Shanina Shaik attends 2025 Fashion Trust US Awards

Shanina Shaik attends 2025 Fashion Trust US Awards
Shaik traces her ancestry back to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lithuania and Australia. (Getty Images)
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Updated 09 April 2025
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Shanina Shaik attends 2025 Fashion Trust US Awards

Shanina Shaik attends 2025 Fashion Trust US Awards

DUBAI: Model Shanina Shaik and actress Sofia Boutella attended the 2025 Fashion Trust US Awards in Los Angeles this week for a ceremony which brought together designers, celebrities and industry figures to support and celebrate emerging fashion talent.

Shaik, who traces her ancestry back to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Lithuania and Australia, arrived in a sleek white gown by Cult Gaia.

The silk dress featured a cowl neckline and a floor-length, form-fitting silhouette. Tulle ties at the shoulders extended down both front and back, detailed with petal-like appliques. The gown included an open back design, with the floral embellishments continuing down sheer strands to the hem. 




Shanina Shaik wore a sleek white gown by Cult Gaia. (Getty Images)

The look was completed with minimal accessories — gold hoop earrings, neutral platform sandals and a slicked-back hairstyle. 

Meanwhile, Boutella, who is French Algerian, wore a striking red floor-length gown with a high neckline and soft, gathered pleats along the bodice. The dress featured loose, elbow-length sleeves and a cinched waist that flowed into a flared skirt. She paired the outfit with a metallic silver clutch. 

The Fashion Trust US Awards, presented by Google Shopping, celebrates emerging designers working across various disciplines, including ready-to-wear, jewelry and accessories.




Sofia Boutella wore a striking red floor-length gown with a high neckline. (Getty Images)

This year’s event was hosted by actress and singer Keke Palmer. 

Anthony Vaccarello received the Honorary Award, while other winners included Rachel Scott of Diotima for ready-to-wear, Dani Griffiths of Clyde for accessories and Rebecca Zeijdel-Paz of Beck for jewelry. Nana Kwame Adusei scooped the Sustainability Award while the Graduate accolade went to Parsons student Patrick Taylor. 

Winners received grants of $100,000-$200,000, along with mentorship opportunities through Fashion Trust US and Google Shopping.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @fashiontrustus

They were selected by the Fashion Trust US board and advisory panel, which included industry figures such as Jonathan Simkhai, Brandon Blackwood, Willy Chavarria, Jeremy Scott, Laurie Lynn Stark, Bob Mackie, Gaia Repossi, Francesco Risso, Chriselle Lim, Monique Lhuillier, Ugo Mozie, Bethann Hardison and Fernando Garcia.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @fashiontrustus

Attending the ceremony were celebrities such as Lucy Hale, Becky G, Julia Fox, Maddie Ziegler, Kate Hudson, Heidi Klum, Hailey Bieber, Ciara, Julia Fox and Mandy Moore.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by @fashiontrustus

The evening also included a performance by singer Natasha Bedingfield.


Julian Assange open to political action as Cannes hosts documentary

Julian Assange open to political action as Cannes hosts documentary
Updated 21 May 2025
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Julian Assange open to political action as Cannes hosts documentary

Julian Assange open to political action as Cannes hosts documentary
  • WikiLeaks founder makes surprise showing at festival
  • The Six Billion Dollar Man documentary premiered at Cannes and it highlights Assange's extradition fight

