#She would most definitely find more exciting ways to style her hijab than this but I’m not capable of coming up with those ideas | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hufflepuff-ish · 5 years

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The Skam 11 questions tag (don’t quote me on this, I just wanted to give this a title lol)

rules:

always repost the rules

answer the questions given to you by the one who tagged you!

give 11 questions

tag 11 people

Thank you @hufflepuffsh for tagging me babe x (lowkey would love to know your answers to my questions but don’t want you to be tagged twice lol)

1. Which remake/og sqaud do you think you would personally fit into the most?

This is such a difficult question, oof. So I’m shy, but I’m also a good listener, and I try to be supportive of my friends, sometimes I’m more with myself between my own shell but I also like loosening up and having fun. I think because of that my answer is Skam NL’s squad (honesly maybe it’s just because I’m biased lol). They’re so accepting and loving, and I feel like their general energy is similar enough to mine (but way cooler), so I think they’d just accept me as I am and they would be easy for me to get along with.

2. What is your favourite remake and why?

Skam NL. S2 was definitely a journey and I didn’t like all of its aspects, but I just love the dynamics between the characters, the aesthetics, the music choices, the cinematography, and the characters are probably the closest to my heart out of all the remakes.

3. What is objectively the best remake and why?

Probably Druck. They have great actors, they make changes but still keep the main issues of every season, their have great music choices, their social media team is great and that’s just what comes into mind.

4. Opinions on each of the girl squads?

SKAM NL - where do I even start??? I love each one of them soooooooo much. I love them all together even more. I don't even need anything, just give me scenes of then together and I'll be thrilled. (GIVE US A THIRD SEASON). Each girl is really her own character and they definitely stand out to me when compared to the other remakes.

SKAM ITALIA - I have a complicated relationship the squad. I love them but it feels like I’m watching a group of college girl. Silvia isn't a character that I like too much, though the actress is cute. I like Eleonora, but that's pretty much it. My favorites are probably Eva and Federica (I relate a lot to Fede because of her looks). They have a good dynamic, though not as much as the Italian boy squad. They maybe feel a bit less close in my opinion. Also, the writers always make me feel like Federica is only there to give them information on stuff and make a joke here and there, so if they would have put more thought and effort into her character maybe it’d feel like the squad is more,,, real if you will.

DRUCK - hi, I'm controversial on main. I... don't really care for them as a squad?? They're cute but I don't feel much of a connection to them (as a squad), or to their friendships. No idea why. I do find them interesting as individual characters, though and seeing them happy at the end of s3 was great. I'm definitely excited for s4.

SKAM FRANCE - s4 ruined them for me. I liked Emma in s1, Manon was always nice in my opinion, Daphne was getting on my good side in s3, Alexia has always been one of my favorites in this remake, and Imane is absolutely great. Then their friendship got ruined. But, if I'll ignore s4, they were a squad that I enjoyed watching and I really felt like each girl had her own thing, and that they were more of a group of random girls brought together than the og squad.

SKAM AUSTIN - I honestly love them more than I realize. Their friendship has a lot of growing to do, but I loved the scene when Grace confessed to them about Daniel's brother. Within the squad I probably like Jo's relationships the most, partly because she's my fave and partly because she just has a really loving heart. The other girls aren’t may favorites out of all the remakes but they have a warm corner in my heart.

SKAM ESPANA - They’re my Spanish babies. I love them and they just seem like this cute and cool girl squad. They’re not perfect and there are definitely things to come, no matter who’ll be the main of s3, but they love each other a lot and I think that they’ll grow together as individuals.

WTFOCK - I'm not the best person to talk about this remake because I missed like half of s1, but whatever. They remind me a bit more of the og squad, and I love the friendships between Hanna and Zoë, and Zoë and Yasmina. I don't really like Luka, I can't really explain why but she doesn't really feel as part of the squad to me, and Amber is just okay.

5. Favourite hairstyle out of all the remakes? (this includes any hijab styles of the Sanas)

I love Cris with her hair in a low ponytail, and I love the half up hairstyle that Skam NL uses a lot. When it comes to hijabs, so far my favorite was Sana’ s in the og’s s4 when it was a bit loose under her chin because it really fit her well.

6. Who do you think from og/remakes would have a youtube channel and what would they post about? (not including hei briskeby or lucas rubio’s yt channel)

Liv could totally have a music youtube channel because I feel like that’s realistic to starting musicians these days.

I can see the Italian boy squad having a youtube channel where they post vlogs and pranks lmao.

Sam could totally have a beauty channel where she does hauls and stuff.

