Manuel Arnaut. Photo: Ziga Mihelcic
This month, I had the great pleasure of witnessing a groundbreaking moment for Arab cinema, as I was part of the small group of people invited to watch the premiere of Perfect Strangers, Netflix’s first ever Arab production. You probably remember reading about this project in our January issue. Not only was I blown away by the performances of former Vogue cover stars Nadine Labaki and Mona Zaki, but I was also pleased to see the spread of regional talent on a global platform. It’s amazing to know that in Riyadh, but also from Moscow to New York, millions of people will have easy access to this movie, which bravely targets so many issues that are not always discussed publicly in the Arab world, such as alcohol addiction and adultery, among others.
Sonia Ammar. Photo: Emmanuel Giraud
It also shows Arab actors in their full acting glory, proving their great range outside the stereotypical roles of terrorists, carpet sellers, or mafiosos that our actors are generally cast in Hollywood. The movie has been receiving mixed reviews due to its nature of pushing boundaries and discussing less comfortable subjects, but personally, I support it. On the topic of Hollywood, this month, Sonia Ammar is dressed to kill in a beautiful photo shoot and interview that celebrates the first blockbuster role for the Tunisian-French talent. She plays Liv McKenzie in the latest installment of the cult teen movie franchise Scream. I can’t wait to see where Sonia will take her acting career next, and I wonder if she will continue to model.
André Leon Talley. Photo: Instagram.com
As I’m writing this editor’s letter from Paris couture week, I can’t help but think about the recent passing of two men who helped to shape fashion as we know it: André Leon Talley, the groundbreaking Vogue editor, and the revolutionary French couturier Manfred Thierry Mugler. Talley was a mythical figure in the fashion world, a lover of the most refined things in life, and a real inspiration for all in the industry. I remember reading his unmissable monthly column, Life With André, in Vogue US when I was just an intern at Vogue Portugal. His words would take me to a world of glamour and sparkle, when my job at that time was far from it – more often than not consisting of helping carry clothes on shoots and writing the less-than-exciting advertorials that no one wanted to write. Talley will always be remembered and loved.
Thierry Mugler with Jerry Hall, 1995. Photo: Getty
Manfred Thierry Mugler, whom we had the honor of working closely with for our September 2019 cover featuring Kim Kardashian, was a fashion visionary who empowered women and Black models, and created designs that made the world stop. Even after selling his brand to Clarins in 1997, his archival pieces were still worn by the hottest performers and displayed and celebrated in exhibitions around the world. He will always be remembered as one of the most creative names in the industry.
Lastly, I would like to remind our readers that next month Vogue Arabia will celebrate its 5th anniversary, and I cannot wait to share the incredible edition we are preparing. I would be lying if I said that at the Vogue office we are not feeling the pressure to make our best issue ever, and I cannot wait to share what we are working on. Let the countdown begin…
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