CANNES: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is at the Cannes Film Festival this week for the documentary “The Six Billion Dollar Man,” is thinking about how to become politically active again once he has fully recovered from prison, said his wife, Stella.
Assange, 53, returned to his native Australia after pleading guilty last June under an agreement with US officials to one count of illegally obtaining and disclosing national security materials.
The plea ended Assange’s five-year stay in a British prison, which followed seven years at the Ecuadorian embassy as he sought to avoid extradition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations.
Assange denied those allegations and called them a pretext to extradite him to the United States over WikiLeaks.
WikiLeaks in 2010 released hundreds of thousands of classified US military documents on Washington’s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq — the largest security breaches of their kind in US military history — along with swaths of diplomatic cables.
“He was in a very grave situation in the prison. He’s recovering from that,” Stella Assange told Reuters in Cannes.
“But now he’s coming to understand how grave the situation outside (prison) is and thinking, making plans to find the means of what to do about it,” she added.
“He’s very, very concerned about the state of the world and the state that we’re all in right now,” said Stella, who met Assange in London in 2011 while working as part of his legal team.
Julian and Stella Assange, wearing a brooch with a picture of British designer Vivienne Westwood holding a sign saying “Stop Killing,” walked the red carpet on Wednesday evening.
Julian has so far not spoken at any of his appearances.
Assange’s extradition fight 
The documentary from Emmy-winning director Eugene Jarecki takes on the tone of a high-tech international thriller to recount Assange’s fight against extradition, using WikiLeaks footage and archives, and previously unpublished evidence.
Jarecki, who began filming before Assange was released, said he never expected to see him walk around Cannes as a free man.
By inviting Assange, the festival was sending a message about the need for freedom of information and a free press, Jarecki told Reuters, as those values are in decline in many parts of the world according to an index from Reporters without Borders.
The director called Assange “a canary in the coal mine” in foretelling the US government’s current moves to exert more control over media access to US President Donald Trump.
“If we had taken that bit more seriously, we might have seen a bunch of this coming,” said the US director.
Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, told Reuters that the film portrayed the WikiLeaks founder as he should be shown.
“This film is absolutely necessary in terms of telling the story of free speech and what Julian Assange, his case means for the world, not just for him, but for the world,” she said.


Tradition drives the contemporary at Downtown Design Riyadh fair

Tradition drives the contemporary at Downtown Design Riyadh fair
Updated 21 May 2025
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Tradition drives the contemporary at Downtown Design Riyadh fair

Tradition drives the contemporary at Downtown Design Riyadh fair
  • Rugs, light fixtures, furniture seek to redefine modern design
  • Carpet ‘The Noorah’ based on Saudi Arabia textiles on display

RIYADH: Design is always evolving, but at Riyadh’s first Downtown Design fair, it is tradition that is shaping the contemporary.

From elegant, oversized rugs to gleaming light fixtures and bold statement chairs, artisanal pieces line up the exhibition halls at Riyadh’s JAX District, showcasing a medley of heritage pieces that are redefining what modern design looks like.

Trame Paris’ collaboration with Maison L. Drucker brings new meaning to Parisian cafe bistro chairs. The “Enlace” collection utilizes an algorithm to generate unique digital patterns that make every customizable chair a one-of-a-kind piece.

Ismail Tazi, founder of Trame, said they were “continuing this conversation between technology and craftsmanship.”

He added that as an Arab he was “very proud because ‘algorithm’ is derived from Al-Khwarizmi — a Muslim scholar who was born in today’s Uzbekistan.

“So it’s really something that represents me today and how I’m looking to balance my own heritage and still be part of this cultural revolution and define a new Arab aesthetic within this digital revolution.”

Iwan Maktabi, a brand that specializes in contemporary takes on antique rugs, displayed a number of eye-catching carpets — particularly a piece called “The Noorah.”

Made of handwoven wool and silk, the black base of the wall rug stands out with pink, orange, and silver accents, embellished with gold motifs; and is inspired by traditional Saudi Arabic textiles.

Jordan-based Naqsh Collective centralizes the concept of engravings, which is one of the first forms of art.

Blending architecture and design with traditional embroidery methods, their work becomes a mode for storytelling. One of the pieces on display is derived from the embellishments on women’s thobes, specifically around the collar.

Nermeen Abudail, co-founder of the collective, said: “In this piece, we talk about how the ladies did their embroidery in the backyards. They sat together collectively creating motifs inspired by their flora and fauna.

“Each pattern comes from a region. Amulets, flowers, cyprus trees — each holds a name, comes from a region and tells a story of why it was embroidered.”

Each piece is hand-cut, inlaid, and finished with solid brass on walnut wood.

The four-day event, running until May 23, showcases collectible works and ultra-high-end collections presented by international galleries, independent designers and manufacturers.


Brad Pitt’s ‘F1 The Movie’ to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June

Brad Pitt’s ‘F1 The Movie’ to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June
Updated 21 May 2025
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Brad Pitt’s ‘F1 The Movie’ to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June

Brad Pitt’s ‘F1 The Movie’ to premiere in Abu Dhabi this June

ABU DHABI: Brad Pitt’s Formula 1 film will return to Abu Dhabi for its regional premiere on June 25, ahead of its official Middle East release on June 26.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, “F1 The Movie” was partly shot at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by FORMULA 1 (@f1)

The Apple Original Films production follows fictional former driver Sonny Hayes (Pitt) as he returns to Formula 1 decades after a career-ending crash, teaming up with a struggling race team and a hotshot rookie played by Damson Idris.