Basile would have a youtube channel for pranks and magic tricks (idk why but I can really imagine him doing magic tricks????? lmao)

7. Pick someone you think is underappreciated from og/remakes and explain why you think they should be appreciated more.

Hmmmmmm another difficult question. I’m going to ignore the fact that I’m only supposed to mention one character.

The balloon squad - they’re honestly the most refreshing Muslim representation that I’ve come across because they’re just this bunch of dudes who run a hilarious youtube channel and love to have a good time. I love them SO MUCH and I wish we got an Elias season so we could get to know them better. Highkey my favorite boys from og Skam.

Federica - I probably talked about it enough times but she’s so underappreciated. The actress (Martina) is gorgeous and Federica is a ray of sunshine that the fandom tends to ignore. Also, I want to know how she knows so much about almost everything that’s happening in their school.

Shay - She’s definitely the most underrates Isak. Hopefully s3 will happen and she’ll be the main, so she’ll be more appreciated. Personally, I’m on the fence about how I feel about Shay, but I would watch the hell out of her season and getting more music from her, Marlon and Tyler would be amazing!

8. Favourite outfit/clothing item?

Isa’s green scarf, and honestly, any scarf/coat that the og girl squad wore because they always seemed fluffy, warm, comfortable and had pretty pastel colors.

9. Which character do you think is most similar to you?

Physically, it’s definitley Federica in terms of height and her and Hanna in terms of body size. Aside from that, the characters that I feel I'm most like are Hanna, Martino and s1 og Eva. The three of them are pretty simple, dare I say “””boring”””, and that’s how I see myself, lol. Also, Martino has this keeping things to himself things that he does and I relate to the hell out of that. Hanna has a really soft and nice vibe, which I think can be said about me haha.

10. Do you like the Eva season (season 1)?

Yes! The more remakes I started watching, the more I realized that I actually really like s1 because we get to see the girls becoming friends, and there are a lot of iconic scenes in s1 (Noora dragging William, the girl squad fighting with Chris’ girlfriend) and I learned to appreciate Eva’s journey to becoming her own person.

11. (Insert your own question that you’d like to answer!) Which representation do you think Skam should show other than the existing ones?

I don’t remember if I ever posted about this, but I would LOVE to see a Jewish character in one of the remakes. I think this idea can have so much potential (and I’m part Jewish so I’m biased) because there are really interesting things that could be discussed and shown - anti-Semitism from what I know is becoming more popular again and I’m always waiting to see if one of the remakes (especially Skam France, Skam Austin and Druck) will discuss it, and a Jewish character could have a really interesting relationships with the Sana character and they could have great conversations about the expectation from them and that judgement they get from people inside and outside of their religion.

My 11 questions:

If you could create an ultimate girl squad, who out of the skam universe would be in it and why?

If you could change one thing in each remake, what would it be?

What is one plotline that you wish to see in a remake of your choice? (go wild lol)

Which side character would you want to have their own season?

What do you wish the fandom would appreciate more in each remake? (could be a season, a character, a scene, anything)

If you could create a crossover between the og/one of the remakes and a movie/tv series/book, what would it be?

A crack ship that you wish would happen?

Is there a character that is very different from you/you never thought you would like, but you ended up loving?

What is your favorite friendship?

Do you read any og/remakes fanfiction and if so, do you have any favorite fanfictions?

Would you have preferred if Skam worked a bit more like Skins did, in terms of every character gets a full episode from their pov instead of an entire season?

I’m tagging: @lonelyfridays , @matteohnah, @feelinsorad, @amystylezz, @eliottlallemant, @xxviii-xi-mcmxcviii, @lil-milkovich, @spockhasfeelingstoo, @miaundalex, @pampammmxum, @vnesshudgens, @promisethestraz but of course only if you want to and if anyone who’s not tagged wants to answer these consider yourself tagged!

#skam #tag #personal #it's honestly the best tag I've come across cause original questions are super interesting

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asfeedin · 4 years

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500px Commercial Grants: I am: Woman Campaign

The 500px “I am: woman” Commercial Collection was inspired by and shot for “Project ShowUs”, an initiative put together by Dove, Girl Gaze, and Getty Images. The Project was first launched in 2019 and won a Cannes Lion, Silver Lion, Glass: The Lion for Change award, for their groundbreaking work devoted to shattering beauty stereotypes.

