Best and Worst: Saudi fashion influencer and TV personality Nada Baeshen talks trends and travel

Nada Baeshan, founder of The Huntress, delves into trends, travel and strategies for productivity.  
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Updated 16 April 2024
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Best and Worst: Saudi fashion influencer and TV personality Nada Baeshen talks trends and travel

DUBAI: The Saudi fashion influencer, TV personality and entrepreneur, founder of The Huntress, delves into trends, travel and strategies for productivity.  

Best film you’ve ever seen?    

“Legends of the Fall” is one of my favorites. It shows you how a person changes through wars and time. It has a lot of pain. It’s also a sad love story, it portrays a bond between a father and his boys, explores abandonment, and so much more. It resonates with me. 

Worst film you’ve ever seen?   

Many. I couldn’t pick one. But I think we’ve all wasted two hours on a bad movie at some point. 

Best personal style moment so far?    

I think my yellow David Koma look during Paris Fashion Week this past season was a memorable one. 

Worst personal style moment?    

The Miss Sixty colorful denim pants was my thing during my college years in Boston in the early 2000s. I think it was a major disaster, but I guess it was in at the time and I was perceived as stylish… 

Best accessory for a little black dress?    

A nice choker can add a simple touch, or you can make it grand if it has precious stones or diamonds.  

Worst accessory for a little black dress?    

Overdoing the accessories. Less is more. 

Best fashion trend of 2024?    

I think brown and maroon is very in at the moment and they’re easy to wear. Monochrome color matching in general is a trend. But personally, I don’t follow trends. I like to wear whatever suits me. 

Worst fashion trend of 2024?    

I can’t think of a specific one, but, to me, overdoing any look is a bad trend.  

Best advice you’ve ever been given?   

I think the best advice is what I tell myself personally. I have a strong work ethic and I’m an overachiever, in any situation. 

Worst advice you’ve ever been given?  

I don’t listen to irrelevant advice. Sometimes you have to let things pass over your head. 

Best thing to do when you’re feeling low?    

Get on a plane and travel. Or constantly stay focused with work and continue to strive towards new achievements. Or spend time with my family for a recharge.  

Worst thing to do when you’re feeling good?    

Talk about a subject that puts you in a bad mood.  

Best holiday destination?    

Colombia. It was one of my most memorable trips of 2023. 

Worst holiday destination?    

Bali, surprisingly. I visited recently for the first time in 12 years and, unfortunately, it had changed so much.  

Best subject at school?    

History. I have a fascination when it comes to dynasties, kingdoms, royalty, wars and stories from the past.  

Worst subject at school?    

Math. I didn’t test well. 

Best thing to do to ensure you have a productive day?   

Start your day with a workout to get energized. 

Worst thing to do when you’re trying to have a productive day?    

Oversleep and start your day late. It automatically puts you in a bad mood.  

Best concert you’ve ever been to?   

Madonna for sure! 

Worst concert you’ve ever been to? 

None! I don’t go to a lot of concerts, the ones I have been to have been amazing. 


Omar Offendum reflects on identity ahead of Quoz Art Fest performance of ‘From a free Syria’

Updated 23 sec ago
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Omar Offendum reflects on identity ahead of Quoz Art Fest performance of ‘From a free Syria’

  • Syrian-American rapper blends classic hip-hop, Arab poetry
  • Trying to challenge ‘stereotypes’ of Arabs, Muslims, he says

DUBAI: Returning to the UAE after his debut performance in AlSerkal in 2009, Syrian-American artist Omar Offendum will take to the stage at the Quoz Arts Fest on Jan. 26.

Speaking to Arab News recently, the New-York based rapper said he was excited about performing in the Arab world, and being able to say he is “from a free Syria” for the first time.

Offendum is also a spoken-word poet and recently described himself as a theatrical storyteller.

“When I’m on stage, I’m not just singing songs or just reciting poetry, I’m bridging all of that with storytelling. And I find myself really comfortable in theater spaces now.

“As much as I love a big festival, I find what’s really unique about theater is people enter the space with the understanding that you are being sort of transported into an imaginary time and place,” he said.

Drawing inspiration from artists including Bob Marley, Sade, Sabah Fakhri and Feyrouz, Offendum’s music blends classic hip-hop and elements from traditional Arab culture.

“What was unique to me in my upbringing was that it wasn’t just musicians, it was poets. Nizar Qabbani, for me, was foundational. Every album I’ve made, there’s been translations of Nizar Qabbani’s work.

I’m always reciting his poetry on stage. I think what’s really special about being an artist is that when you do it with a desire to be authentic and genuine.”

Offendum’s music is often a form of social commentary reflecting on current or past events. He said sometimes “you need a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down” and his music does that.

“I think music speaks to a different dimension in our heart and in our mind. There’s emotion and there’s meaning in music just as much as there are in words,” he explained.