The cast and crew will return to Abu Dhabi for the red-carpet premiere after filming 29 days across the emirate, including at Yas Marina Circuit and Zayed International Airport. The production involved 284 local crew members and 15 interns, supported by local partner Epic Films and the Abu Dhabi Film Commission’s rebate scheme.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Warner Bros. (@warnerbros)

Mohamed Dobay, of the Creative Media Authority, called the return “a fitting closing moment” to a project that has made a significant impact on Abu Dhabi’s creative economy. The film is one of 180 major productions supported by the Abu Dhabi Film Commission since 2013.


Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar

Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar
Updated 21 May 2025
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Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar

Art Basel to launch new fair in Qatar
  • Sheikha Al-Mayassa is leading the initiative in Doha
  • Builds on ‘thriving ecosystem of culture and sports’

DUBAI: Art Basel is set to launch a new edition of its globally renowned fair in Qatar, scheduled for February 2026 in Doha.

Announced on Tuesday, the inaugural Art Basel Qatar is a joint partnership between the organization’s parent company MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments, and QC+, a cultural commerce collective.

The fair will be held at M7 and the Doha Design District in Msheireb, at the heart of the city’s creative quarter.

It promises a tightly curated showcase of leading modern and contemporary art galleries, spotlighting talent from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and beyond.

The initiative builds on Qatar’s long-term cultural vision, championed by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, chairperson of Qatar Museums.

“We have built a thriving ecosystem of culture and sports … and are pleased to welcome the Art Basel organization as our partner,” she said.

The project follows Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup and aims to further position the nation as a hub for arts, sports, and tourism.

QSI’s Chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi called the partnership “part of the legacy” of the World Cup and a new chapter in QSI’s investment in culture.

Art Basel CEO Noah Horowitz said the initiative “supports artists and galleries and develops new collecting audiences,” while MCH Group CEO Andrea Zappia added that it “will attract art buyers and fans from the region and all over the world.”

Art Basel Qatar will be the fifth fair in the Art Basel portfolio, joining editions in Basel, Miami Beach, Hong Kong, and Paris.


Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts

Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts
Updated 21 May 2025
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Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts

Elyanna to perform at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix concerts
  • Elyanna known for mix of Arab, Western beats
  • Concerts to feature some of world’s top stars

DUBAI: Palestinian Chilean singer Elyanna will perform at this year’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix After-Race Concerts on Dec. 5 at the Etihad Park on Yas Island.

The young star is expected to sing some of her most popular tracks, including “Ghareeb Alay,” “Mama Eh” and her Arabic rendition of “La Vie en Rose.”

Her performance is a part of the Yasalam After-Race concerts, held alongside the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, one of the UAE’s biggest entertainment and sporting weekends.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Yasalam (@yasalamae)

Elyanna joins a high-profile lineup of artists already announced for the four-night concert series, including Benson Boone on Dec. 4, Post Malone on Dec. 5, Metallica on Dec. 6 and Katy Perry on Dec. 7.

Access to the concerts is exclusive to Formula 1 ticket holders, with each night set to feature large-scale performances at the open-air Etihad Park.

Meanwhile, Elyanna has been normalizing Arabic lyrics in the Western world, taking inspiration from artists including Lana Del Ray and Beyonce, as well as Middle Eastern legend Fayrouz.

The Los Angeles-based singer’s music is a mix of Arab and Western beats, which she attributes to her multicultural upbringing.

Elyanna has built a strong relationship with British rock giants Coldplay, collaborating with them on the song “We Pray” and joining them on stage in multiple cities, including Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Barcelona and Paris.

One of her standout appearances was during Coldplay’s four-night concert series in Abu Dhabi earlier this year, part of their “Music of the Spheres” world tour.

In April, Coldplay announced that Elyanna had again teamed up with the band to release a new version of “Ma Meilleure Ennemie,” a track originally performed by Belgian artist Stromae and French singer Pomme.

The reimagined version is featured on the extended soundtrack for season two of “Arcane,” the popular Netflix animated series based on the League of Legends universe.

The extended soundtrack features a star-studded lineup, including Twenty One Pilots, Stray Kids, King Princess, and D4vd.