Arab models are taking the international runway by storm

CAIRO – 21 July 2017: Here are 10 supermodels you didn’t know were of Arab descent!

Egyptian Descent:

Imaan Hammam she has an Egyptian father and a Moroccan mother, she has walked runways for big names such as Hugo Boss, Vera Wang, Versace and Prada. Hammam won the Model of the Year award in April 2014.

Hammam always encourages young girls to follow their dreams no matter what. As she said in Allure Magazine’s diversity issue, “I’m half Moroccan, half Egyptian, and I was born in Amsterdam. I’m Muslim, and I’m super proud of my heritage and of my roots. I want to be a role model for young girls who are struggling with racism or struggling with their looks or with their skin color. I had Naomi Campbell, who I looked up to as a black powerful woman. But there aren’t many Arabic models, and being an African-Arabic model, I’m trying to open doors for more Arabic girls.”


1 Imaan Hammam on Carolina Herrera FW15 – CC via Wikimedia Commons/Christopher Macsura

Elisa Sednaoui born to an Italian mother and an Egyptian-Syrian and French father, she was raised in between Egypt, Italy and France. She appeared in campaigns for Chanel and Armani and was featured on the covers of Vogue, Glamour and Vanity Fair.

Sednaoui also established a non-profit organization that promotes creative learning programs, starting with a music workshop for youngsters in Luxor, Egypt in 2014.


2 Elisa Sednaoui for Hermes – CC via Flicker/fervent-adepte-de-la-mode


3 Elisa Sednaoui at Deauville 2011 - CC via Wikimedia Commons/Georges Biard

Palestinian Descent:

The Hadid super siblings, Gigi and Bella, joined by Anwar, were born to a Palestinian father and an American mother. The three siblings are skyrocketing through the fashion scene.


7 Anwar Hadid stars in the spring summer 2017 Zadig & Voltaire campaign – AFP

Gigi has walked for Versace, Elie Saab, Tommy Hilfiger and many more. She also hosted the American Music Awards and won the International Model of the Year award in December 2016.


5 Gigi Hadid at the 2015 American Music Awards – CC via Flikr/Disney/ABC Television Group

Bella walked for Desigual, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Jacobs and more, and Anwar walked for Zadig & Voltaire and signed with IMG Models agency, like his sisters.


6 Bella Hadid - Screencap of Versace - #VFIERCE by Senio Zapruder

Tunisian Descent:

Hanaa Ben Abdesslem a Muslim Tunisian model who walked for brands such as Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and others.


8 Hanaa ben Abdesslem – File Photo

Afef Jnifen daughter of a former Tunisian ambassador to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other countries. She has worked for big brands such as L'Oreal Paris.


9 Afef Jnifen - CC via Wikimedia Commons/Alain Zirah

Moroccan Descent:

Hind Sahli has walked for designers like Oscar de la Renta, Naeem Khan, Amanda Wakeley and more.


10 Hind Sahli attends the Happy Hearts Fund Fight For Education Gala at Hammerstein Ballroom on June 16, 2016 in New York City. - AFP

Karima Adebibe who is from Moroccan and Irish-Greek origins and was the seventh model for the character Lara Croft in the video game Tomb Raider.


11 Karima Adebibe as Lara Croft - CC via Wikimedia Commons/Nicholas Wang

Algerian Descent:

Leïla Bekhti a French/Algerian actress and model who was the face of L'Oréal in 2011.


12 French actress Leila Bekhti poses as she arrives for the opening ceremony of the 68th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southeastern France, on May 13, 2015. - AFP