Georgina Rodriguez’s reality show to explore luxury life in Saudi Arabia in season 3

The show will follow Georgina Rodriguez's Paris Fashion Week debut when she walked at the Vetements Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show. (Getty Images)
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Updated 27 August 2024
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Georgina Rodriguez’s reality show to explore luxury life in Saudi Arabia in season 3

DUBAI: Georgina Rodríguez is set to return to Netflix with the third season of her reality TV show “Soy Georgina” (“I Am Georgina”) — with Netflix teasing a heavy focus on her life in Saudi Arabia.

The new season will follow Rodriguez’s life after her move to the Kingdom, along with her football star beau Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

“What is true luxury like in Saudi Arabia? We will find out when Gio and her family settle in Riyadh with Cristiano's signing for Al-Nassr,” Netflix stated.

According to the announcement, the season will also show Rodriguez enjoying a number of firsts, including the opening of her first beach house, Villa Perla, to starring in an international campaign for a famous clothing brand and her biggest dream — making her debut at Paris Fashion Week.

Previously, in season two, one of the episodes featured Ronaldo and was set almost entirely in Dubai – following an emotional and touching moment as he surprised Rodriguez by lighting up the iconic Burj Khalifa with a special message on her 28th birthday.  

“It was a very emotional day. Well, it was and it still is, because in the end, those moments and those positive experiences stay with you,” she said in the show. “And day after day, it’s like a thrill, like a spark that keeps you happy and active and alive.” 

The show also touched on a more poignant and darker moment in her life – losing one of her twin babies, son Angel. Rodriguez said she pulled herself together thanks to her other children and her partner Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, the star couple took some time off from their hectic schedules to explore Saudi Arabia’s coastline and the Red Sea development in June.

The two took to social media to post photos from their relaxing getaway at what seemed to be The St. Regis Red Sea Resort. They were seen enjoying the resort and its pristine beaches along with their children.

“My world,” Rodriguez captioned her post, featuring several images from the vacation.

In one of the photos, Portuguese footballer Ronaldo can be seen relaxing in a pool with his son Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., who turned 14 this June.

The same month, Rodriguez was spotted showing her support for Ronaldo by attending the King’s Cup final between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. Rodriguez sported a white Al-Nassr jersey with Ronaldo’s name on it, paired with flared latex pants and heels.




Rodriguez wore a necklace from the Egyptian brand Nado’s Jewelry. (Instagram)

The couple was recently spotted enjoying a staycation at The Red Sea Project, where Rodriguez wore a necklace from the Egyptian brand Nado’s Jewelry’s Perle collection, featuring large, rounded links alternating between polished gold and diamond-encrusted surfaces.


World Halal Food Festival returns to London for ninth year

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World Halal Food Festival returns to London for ninth year

LONDON: The world’s largest halal food festival returns to London for its ninth year, with organizers anticipating more than 20,000 visitors.

The World Halal Food Festival will take place from Sept. 28-29 at the London Stadium, displaying a wide range of cuisines from around the globe.

The event features a carefully selected lineup of vendors, chefs and food stalls representing countries such as Pakistan, Turkey, Morocco and Indonesia, among others.

Event director Waleed Jahangir spoke to Arab News, noting the growing demand for halal-certified products as the global Muslim population continues to expand.

“The growing interest in ethical, sustainable and high-quality food sources has attracted not just Muslim consumers, but people from all backgrounds to halal food,” Jahangir said.

A new addition this year is the Celebrity Chef Cookery Theatre, hosted by Shelina Permalloo, known for her appearances on ITV’s “Cooking with the Stars.” She will be joined by other top chefs in leading interactive cooking demonstrations. Celebrities such as Nadiya Hussain and Big Zuu, as well as actors from Netflix, are expected to attend the event.

The festival has expanded its family-friendly offerings with an enlarged childrens’ zone and bazaar. It has also partnered with Our Future Health to provide a mobile health clinic on-site, giving attendees the opportunity to participate in health research and have checkups.

“We also encourage discussions and conversations at the festival through interactive panels, giving people from all walks of life a space to connect over shared values of food, culture and community,” Jahangir added.

Organizers emphasized their commitment to supporting a diverse range of businesses, offering smaller, local vendors prime spaces at the festival to ensure they have high visibility.

The “Local Flavours” will focus on artisanal food producers, giving them a platform to show their products to thousands of festival visitors eager to explore new tastes.

