ISLAMABAD: The Arab world has recently come to be known as home to some of the world’s most popular lifestyle influencers. Whether it is Huda Kattan creating stunning looks with her incredible makeup techniques or Jessica Kahawaty using her modelling work to further humanitarian causes, here’s a list of the influencers from the Middle East who have made their mark and whom Pakistanis love to follow. You should follow them too!
HUDA KATTAN
Huda Kattan is hands down the queen regnant of the UAE influencer scene. The founder of the beauty line Huda Beauty, Kattan is an Iraqi-American makeup artist, beauty blogger, and entrepreneur with nearly 40 million followers across both her own Instagram account and the official Huda Beauty handles. Kattan began her career in beauty by posting makeup tutorials on YouTube, garnering immense popularity and becoming one of the world’s most important beauty influencers.
KAREN WAZEN
Karen Wazen Bakhazi has over 1 million followers (including almost every major Pakistani fashion and celebrity stylist) and runs the lifestyle blog Karen’s Choice which is as inspiring as it is insightful. The influencer frequently posts about her life in Dubai with her three kids and equally gorgeous husband. Wazen has graced the cover of several international publications like Harper’s Bazaar and Elle and has even launched her own sunglass line. With each article she posts generally being clicked over 5,000 times within hours, Wazen’s popularity both for her blog and her Instagram account have seen the likes of beauty giant Procter & Gamble approach her to review their products and share her thoughts with her followers.
ASCIA AL FARAJ
Ascia Al Faraj, also known by her social media handle name Ascia AFK, is a Kuwaiti fashion blogger, model, and fashion designer. With over two million Instagram followers, she is considered one of the Middle East’s most influential bloggers and social media influencers. Al Faraj sports a modest look, looking radiant in a hijab, and uses her social media handles to cover her family, her skincare curations and TV appearances. She has worked with brands such as Ralph Lauren, Dior, Chanel, TAG Heuer, Net-a-Porter, and Tory Burch. She is also the face of Riva Fashion. Her fashion designs are mainly for women who wear hijab, and she has a massive following in Pakistan.
JESSICA KAHAWATY
Jessica Kahawaty is a Lebanese-Australian television host, beauty queen, model, charity worker, and most recently the face and presenter for Yahoo Maktoob’s new entertainment shows, ‘omg! NOW’ and ‘omg! NUJOOM’. Jessica has studied Bachelor of Laws and Business with a major in finance in Sydney and has set herself apart from other influencers by using her TV and modeling work to further humanitarian work.
NOUR ARIDA
Nour Arida has 2 million followers on Instagram where the Lebanese model, signed with ELITE Models management, shares her inspirations in fashion, trends, designers, lifestyle and more with her followers. Much like Kahawaty, she too uses her influencer status to further humanitarian causes. Her feed is a mix of editorials and shots of her with her husband and family and often eating pizza.
MARIA ALIA
Palestinian-Puerto Rican Maria Alia who calls Brooklyn home is a hijab-rocking model, represented by Muse Models, whose modest fashion sense mixed with both high-street and high-end looks has won her over 400,000 followers. Her Instagram page serves up Alia’s stylish takes on fashion and lifestyle.
MONA KATTAN
Recognize the last name? Mona Kattan is the sister of Huda Kattan and had grown her own influencer standing to over two million for her glamorous and joyful Instagram presence. Owner of her fragrance line Kayali, Mona also stars alongside Huda in their own reality series “Huda Boss.”