Representation of women in advertising hasn’t changed in over a decade. As visual thought leaders, advertisers, marketers, and creatives, we need to be more progressive when it comes to the portrayal of women in advertising:

“70% of women still don’t feel represented in media and advertising.” – Dove Impact of Beauty Stereotypes Quant Study 2019

By shifting this narrative, women reclaim ownership over how they are seen and valued within global culture. It provides space for young girls to recognize value within themselves and for women to understand that there is no ‘cookie-cutter’, ‘one-size-fits-all’, recipe to define what a woman is.

For this collection, 500px worked with nine international photographers who photographed over 80 authentic women who are breaking stereotypes and adding personal context to explain how they identify, who they are, and things they are proud of. The photographers worked intimately with each woman to help keyword her content, providing real keywords that accurately represent who they are as individual people in 2020.

In this Collection you will find leaders, achievers, women in power, business owners, survivors, mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and people who contribute to a community of women who empower one another to stay strong. They contribute to a louder voice within advertising, insisting media and advertisers reflect the authentic experience of women around the world.

Our photographers:

Toronto, Canada 6 women

“I often think about how power is distributed in photography, with subjects often having little say in what they wear, how they act, and how they’re presented. It was refreshing to be able to capture someone simply as they were, on their terms. I chose to highlight the type of creative role models that I would’ve wanted to see growing up, especially ones that would describe themselves as proud, comfortable, and strong. Each shoot was with a minimal set up and small crew; they felt tender, intimate. When I was capturing one subject with her mother, she even told me that I wasn’t just taking pictures; I was “gifting moments”.”

Meet: Claire: Dancer, Woman of Colour, Flexibility, Student, Creative, Sisterhood Vicky & Hong: Together, Mother, Daughter, Bonding Justine: Working at Home, Illustrator, Artist

Milwaukee, USA 16 women

“My experience working on the #ShowUs project was definitely eye-opening. I worked with over 15 different women coming from all walks of life and I learned so much. I chose to work with such a large group because I wanted to challenge myself as an artist. Also, as an individual I wanted to learn more about these individual women and be able to tell their stories through their photos. It was so empowering working with everyone and hearing their stories and being able to represent them in their most authentic self.”

Meet: Taylor: Daughter, Teeth Gap, Bright, Writer, Hair Texture Afrah: Education, Hijab, Middle Eastern, Strong, Intelligent, Woman Cynthia: Latina, Down to Earth, Peaceful, Proud, Elegance Teresa: Entrepreneur, Resilient, Black Woman, Style

Podol’sk, Himki, Moscow, Russia Balashikha, Berlin, Germany 18 women

“When I was contacted by 500px to do this project, every fibre of my soul screamed, “Yes!” I was thrilled to start scouting people for it. I tend to use “real” women for my artwork anyway, so it was exciting to work with women of all ages and personalities. They inspire me and others with their love or at least readiness to love aspects of our bodies that society has been repressing in the beauty standards for so long – stretch marks, skin discolouration, scars, wrinkles, tattoos, etc. Mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, yoga goddesses, athletes, artists, makers, and inventors. Tender and passionate, caring and firm, strong and soft, shy and confident, serious and bursting with joy. Each and every woman encompasses so much more than her body. What an honor it has been to shoot 18 different women for this project, in the most intimate of settings – in their homes, with their loved ones, sharing things that bring them so much joy. Gently guiding them through the process and allowing them the freedom to be their real selves, all I can hope for is that the intimacy we shared those days translates well on the portraits I took in February.”

Meet: Iryna: Russian, Yoga, Fitness, Wellness, Peace Anna: Badminton Player, Burn, Russian, Dance, Beauty, Happy Lyudmila, Inna, Tatyana & Varvara: Self Sufficient Women, 3 Generations, Family, Home, Sister, Mother, Daughter, Grandmother Daria: Strong, Body Builder, Confident, Powerful, Sporty Body

Kolkata, India 4 women

“It was a great first experience to participate in a guided project such as this. I was able to portray natural, beautiful women, in a candid manner, something I already love to do. It was a new experience to shoot outside of my home country of Germany, but it helped push me out of my comfort zone and create something wonderful.”

Meet: Munmun: Teenage, Confident, Joyful, Smile, Eyes Indriani: Teacher, In Control of My Future, Mother in Law, Brave, Individual

Maryland, USA 4 women

“It was so wonderful to work on this project and showcase women who are not normally represented, myself included. One of my subjects described it as, “the best she’s felt during a time in her life where she needed a confidence boost.” The photos of her in her natural element made her feel beautiful. I, myself was one of the subjects, and as someone that has the rare genetic condition: epidermolysis bullosa, it was empowering to be encouraged by a project to embrace scars as they are powerful and beautiful.”

