Photographed by Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Arabia, February 2019.
Ciara has landed her first Vogue cover with Vogue Arabia’s February 2019 issue. On the breathtaking Arabic and English front pages, the entertainer wears a bohemian Saint Laurent dress and an Alexandre Vauthier hat, being joined on set by magnificent stallions belonging to UAE royal HH Sheikha Fatima Rashed Al Maktoum. The cover was shot in Dubai by fashion photographer Mariano Vivanco.
The postcard-worthy photo shoot is accompanied by a candid interview, in which the “Level Up” singer opens up about fame, family, and facing her fears. The Grammy-winner also declares that her hotly anticipated seventh album, to be released this year, is one of her “best works ever.”
Dress, Molly Goddard at Boutique 1; hat, Alexandre Vauthier; hair bow, Erdem. Photographed by Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Arabia, February 2019.
“I’m super excited and my vision for this project is to inject love into the world with dance,” she explains. This is not like any other album, as most of the work in studio was done while Ciara was eight months pregnant with her second child, daughter Sienna, the result of her marriage to NFL quarterback Russell Wilson. “There was something really special about that. Being a mother of two made me feel even more confident, inspired, and fearless,” she shares, when asked if motherhood reshaped her as an artist.
Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut says, “Getting to know Ciara, who I’ve been listening to since I was a teenager, was a refreshing surprise. Unlike many stars of her caliber, she is an absolute pleasure to work with, proving that even with millions of fans and album sales, you can keep your feet on the ground.”
Photographed by Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Arabia, February 2019.
Ciara follows other groundbreaking women to appear on the cover of Vogue Arabia, including HRH Princess Hayfa bint Abdullah, Nancy Ajram, Gigi Hadid, Rihanna, Halima Aden, Bella Hadid, Naomi Campbell, Afef Jnifen, and Hailey Bieber.
The February 2019 issue also shines a spotlight on emerging Arab designers focusing on streetwear and ready-to-wear, changing the fashion landscape in the Middle East. This feature marks the launch of the #buyarabdesigners campaign, which will have new developments soon.
Coat, skirt, bow pin, Erdem; ring, Ciara’s own. Photographed by Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Arabia, February 2019.
In celebration of 2019 being the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, Vogue Arabia investigates the impact of the Catholic Pope’s first visit to the Gulf from February 3-5. On the topic of love, we asked regional figures such as filmmaker Ali F Mostafa and model Kenza Fourati to pen heartfelt letters to their most cherished ones; and 25-year-old Libyan-American journalist and public speaker Noor Tagouri is interviewed by her friend and former Vogue Arabia cover star Ashley Graham, discussing important issues such as identity and representation.
Top, cami top, skirt, Prada; boots, Mango. Photographed by Mariano Vivanco for Vogue Arabia, February 2019.
Other stories not to be missed include an exclusive sit-down with celebrity chef Alain Ducasse at his new Dubai restaurant, Mix; an exploration on how the voluptuous hourglass figure became this season’s must-have accessory; and an interview with Dr Marwa Ali, aesthetic specialist at The Wellness Clinic at Harrods in London and the “queen of injectables.”
Pick up the latest issue when it hits newsstands on 1 February, and subscribe to the magazine here to get your copy. Vogue Arabia’s February 2019 issue is a must-read!
Hair: César Ramirêz
Makeup: Niki M’nray using Fenty Beauty
Photography assistants: Aljaz Habjan, Scott Archibald
Digital technician: Cavit Erginsoy
Fashion coordinator: Danica Zivkovic
Fashion assistants: Mohammad Hazem Rezq, Nour Altoukhi
Production: Snap14
Location: Dubai Best Locations
Special thanks to Meliá Desert Palm Hotel
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