But success did not come easy for the Saudi Arabia-born rapper. Offendum said he faced many challenges as an Arab after moving to Los Angeles.

He recalled an experience where he was offered voice-over work that depicted harmful stereotypes of Arabs.

“My friend was shocked that I rejected a large sum of money but I said of course not. I’m actively trying to use my voice to change the perception of Arabs and Muslims in the media,” he said.

Offendum said he remains full of passion and drive. “The fact that I’m 43 and I’m still doing what I love and I’m excited and passionate about it ... tells me that I’ve made it.”

Although New York holds a special place in Offendum’s heart, he hopes to perform in his birthplace of Saudi Arabia and homeland of Syria.


Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity

Updated 21 January 2025
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Qatar exhibition explores relationship between AI and humanity

DOHA: The Media Majlis Museum at Northwestern University in Qatar launched “Ai or Nay? Artificial vs. Intelligent,” a thought-provoking exhibition exploring humanity’s evolving relationship with machine learning. 

Running until May 15, the exhibition brings together over 20 works by international and regional artists.

Directed by Alfredo Cramerotti, the exhibition emphasizes interdisciplinary dialogue, he said. “For me, it’s important as a curator to combine arts with something else and have a foot in art and a foot in something like technology or media,” Cramerotti told Arab News.

Alfredo Cramerotti (L) is the director of the exhibition and Jack Taylor (R) is the curator. (Supplied)

“We’re embedded in an environment of communication, technology, and media and (in this exhibition) we bring in artistic elements… to tackle themes that are relevant for society now.”

On display are installations from international creatives such as Jan Zuiderveld (Netherlands), Patrick Tresset (France/Belgium), and Adnan Ayub Aga (UAE/Portugal), alongside interactive and visual works by Amr Alngmah (Yemen/Egypt), Farjana Salahuddin (Bangladesh), graphic designer Hind Al-Saad (Qatar), Hadeer Omar (Egypt) and Bilge Emir (Turkey/Germany).

“We thought, let’s bring in in different voices — from the region and internationally, from different sectors of society and cultures — to help us understand the different pinch points of AI to make the general public more aware of certain issues,” explained Cramerotti.

The exhibition brings together over 20 works by international and regional artists.(Supplied)

The exhibition also addresses the tension between digital and physical experiences, he added: “This hybridity is central to the show. It’s about being aware of how AI and information flows shape our identities and impact our lives.”

As an example, Cramerotti highlighted the work of Al-Saad and Omar, which features screen walls offering a glimpse into how AI works in our everyday lives.

“The idea of how computers see us is actually quite central, but it’s completely invisible — like facial recognition,” he said. “It is integrated in your life flow. You don’t notice it. But there is an incredible amount of ‘bio-politics’ behind it.”


Tiffany Trump stuns in Zuhair Murad gown during inauguration week

Updated 21 January 2025
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Tiffany Trump stuns in Zuhair Murad gown during inauguration week

  • Tiffany is married to Lebanon-born Michael Boulos
  • Married in 2022, they are expecting their first child

DUBAI: Tiffany Trump, the daughter of US President Donald Trump, turned heads this week in a dress by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad at the Inaugural Candlelight Dinner, hosted at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Traditionally held on the eve of a US presidential inauguration, the black-tie event honors the incoming administration with an evening of celebration and speeches.

For the occasion, Tiffany, who is expecting her first child with husband Michael Boulos, chose a custom, chocolate-brown chiffon gown with an asymmetric one-shoulder neckline, and a cape-like sleeve that flowed dramatically.

The dress was cinched at the waist and highlighted by intricate draped detailing on the bodice.

On Monday morning, Tiffany and Boulos attended services at St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C., a longstanding tradition for incoming presidents and family members.

Later in the day, she joined her family at the swearing-in ceremony, which was held indoors at the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme cold weather.

She also attended the inaugural parade at the Capital One Arena and the inaugural balls that evening.

For the day’s events, she wore a velvet navy-blue coat cinched at the waist, accessorized with minimal jewelry and leather point-toed stiletto boots.

She wore a velvet navy-blue coat cinched at the waist, accessorized with minimal jewelry and leather point-toed stiletto boots. (Getty Images)

Tiffany and Boulos tied the knot in 2022. For her special day, the bride wore a custom-made Grecian-style gown by Lebanese designer-to-the-stars Elie Saab.

Tiffany chose her wedding dress as a nod to Boulos’ heritage. “It’s a Lebanese-American wedding, so we were so happy to have Elie Saab create the magic,” said mother of the bride Marla Maples at the time, according to People magazine.

Boulos is of Lebanese and French descent and grew up in Lagos where his father, Massad, runs Boulos Enterprises and is the CEO of SCOA Nigeria.

The family is also linked to the world of Hollywood through Michael’s brother Fares, who is an actor and appeared in a 2017 episode of “The Crown.”