Meet: Sharleen: Mother, Weight Lifter, Asian, Filipino, Strong Winnie: Photographer, Business Owner, Mother, Epidermolysis Bullosa Molly: Single Mother, Acupuncturist, Working Mom, Red Hair Liz: New Mom, Breast Feeding, Calligraphy, Small Business Owner

Toronto, Canada 7 women

“I enjoyed working on Project #ShowUs because it gave me the opportunity to shoot different types of women who are not typically portrayed in the media. It was important for me to take part in this to not only represent myself but other women as well. Showcasing diversity plays an important role in my life. Through photographing other women, I have come to realize that we’re all in this together and are trying our best to create more diversity.”

Meet: Danielle: Baker, Ethnic, Young Woman, Weight, Beautiful, Celebration Birdie & Hasanna: Natural, Companionship, Togetherness, Friendship Jorian: Black Motherhood, Confident, Proud, Skin Colour, Pride Basma: Biracial Femininity, Curls, Female, Confident

Kelowna, Canada 10 women

“I highly enjoyed being a part of this project. A lot of the women I worked with were women I was acquainted with and admired for different reasons, but hadn’t spent much time with. The project required me to authentically portray these women and showcase how they wanted to be represented, it was a great opportunity to really learn about them and who they are and what really makes them so unique. It was a beautiful experience and I came out of it with even more admiration and respect for these extraordinary women, who in their everyday lives are as true to themselves as they can be. Each model I photographed is very different, but a few things they all share is passion, their own sense of individuality, being inspirations to their communities, and beauty.”

Meet: Ashna & Zenaeja: Support, Friendship, Encouragement, Teenagers Rhythm: Arts & Crafts, Creative, Work, Success Diversity Oluwatosin: Cool Attitude, Street, Hip Hop, Dancer, Performer

Toronto, Canada 10 women

“This project was really important to me as it focused on and showcased women in every way. It was really empowering to these women, especially while I was pregnant. I think working on this project helped me gain an understanding of women’s individuality and perspective in so many ways. Working so closely with each model, I got to have a peek inside some of their most sacred spaces and it was really special to photograph that. I’ll remember and cherish this project as a one of a kind opportunity.”

Meet: Rachel: Soon to be Mom, Growing Tummy, Worker, Bad Ass, Shy, Strong, Confident Gabby: Self Love, Self Care, Mental Health, Tattoos, Confidence Yona: Grandmother, Cook, Excitement, Great Grandmother, Family Rachael: Business Woman, Integrity, Individuality, Interior Designer

Queens, USA 10 women

“Project ShowUs is a great initiative for 500px and other companies to participate in. It gave me the pleasure of photographing a diverse set of women in their own environments. It made them comfortable and gave me a peek into every woman’s life and their sense of strength. I was able to show that they are beautiful, natural, and raw.”

Meet: Jade: New Yorker, Wall Street, Happy Carla: Mother, NYC, Flowers, Family Louise: Flowarts, Stretch, Empowered Nicole: Artist, Brazilian, Photographer, Brooklyn

You Might Also Like These Articles: Contributor Elena Slyusar on What Makes a “good” or “bad” Photo Contributor Marvin Herrera on Nostalgia in His Latest Licensing Series 10 Tips for Working With Models Everything You Need to Know About Model Releases

Tags: 500px, Campaign, commercial, Grants, WOMAN

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lindyhunt · 6 years

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We Talked to Huda Kattan, Jen Atkin (and Others!) About Why Dubai Should Be On Everyone’s Beauty Radar

When you think of the beauty industry and its capitals, you likely think of the usual four cities: New York, London, Milan and Paris. They also happen to be the fashion capitals of the world. Or at least they were, once upon a time.

But thanks in large part to social media and the access it offers us, inspiration and influence now comes from, literally, all around the globe.

And one of the cities that’s playing a major role in the beauty industry right now is Dubai, boasting beauty trends that are very different from those coming out of the west. Middle Eastern beauty in general tends to take a “more is more” approach. Bold brows and false lashes aren’t reserved for special occasions—for many women, they’re part of a daily routine.

And as a Middle Eastern woman myself, I know this firsthand. While I rarely step out in a full face of makeup, some of my favourite childhood memories involve gathering at a family member’s house before a wedding, where all the women in the family would get ready together. That’s where I was introduced to things like lip overlining, hair extensions and enough kohl eyeliner to fill a drugstore aisle.

