Middle East fashion designers have been coming on scene with the force and speed of Arabian throughbreds, conquering Paris, Milan, New York, and Dubai. Consider top designers like Lebanese Zuhair Murad (who dresses Taylor Swift), Jordanian-Brit Hasan Hejazi (whose frocks grace Paloma Faith), and Madiyah Al Sharqi, who is truly fashion royalty (her dad is the Ruler of Fujairah!). And those other Emiratis; the three gorgeous Golkar brothers, Babak, Haman and Farhan (they founded the label Emperor 1688 in 2007). So where are the Middle Eastern mannequins to help sell their designs?
It follows that the models hawking cosmetics and couture would also represent our region, putting a fresh face (and toned torso) on what has been a staunchly West-centric industry. The Middle East hasn't traditionally been the place to search for a supermodel, mostly due to a conservative culture that rejects exploitation of physical form. But that's changing. Quickly.
Yet pinpointing a singular "Middle Eastern" look is as ridiculous as identifying one perfect European, or North American face. Our region is a melting pot of races and ethnicities, creating a genetic soup that produces some spectacularly beautiful people. So let’s cut to the chase and look at some of the Middle East’s finest models. In no particular order, here's some gorgeous eye candy to help kickstart your weekend.