Boulos and Tiffany were engaged in January 2021, the day before Trump left office following defeat in the 2020 election.


Camila Alves McConaughey shines in Elie Saab at Riyadh event

Updated 20 January 2025
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Camila Alves McConaughey shines in Elie Saab at Riyadh event

DUBAI: Lebanese couturier to the stars Elie Saab took to Instagram to give a shoutout to model Camila Alves McConaughey, who wore the label to the recent concert “Life is a Dream,” led by Hollywood giant Anthony Hopkins in Riyadh.

“@camilamcconaughey attended the ‘Life Is A Dream’ concert composed by Sir Anthony Hopkins with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra alongside her husband Matthew in an ELIE SAAB Spring Summer 2025 look,” the label captioned the Instagram post.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ELIE SAAB (@eliesaabworld)

Alves McConaughey, who attended the event with her actor husband Matthew McConaughey, wore a striking yellow gown to the event, with flowing caped sleeves and a plunging neckline.

Meanwhile, US pop sensation Christina Aguilera, who performed at the Joy Awards ceremony over the weekend in Riyadh, also opted for an Elie Saab creation for the first part of her performance.

Aguilera took to the stage in a dramatic burgundy gown from Elie Saab’s Haute Couture Autumn Winter 2024 collection. The glittering gown saw Aguilera channeling old-school 1920s Hollywood glamour. The dress flowed into a feathered train, and she completed the look with a chiffon scarf, draped over her head and shoulders.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by ELIE SAAB (@eliesaabworld)

The same event saw Alves McConaughey opt for another yellow gown, this time from Oscar de la Renta.

As for the symphony concert, in a captivating blend of art and humanity, Hollywood icon Hopkins graced the Bakr Al-Shaddi Theater in Boulevard City, Riyadh, with a performance titled “Life is a Dream” as part of the Riyadh Season festivities.

Introduced by fellow actor Morgan Freeman, Hopkins opened his speech with the Arabic greeting, “As Salaam o Alaikum,” setting a tone of cultural respect and unity.

Hopkins shared his reflections on life and art, drawing from the words of Edgar Allan Poe: “I have always believed that all we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”

Reflecting on his life, he described the path from “the son of a simple baker” in South Wales to a world-renowned composer and actor.

“My life, to me, is a profound mystery,” he said. “It’s impossible to understand or take credit for the blessings I’ve been given. That’s why I believe life is a dream, and this piece, ‘Life is a Dream,’ was inspired by my dreamy childhood in South Wales, my wonderfully supportive mother and my father, who was larger than life and worked tirelessly throughout his life.”


Italian sculptress Ariana Palmieri contemplates world’s cyclicity at Tuwaiq Sculpture 

Updated 20 January 2025
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Italian sculptress Ariana Palmieri contemplates world’s cyclicity at Tuwaiq Sculpture 

RIYADH: With the theme “Then and Now: Joy in the Struggle of Making,” the sixth edition of the Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium has brought together 30 sculpture artists from around the world.

Among them is Italian artist Ariana Palmieri, whose piece “Motion of Revolution” was inspired by the movement of the solar system around the sun. Depicting the inevitable cycles of birth and death, the work contemplates the notion that birth is conditioned by assured fatality. 

Adriana Palmieri at her Tuwaiq Sculpture symposium booth. (Instagram)

“It’s all about the circularity of life — you are born, you are a child, then you are an adolescent, then you grow older, and then you die. But your life will continue after this, and we give life to other things. So it’s more about how everything is connected and a circularity of life; as humans move within the planets, the planets are moving around the sun,” Palmieri told Arab News. 

Originally from Milan, Palmieri moved to Carrara, a town known worldwide for its white marble, to study sculpting. She graduated in 2023 and the 26-year-old is one of the youngest artists amongst the group at the symposium.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@palmieri.sculpture)

She says it is an opportunity to learn and grow as an artist. 

“It’s like a dream. I didn't think they would choose me because I am so young,” she said. “The last edition was more about people that had experience. This edition, they tried to concentrate more (on) the artwork and the background of the artist,” she said. 

The finished works will be exhibited from Feb. 12-24 and moved to various locations across the city as part of Riyadh Art’s initiative to beautify the capital.

“Public art is the main thing that our sculptures can achieve because you can do big stuff and they will be like a journal in some way. I’m really, really happy that I can do something so big that will stay there so much longer than me,” she said. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by (@palmieri.sculpture)

Palmieri’s work is not merely a reflection of planetary movement but contemplates the existence of the human race and its role within a larger picture. Her work itself is a representation of this thought: As every human diminishes, remnants of them and their work on earth will be set in stone — waiting to be discovered by another. 

“I thought about nature a lot, and all of humanity. I hope at least that my art can get through this idea, to connect all the people,” she said.