That’s why when Emirates invited me to explore Dubai and get to know not only the city, but also its budding beauty scene, I couldn’t say no. So I happily hopped on a 13-hour-long flight in search of beauty secrets from the industry experts in Dubai, land of bold brows and flawless contour.

Dubai – where the world comes to meet | Image Credit: @JordHammond #MyDubai #EmiratesAirline #HelloTomorrow

A post shared by Emirates (@emirates) on Oct 26, 2017 at 8:01am PDT

What I didn’t realize was that my glam education would start before the plane even took off. Emirates prides itself on its comfort, glamour and excess. In fact, I learned that a single first class seat on an Emirates flight—complete with on-board showers, a Bulgari kit of amenities, the largest on-flight screen of any airline (32 inches!), loungewear that uses Hydra Active Microcapsule Technology to release motion-activated, nutrient-rich sea kelp which prevents dehydration and stimulates circulation (!!!)—is valued at around half a million dollars.

Pack even more into your trip to Dubai when you fly with us. ‘My Emirates Pass’ gives you access to over 250 exclusive offers across the city, simply by showing your boarding pass. For more details, click on the link in our bio. #MyDubai #EmiratesAirline #HelloTomorrow

A post shared by Emirates (@emirates) on Jan 3, 2018 at 8:05am PST

Then there are the flight attendants, who I learned have a major beauty trick up their sleeves. A well-known Emirates rule is that the women working the flight must wear a matte red lipstick (of any brand) that perfectly matches the red accents of their uniform. Since they’re flying for long periods of time, the matte lipstick has to be long-wearing and ultra comfortable, even in the dry, harsh air of a flight cabin. The most popular lipstick choice? Write this down: Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick in 01 “Always Red.”

Imagine the amount of swatching and trial and error required to find the perfect red.

We're looking to expand our cabin crew team. If you're passionate about delivering an award-winning customer service experience while discovering the world’s most exciting destinations then we'd like to hear from you. Click on the link in our bio to apply today.

A post shared by Emirates (@emirates) on Feb 4, 2018 at 7:04am PST

Now that the (chic and actually really relaxing) flight was behind me, it was time to talk to some beauty industry experts about what they love about Dubai and why the city is on its way to becoming a major player in the beauty scene.

Huda Kattan

OMG!! 25 Million Followers!!! You guys make me so happy!! I love you guys beyond words! Thank you for making this dreamer into a creator and for being such a special part of my life! We are proof that hard work and passion are all you need to succeed! When I first started, I was broke and scared to try something new, and now find our company competing with giants, and that’s all because of YOU!! You guys inspire me so much and I love each and every one of you ❤️❤️❤️❤️

A post shared by Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) on Apr 15, 2018 at 7:41am PDT

Dubai’s most famous beauty industry insider is Huda Kattan, Iraqi-American makeup artist and brand founder. About ten years ago, Kattan was working in L.A, where she became a go-to makeup artist for celebs like Eva Longoria and Nicole Richie. Upon moving back to Dubai, she launched a blog called Huda Beauty, and later, in 2013, a successful cosmetics line of the same name. Today, Kattan is considered the richest Instagram influencer, raking in an impressive $18,000 for each sponsored post that she shares with her 25 million followers.

On Dubai’s love of glam “Beauty in the Middle East is very glamorous, and the women living in this region love to pamper themselves. Many muslim women wear a niqab or a hijab, so the eyes really are the focus. [We also] have strong features and tend to play them up with eye makeup. Middle Eastern women can get away with wearing false lashes on a daily basis, having a dramatic winged liner, or being really bold when filling in their eyebrows.

We love to take chances and be quite daring. Women in Dubai love going full glam on any regular day; that means lashes, contour, highlight, prominent brows and a perfect eyeliner. European and [North American] women are definitely a lot more natural when it comes to their makeup.”

I’ve been straightening my hair for years, but sooo ready to just let my natural curls take over! Which style do you guys prefer: straight & polished? Or wild & curly?

A post shared by Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) on Apr 11, 2018 at 6:30pm PDT

On skincare “When it comes to skincare, we love natural ingredients–like using coconut oil to remove our makeup, castor oil for our brows, or using rose water as a toner. A lot of Middle Eastern women use ingredients from around the house because it’s what their mothers and grandmothers did for so many years and they trust it!

However, in the west, women are more aware of ingredients lists and if there is SPF in their products.”