 


Neymar, Bruna Biancardi star in campaign for Saudi perfume label

Updated 22 September 2024
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Neymar, Bruna Biancardi star in campaign for Saudi perfume label

DUBAI: From Georgina Rodriguez to Bruna Biancardi, the partners of Saudi Pro League football players are forging links with fashion and fragrance labels in Saudi Arabia.  

Brazilian influencer and model Biancardi unveiled a campaign with Saudi perfume label Ibrahim Al-Qurashi over the Saudi National Day weekend.

The mother-of-one stars in the advert alongside her soccer superstar partner Neymar, who is seen sporting a crisp white thobe in the images and short video clip.

The couple are promoting the brand’s new Musk collection and Biancardi shows off a dark green dress in the new campaign.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez, who now calls Riyadh home, is the partner of soccer icon and Al-Nassr player Cristiano Ronaldo. She is often spotted out and about in the Saudi capital and previously starred in a campaign for Saudi perfume label Laverne, in addition to attending launch events hosted by the luxury brand.

Known for her fashion sense, the Argentine model also posed in a sleek dress by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar in shoot for Hia Magazine in May. The look featured asymmetrical sleeves with a triangular neckline and high slit.

Georgina Rodriguez posed for Hia Magazine in a dress by Saudi designer Yousef Akbar this summer. (Hia Magazine/  Esra Sam)

Season three of Rodriguez’s reality TV show “I Am Georgina” hit Netflix on Sept. 18, with fans offered a sneak peek inside the power couple’s life in Saudi Arabia. We see Rodriguez and her family – including the couple’s children and her stepson Cristiano Jr. – at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort in Saudi Arabia, as well as at their home in Riyadh.

The model is known for highlighting Saudi Arabia’s touristic appeal with her 63 million Instagram followers and recently took to the social media platform to reshare a video clip by Visit Saudi, captioning it: “This is real, this is Saudi Arabia.” 

The video captures the diverse landscapes of Saudi Arabia, showcasing everything from the desert areas to the country’s seascapes. It highlights the Kingdom’s history and modern developments, featuring scenes of golden sand dunes, the Ithra cultural center, the ancient site of AlUla, the mirrored Maraya concert hall, the Red Sea and lush greenery in gardens and forests.

Rodriguez has been living in Saudi Arabia since January 2023 and has made a point of exploring the Kingdom, with trips to the Red Sea coast and her evenings out in Riyadh being showcased on her Instagram account.


Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez’s kids show off Arabic skills

Updated 22 September 2024
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Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodriguez’s kids show off Arabic skills

DUBAI: A viral clip showing the children of Saudi-based Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and his long-term partner Georgina Rodriguez speaking Arabic has created quite a stir among social media users.

The video shows Ronaldo’s son Mateo greeting passersby with the phrase, “Peace be upon you,” before daughter Alana is seen trying to correct her Arabic pronunciation and then showing off her ability to count in Arabic.

Last year, the couple’s daughters Alana and Bella went viral Rodriguez posted a series of Instagram Stories showing them speaking and singing in Arabic.

“My family, my family, I love my mom, I love my brother,” the two girls sang in the clip.

“Our daughters already sing in Arabic,” Rodriguez captioned the video in Spanish, tagging Ronaldo.

In another Instagram Story, 5-year-old Alana recited the days of the week in Arabic.

“Our daughters already speak Arabic,” Rodriguez wrote in Spanish.

The family moved to the Kingdom in January last year after Ronaldo signed with Saudi Pro League team Al-Nassr.

Earlier this month, Ronaldo said it was easy for him and his family to adapt to Saudi Arabia after signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Saudi football club.

“To be honest, I am really happy to be there (Saudi Arabia),” Ronaldo said in an interview with former Portuguese footballer, Rio Ferdinand.

“For me the adaptation was easy, and I really love it to be there,” he said.


Arab models dazzle at Milan Fashion Week

Updated 21 September 2024
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Arab models dazzle at Milan Fashion Week

DUBAI: Arab models are taking over Milan Fashion Week, turning heads at renowned fashion brands such as Gucci and Missoni.

French Algerian model Loli Bahia walked the Gucci show wearing a charcoal grey, tailored zip-up jacket with a prominent, pointed collar and a slightly oversized fit, emphasizing a relaxed yet structured silhouette.

