The first Muslim face of Lancome and frequent Vogue covergirl Hanaa Ben Abdesslem is showing her support for the #StayHome campaign.
On the cover of Vogue Arabia, Ben Abdesslem lets her eyes do the modeling – the rest of her face covered by a standard blue mask. “I’ve joined @voguearabia in the fight against Covid-19 to support their #stayhome campaign,” she says. “And emphasize the importance of safe habits during the pandemic.”
Hanaa Ben Abdesslem: A Woman of Many Firsts
Ben Abdesslem’s career has sent her crashing through antiquated boundaries in the fashion world. She is not only the first Arab model to be featured in the Pirelli calendar, but the first Muslim spokeswoman for cosmetic powerhouse Lancome. She has modelled for legends, including Chanel, Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta, and Jean Paul Gautier, and posed for Vogue worldwide including Vogue Paris, Italy, Netherlands, Thailand, Spain, Germany and Arabia.
Ben Abdesslem contributes to the growing demand for diversity in the fashion industry. But she also highlights the diversity of the Middle East and North Africa.
“I was aware that I looked different from a young age,” Ben Abdesslem tells Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. “I think the fashion world has a responsibility to show young girls that there are different ways to be beautiful, and that there shouldn’t be one standard to go by.”
Born to be a Model
Originally from Nabeul, Tunisia, Ben Abdesslem did not always plan on modeling. In fact, she studied engineering before making the career change. But she recalls that her mother first “discovered” her as a model.
“At the age of 5 years old, I was tip-toeing through my house, imagining I was constantly walking on a catwalk,” she writes. “Ever since, my mother always claimed I would be a model one day.” She decided to fulfill her mother’s prediction by joining the Lebanese version of Project Runway, Mission Fashion 2, in 2007. She debuted in the professional modeling scene in 2010 with Vivienne Westwood. Then, in 2011, she walked for a series of brands, including Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, and Hermes.
Ben Abdesslem feels proud of her Tunisian heritage. As such, she tries to represent her culture whenever she can. For example, she wore a traditional Dokhla dress from her native region of Tunisia for her recent wedding. And for the henna ceremony she wore another traditional Tunisian outfit, the same one worn by her mother on her wedding day, writes Vogue.
Hanaa Ben Abdesslem Educates Through Film, Fashion
Ben Abdesslem does not limit her reach to fashion. She also works directly in educational and humanitarian work. She inspired filmmaker Farida Khelfa to make the film Une Jeunesse Tunisienne in which she also participated alongside her brother Walid. The documentary shows the role of Tunisian Youth in the 2011 Jasmine Revolution.
“I was very inspired by her can-do attitude, and it made me want to do for my country,” Ben Abdesslem says. And she carried through, volunteering at the Ras Jdir refugee camp on the Libyan border and by becoming the spokeswoman for the Esmaani (Listen to Me) Tunisian NGO.
With the current COVID-19 pandemic, Ben Abdesslem has chosen to use her platform to spread a message. She announced in April that she has joined Vogue Arabia’s campaign to support the #stayhome movement. The movement encourages social distancing and other helpful habits during this period.
Editor-in-Chief of the magazine Manuel Arnaut says, “At Vogue Arabia, we want to instigate the message that we should all #StayHome and adopt the prescribed safety procedures so that we can all overcome this health crisis together, and more united than ever.”
Slideshow of Vogue Arabia’s covers with their biggest stars advocating for #stayhome:
#StayHome: Celebrities Join Vogue Arabia In The Fight Against Covid-19
For updates on Ben Abdesslem’s career and what she is up to, follow her Instagram here.