Guess who I spent the day with?! The stunning @oliviaculpo 😱❤️❤️❤️ She’s perfection @oliviaculpo @oliviaculpo

A post shared by Huda Kattan (@hudabeauty) on Feb 25, 2018 at 6:55am PST

On Dubai as an up-and-coming beauty industry hub

“I think Dubai will be the [leader in] ‘modern beauty.’ You can get the very best products here, some of the best Hollywood doctors and dentists practice here, and because the city is very young, it leads the way with beauty trends. Dubai offers unlimited possibility. I moved here permanently in 2008 and it was a really interesting time in my life. It was a time of self-discovery and what the UAE represented for me was limitless opportunities.

The Middle East is a really vibrant market and the beauty industry is fast-growing, particularly when it comes to indie and niche beauty brands. I feel like beauty is a necessity in the Middle East. Because of their amazing features, women in the Middle East wear more makeup to enhance their big beautiful eyes and bold brows. They’ve always loved makeup. Being very glam and over-the-top is a part of Middle Eastern culture and history; it’s as though it’s in your blood to love beauty.”

Jen Atkin

Holy ship we did 75 haircuts this week!✂️🤯 Thx to @styled and all of the staff and clients at @sashspa @bellefemmedubai for being so sweet! Also thx @hairinel and @amandaleehair for all of your bomb AF blowouts👯‍♀️… and last BOAT not least thx @jumeirahalnaseem for taking such good care of us! ⛵️👋🏼 #jumeirah #MyMadinat #rediscovermadinat

A post shared by Celebrity Hairstylist (@jenatkinhair) on Mar 9, 2018 at 10:26am PST

Celebrity hairstylist and founder of Mane Addicts and Ouai Haircare, Jen Atkin, visits Dubai regularly, as many of her clients are located in the UAE and are willing to pay serious cash to have her cut their hair.

On what draws her to Dubai

“I’ve been traveling to Dubai for 5 years now. I go four or five times a year, for a week at a time. A lot of my followers [and clients] are in the Middle East.”

On the retailers and industry in Dubai

“The beauty industry & retailers are so glamorous and savvy. Everyone does their research and knows about the best beauty regimes for gorgeous hair and skin.”

🚀 to Dubai for my @dysonhair masterclass, @sephoramiddleeast @theouai meet up, and 3 days of 💇🏻‍♀️💇🏽‍♀️💇🏾‍♀️ at @bellefemmedubai. I'm going to IG live tmrw so leave any hairdrying or styling questions 👇🏼

A post shared by Celebrity Hairstylist (@jenatkinhair) on Mar 5, 2018 at 9:27am PST

On what she’s learned from Middle Eastern clients

“Middle Eastern ladies tend to have hair that’s twice as thick as, and longer than, that of my clients back in Los Angeles. My clients here have taught me a lot about what women need. I learned about hair masking from them! They told me they have weekly masking nights at home with their family. That inspired me to create the Ouai Treatment Masque.”

Sonia and Fyza

Caption this

A post shared by Sonia & Fyza Ali (@soniaxfyza) on Jan 27, 2018 at 5:11am PST

You may know Sonia and Fyza as the Instagram influencers who have a striking resemblance to Kim and Kylie. But while they don’t personally see the similarities, they’ve used the Kardashian-Jenner association to build an impressive following and brand. Fyza, a makeup artist, posts photos of her work (which she does on her sister, Sonia), to their 781,000 followers, many of which come for the Kardashian-Jenner resemblance, but stay for the lewks.

On how they got their start

Fyza: I’d had a passion to move to the States from a young age. I wasn’t getting any opportunities as a makeup artist in the UK, where we were born and raised. I wasn’t getting any jobs because my last name was Abdullah. I feel bad for it now but I took my last name out. It was stopping me from getting any work.

Sonia: When she’d send an email, she’d use my name because it’s universal.

Fyza: Her name sounded European, so I’d use her name. That’s why the [Instagram] page is called Sonia first. Anyway, I wanted to move to the States because I always felt it was more accepting than the UK, for muslims especially. They say it’s harder but when you look a certain way in America, you’re accepted.

So we were on vacation in Miami and a woman who worked at M.A.C stopped us and said she loved our makeup, which I had done. She said, “There’s an app called Instagram. I want you to upload images of your work on Sonia or your mom.” She was the head of the region—from Canada, I think. She told us, “I want you to upload your work as much as you can so I can show my coworkers why you should come over here.” Every few days, I’d do a look on Sonia and we’d upload pictures with my mom’s digital camera onto the app.

Sonia:No hashtags. Nothing.

Fyza: All of a sudden people were following us and requesting Kim Kardashian-inspired looks. I started getting these makeup bookings from all over the world. I’d do a billionaire’s wife’s makeup every weekend in Vienna. I’d be flown out to Morocco and Spain and to the royal family of Saudi Arabia. All of them wanted a Kardashian look.