The jacket was paired with matching wide-leg trousers and the ensemble was accessorized with a sleek, metallic choker and a pair of white loafers with black details.

Loli Bahia wore a charcoal grey set. (Getty Images)

Mona Tougaard, who is of Danish, Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian decent, also walked the Gucci runway. She wore a sleeveless white dress with a high neckline. The dress was designed with a thigh-high slit and was paired with black knee-high leather boots that had a glossy finish and a chunky heel. For accessorizes, Tougaard wore a gold choker, and matching bracelets on each wrist.

Mona Tougaard, who is of Danish, Turkish, Somali and Ethiopian decent, also walked the Gucci runway. (Getty Images)

The show, presenting the Italian fashion house’s spring/summer 2025 collection, “Casual Grandeur,” featured draped or sleeveless dresses in various colors, each adorned with golden buckles, alongside see-through lace frocks.

There were looks that mirrored 1960s styles with short A-line skirts, structured jackets and shorts. Long coats were worn over tank tops and long denim trousers. Some coats were adorned with sparkling fringes.

The color palette included grey — just like Bahia’s look — brown, different shades of green, white, orange and red.

Meanwhile, part-Saudi model Amira Al-Zuhair and British Moroccan catwalk star Nora Attal walked the Missoni show.

Al-Zuhair wore a dynamic eye-catching ensemble. (Getty Images)

Al-Zuhair wore a dynamic, eye-catching ensemble featuring bold, wavy stripes in black, white and yellow. The outfit included an asymmetrical top adorned with exaggerated ruffled detailing that cascaded down one side, paired with a high-waisted bikini bottom. Completing the look were matching high-heeled sandals in vibrant yellow, adding an extra pop of color.

Attal also stepped onto the runway in a vibrant and eclectic ensemble featuring a mix of bold colors and patterns. She wore a one-shoulder top adorned with wavy stripes in black, white, red, yellow and blue.

The top showcased a sharply angled, asymmetrical hem and was paired with high-waisted leggings that echoed the color theme through large, color-blocked panels. The look was completed with classic black pointed-toe heels.


Gigi Hadid celebrates daughter Khai’s fourth birthday

Updated 21 September 2024
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Gigi Hadid celebrates daughter Khai’s fourth birthday

  • Zayn Malik shares touching message on Instagram 

DUBAI: US Dutch Palestinian model Gigi Hadid celebrated her daughter Khai’s fourth birthday this week with a heartfelt message and a series of images shared on Instagram.

Hadid offered her 77.4 million followers a glimpse into her daughter’s personality, writing: “Our girl is 4 today, and we celebrated all week. She loves animals (fantastical ones too), music, Baby Yoda, all things nature and bugs, ‘Descendants,’ anything squishy or miniature, and, if possible, will be in the water from dawn until dusk.”

Describing Khai as “curious, adventurous, loving, and oh-so-witty,” Hadid added: “Khai, it is my life’s greatest joy and pride to be your mama! Thank you for the four best years of my life — you remind me to live life to the fullest every day, in the most simple and beautiful ways. Your possibilities are endless, my sweetest love!”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Gigi Hadid (@gigihadid)

The birthday celebrations included an outdoor arts and crafts session, allowing Khai and her friends to explore their creativity.

The event featured a Baby Yoda-themed cake, a nod to the birthday girl’s fondness for the character from the Star Wars series “The Mandalorian.” 

The cake was playfully inscribed with the phrase “May the FOURce be with you.” The birthday festivities also featured pony rides and water activities.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Zayn Malik (@zayn)

Khai’s father, British Pakistani singer Zayn Malik, also shared a touching message on Instagram. “Happy birthday to the most important person in my life,” he wrote. “I love you more than words allow me to express, beyond proud to call you my daughter … grateful for every second I get to spend next to you as you become the incredible person I know you already are.”

He added: “Four years ago today my life changed forever, and I wouldn’t be the man I am today without you.”

Khai’s name is a nod to Hadid’s Palestinian grandmother Khairiah.

Hadid and Malik called it quits in 2021 but Hadid has previously opened up about co-parenting with her daughter’s father. She told The Times that “keeping the importance of the child’s happiness at the forefront” is what is most important to her.

“You have a long life alongside this person,” Hadid added of her ex-partner, before noting that she tries to schedule work commitments “when Khai is with her dad.”

She said: “That she can be with both parents makes me very happy.”