter, along with lip liners and lipsticks.
She also shared a story spraying the limited edition No.5 Eau de Parfum, part of Chanel’s holiday collection.
In June, Bahia walked the brand’s runway during Paris Fashion Week. She donned a two-piece ensemble comprising a tailored buttoned jacket complemented by a matching knee-length skirt in a delicate tweed fabric.
In May, Bahia and part-Saudi Amira Al-Zuhair walked the Chanel Cruise 2024/2025 show in Marseille, France.
Bahia donned a green ensemble, composed of a knee-length pencil skirt paired with a matching top, layered over a white shirt boasting a hoodie collar, while Al-Zuhair sported a vibrant yellow ensemble featuring hot shorts paired with a button-down top and a coordinating cardigan.