On whether or not the Kardashian-Jenner comparisons bother them

Fyza: No, it doesn’t bother me. They’re the most beautiful women in the world at the moment. They’re getting the most attention. I’d rather look like them than Paris Hilton.

Sonia: Because of them, our look is okay now. It’s accepted.

Fyza: Growing up, I was a hairy Arab girl that no one wanted. Now…

Sonia: But people don’t see our personalities now. We’re each just seen as someone who looks like someone else. Later on, when you get to know us as people, the image of Kim and Kylie disappears. Our personalities are nothing like theirs. We don’t really watch them so we don’t know how they act or their mannerisms.

Fyza: They’re very Californian. We’re British. It’s totally off.

Sonia: People expect us to speak in an American accent when they meet us. They’ll say, ‘You guys sound nothing like them!’ We’re not trying to act like them…

had the loveliest time talking to @soniaxfyza (the dubai-based sisters you probably know as the kim and kylie lookalikes on instagram) about beauty trends in the UAE, working in makeup pre- and post-kardashians, and why middle eastern women rarely talk about their skincare routines. full story coming soon…ish 🙃

A post shared by suzie michael (@suziemichael_) on Feb 4, 2018 at 10:29am PST

Fyza: I really admire them so much. If it wasn’t for them, blonde hair and blue eyes would still be the only thing considered pretty.

Sonia: No one would work with influencers before them.

Fyza: They get so much shit for what they do, but no one can do what they do. The amount of hate they get…I would quit if I was in their shoes. They came on the scene not knowing if they’d be laughed at or hated and still did it. They made people love them without having any talent. That’s the hardest thing to do.

We want to follow more beauty accounts! Please tag your fave ones so we can check them out 🌸

A post shared by Sonia & Fyza Ali (@soniaxfyza) on Apr 5, 2018 at 2:13pm PDT

On the differences between beauty trends in Dubai (where they now live) and the UK

Fyza: Girls here are wearing full coverage foundations from 8am onward.

Sonia: Many English girls would never wear full coverage makeup before. They’d save that for special occasions. They used to only wear tinted moisturizer and mascara. Now, they’re wearing Fenty and Huda foundation and going all out. They’re even wearing lashes, which is a lot for them—but that’s my everyday makeup.

On Middle Eastern beauty trends making their way west

Fyza: I think Huda started the trend of full-coverage makeup. She’s also a really good voice for the Middle East. Huda was the first in the Middle East to do the whole Kardashian thing. She’s put us on the map. Before that, I don’t think anyone gave a shit about girls from Dubai and what they were doing.

Sonia: Now brands are making more Arabic-influenced things that consumers can feel comfortable buying. When we were younger, you’d never see an oud perfume [in the mainstream market]. Now it’s everywhere. We went on a press trip with a group of bloggers from the west and all the girls were like, ‘What’s that smell? Ew, it’s so strong!’ Now everyone’s got oud perfume.

Fyza: We’re setting trends here. You know when someone laughs at you first and then copies you later? That’s the Middle East with beauty trends.

summer is here 🍭☀️ which city are you from? 💜

A post shared by Sonia & Fyza Ali (@soniaxfyza) on Mar 27, 2018 at 6:10am PDT

On why skincare doesn’t have as much of a pull in Dubai

Sonia: People here like what’s on trend. If an influencer writes about something, they’ll all go buy it.

Fyza: Women here generally have great skin. It’s so humid, so you’re forced to drink a lot of water. That’s the best thing for skin.

Fyza: I’m so into skincare but I’m not open about it. I’m very private when it comes to skin because it’s an insecurity. When Sonia posts a picture of makeup and you look at the insights, the likes are way more than a skincare post. But when you look at the insights, my skincare post is saved by 3000 girls while her makeup post is saved by 1000 girls. Girls are private here and don’t want their friends to know that they’re following skincare or surgery pages. Girls in Europe or America are more open with their insecurities and skincare routines.

Sonia: I’d never post pictures of my bad skin. It’s about modesty. It’s nice to have secrets [and not put that stuff on social media]. The mystery is very attractive.

On whether or not green beauty has taken off in Dubai

Fyza: It’s not doing very well here. Here, you can’t get past the term “mineral makeup” because girls think it’s not full coverage. I’m trying to tell girls it’s not just about covering your skin with makeup. You want to have a good base.

On what makes a beauty brand successful in Dubai

Fyza: Social media, 100%.

