Editor’s letter
This December we focused our attention on all that sparkles. Since it’s party season, we felt it was apt to guide our readers on the ultimate outfits for all the festive cheer. In this issue we feature cinematic style with a hint of old-school Hollywood, the ultimate party trend report, as well as a gift guide to get your other half thinking… or shopping for that matter. We take a look at Peter Lindenberg’s final book with Dior, an iconic masterpiece by TASCHEN, and our cover star Tara Emad talks all things Bvlgari. Ethereal evenings with Robinsons are showcased in a beautiful fashion story, as well as a look at the hottest beauty buys for all your holiday needs. There’s not much we haven’t covered off to have you party-ready, but the ultimate moment on our agenda this month was the Emirates Woman, Woman of the Year Awards.
For 15 years the awards have been an homage to all the amazing women in this region and their significant achievements. Azadeh Issari won the award this year for her animal activism. In her moving acceptance speech she talked to the audience about her mission to save as many animals as she could in the UAE. It wasn’t just Azadeh who left a mark on us this month – she was in excellent company. HE Hjayceelyn M. Quintana won the Visionary award for her innovation in aiding Filipino women across the UAE, including pioneering programmes to encourage cultural diversity. In the Young Talent category we had Leah Depala, singer and songwriter, incredibly moved by her win. So much so, that there were plenty of happy tears as she collected her award. The Achiever category saw Sharihan Al Mashray stand for the United Nations in sustainable development. She expressed the win was an emblem of honour and we couldn’t agree more. Art and Culture saw Butheina Hamed Kaazim win, the founder of Cinema Akil, a venue that pioneers the indie arts in this region. Butheina has created a comfortable space for audiences all over the region to engage in controversial and abstract filmmaking, inspiring the arts and broadening our perspectives.
Finally, our prestigious Lifetime Achievement award, went to Dr Raja Al Gurg, a woman who has dedicated her entire life to business and has graced numerous lists as one of the most influential and powerful businesswomen in the Middle East. As an active philanthropist, Dr Al Gurg has spent much of her life giving back to communities.
The women who collected each award stand as a symbol of Emirates Woman. We stand together as women who set out to achieve the impossible. These women are our heroes and we are honored to recognise the work they have done in the GCC.
We hope this issue fills you all with as much cheer as it did for us this holiday season.
Enjoy,