Sonia: Everyone here just follows trends on social media. If Huda’s wearing something, they’ll buy it. If we’re wearing something, they’ll buy it.

Fyza: That’s all that matters. Social media.

Shawna Morneau, Founder of Hammamii

☀️Reminiscent of the vast desert.. Hammamii’s gentle SAHARA Body Exfoliant combines an aromatic blend of clove, cinnamon and finely ground palm date kernels ~ rich in Vitamin E, Omega-3, magnesium and Vitamin K ✨ This exfoliant leaves the skin gently smoothed and remineralized 🙌🏽 #hammamii #madeindubai #sahara #bodyscrub #exfoliate #natural #skincare #skincareaddict #skincareproducts #skincarejunkie #careforyourskin #beautyproducts #skinbenefits #skinfood #health #wellness #relax #lifestyle #skinluxury #hammam #girlboss #entrepreneur #beauty #musthave #blogger #beautybloggers #picoftheday #dubai #mydubai

A post shared by Hammamii (@hammamiispa) on Apr 9, 2018 at 1:08am PDT

Originally from Windsor, Canada, Shawna Morneau traveled all around the world (no really, she’s lived in North America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Russia) working in the spa industry (going from therapist, educator and trainer, to spa consultant and director of spa for The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts), before settling in Dubai. Combining her appreciation of fresh regional ingredients (like za’atar, sumac, saffron, salt from the Arabian Sea), her love for the hammam and her knowledge of cosmetic chemistry, Morneau launched luxury beauty brand, Hammamii, in spas a year and a half ago. Currently, the brand is carried at the Fairmont Fujairah and Sharjah Ladies Club and Armani at The Burj Khalifa, with plans to expand.

Take home a piece of the desert with Hammamii’s gentle SAHARA Body Exfoliant.. an aromatic blend of clove & cinnamon, combined with finely ground palm date kernels ~ rich in Vitamin E, Omega-3, magnesium and Vitamin K ☀️ This beautiful scrub leaves the skin gently smoothed and remineralized 🙌🏽 #hammamii #madeindubai #sahara #bodyscrub #exfoliate #natural #skincare #skincareaddict #skincareproducts #skincarejunkie #careforyourskin #beautyproducts #skinbenefits #skinfood #health #wellness #relax #lifestyle #skinluxury #hammam #girlboss #entrepreneur #beauty #musthave #blogger #beautybloggers #picoftheday #dubai #mydubai

A post shared by Hammamii (@hammamiispa) on Apr 14, 2018 at 1:06am PDT

On the inspiration behind Hammamii

“I wanted to come up with a nice range of cleansing rituals that were a merriment of North Africa and the Middle East. We do all our own manufacturing, and everything is made here in Dubai. I wanted to take my experience in cosmetic chemistry, my experience traveling through the Middle East, and my experience in plants and herbs and make a regional offering that was quite cool.”

On the conversation around skincare in Dubai

“Your skincare routine is something you wouldn’t do in front of anyone. However, the tradition of the hammam is basically seen as a social gathering. It’s the cleansing before Friday prayer. Organic and natural skincare is a new conversation here. People are starting to wake up and care about what’s going on their face. Before, it was more like, ‘Chanel is hot? I’m going to use Chanel. Shiseido is hot? I’m going to use Shiseido.’ Now, instead of using things that are so complicated, they’re going back to their roots. That’s what we found with Hammamii. People like the fact that these were their grandmother’s recipes that have been rebirthed and reproduced in a way that’s not so rough and more refined.”

Your perfect skincare companion when exploring the beautiful Emirates 🇦🇪 100% natural and 100% Halal, all of our products are compatible for all skin types 💆🏽‍♀️ As the first homegrown luxury spa brand, our raw materials are sourced locally within the region and our entire collection is formulated to be used in this dry desert climate ☀️ #hammamii #madeindubai #dubai #mydubai #skincare #summer #spabrand #luxury #natural #skincareaddict #skincareproducts #skincarejunkie #careforyourskin #beautyproducts #skinbenefits #skinfood #halal #wellness #spalife #lifestyle #desertlife #skinluxury #health #hammam #beauty #musthave #blogger #beautybloggers #instagood #instadaily

A post shared by Hammamii (@hammamiispa) on Apr 3, 2018 at 10:13pm PDT

On the ever-present glam factor

“I can’t imagine any of my friends going to a drugstore to buy skincare or makeup. Maybe at a specialty drugstore. Overall, it’s not really done, but this is just from my personal experience. Dubai is still Dubai. The glam side will always be more in the limelight.”

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