The much-awaited BeingShe Universe 2022 grand finale was held at Orange Chameleon – Palm Jumeirah on Saturday. The event attracted local and international media, celebrities, fashion designers, influencers, and respectable names in the fashion industry.

This year’s edition, powered by Mai Dubai, was held under the theme ‘Beauty and Fitness in Perfect Balance’.
“This season we were mainly focused on physical fitness,” said Aparna Bajpai, founder of BeingShe organisation, “where the participants were invited for a four-day boot camp which served as the preliminary competition to determine subtitle winners.”

Participants were trained on body posture, personal development, communication, and public speaking in preparation for the Grand Finale night. More than a dozen countries — from the Philippines, Portugal, Russia, and Nigeria to Tunisia, Ghana, Argentina, Kenya, Algeria, Ukraine, Iran, and Lebanon — were represented this season.

Media personality Wassim Mandil hosted the show. A total of five contestants won subtitles based on their performance during the training sessions. Anna Barisova from Russia won the Woman of Substance, Daphine Najjuma from Uganda was named the Most Fit Personality, Tima Shaaban from Lebanon was the Most Empowered, while Najeh Thider won Best Social Media. Subsequently, award-winning pianist and singer Violetta Dikarieva from Argentina/Ukraine won the most beautiful singer title.

During the show, participants competed in three categories which included bridal couture and evening wear as they showcased designs from international fashion designer Walid Atallah and Evin while wearing exquisite jewellery from Mozafarian Jewellers. For the final round, the top 10 contestants took part in an in-depth Q&A session by the jury.

Shania Rosario from Portugal took home the 2022 BeingShe Universe title while Tima Shaaban from Lebanon was crowned BeingShe Universe 2022 ambassador. Outgoing title winner Pooja Kathuria crowned her successor during the ceremony.

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Ramp walks and fashion presentations in the flesh are back on the radar and a big reason to celebrate. Look Up Japan, a fashion show on traditional, famous ‘Kimonos’ has added ripples to Dubai’s fashion scene.

Designer Yuko Murokami  hosted an exclusive fashion show at the Dubai World Trade Center on September 10, blending the modern with the new in a revival of sorts for the pretty kimonos.

Ms Murakami said during the event announcement she chose Dubai as the venue for her Kimono collection because she is trying to modernise folk fashion in a western style and with modern-day materials using nanotechnology.

The Kimono is traditionally worn with a broad sash, called an obi, and is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and tabi socks.

From voluminous dresses to wild flowers on head, the collection on Saturday0 was nothing short of innovative as displayed on the models who walked the stage. With vintage upcycled fabric work and ruffled sleeved pieces, the innovative pieces were an ode to the Japanese culture.

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The evening saw celebrities galore such as singers Ibrar Ul Haq and Azeem Dar of Pakistan, Hollywood singer Persian Dulao and the Arab ‘Michael Jackson’ Maher Alkhaja, who enthralled the audience with their electrifying performances. The dignitaries present were Sheikh Obad Bin Suhail Al Maktoum, Shiekh Buti Bin Abdulhakkim Al Maktoum, Dr Bu Abdullah, Dr Maryam Mohd Fatma Matar.

Organised by Westfield Event Management, the show was a gateway for fashionistas in Dubai to experience the Japan culture on the catwalk. The event, claimed to be region’s first Japanaese fashion show was attended by some big fashion minds like Mr Nishida, Mr Arakawa and Ms Rytshiko Kaneko.

Kimono, the traditional dress of Japan with centuries-old history, has seen many revivals, and a fashion show for it in the futuristic city of Dubai could well be the latest such attempt.

Organisers hailing from the Far East nation have announced the Look Up Japan Fashion Show which will revolve around the Kimono and will be held on September 10.

In a long but winding room at the Novotel hotel in the backdrop of the World Trade Centre, Dubai’s first iconic building since the UAE came into being, the ironies were plenty.

A troop of Japanese residents in the UAE came along dressed as a pretty ensemble of Kimonos to show support to the organisers. One of them was an extremely shy and awkward septuagenarian in her late 60s and the mother of the Look Up fashion show director Rytshiko Kaneko.

Businessmen from UAE and Japan were instrumental in bringing the show together and summed up nicely by Huzaifa Ibrahim, the chairman of Global Peace Foundation. “Japan is called the Land of the Rising Sun. Dubai is a country with more than 200 nationalities and we are only happy to co-exist here in the Land of the Future,” he said to a rapturous response especially from the Japanese in the hall.

All but one of the Japanese on the dias could barely converse in English but a translator proved to be the busy link between all parties. Mr Ibrahim set the tone by understanding and took pauses for the nervous translator to get to work.

The main brainchild, the designer Yuko Murakami (pictured above), said she chose Dubai as the venue for her Kimono collection because she is trying to modernise folk fashion in a western style and with modern-day materials using nanotechnology.

There were others who were offering moral or technical support by way of their expertise. Leading businessman Yakoob Al Ali, Pakistani model-singer Azeem Tahir and Hollywood singer Persiana Dulo were some.

Another example of the wide range of cultures in the mix for this event was the choice of the show-stopper. Tall Indian model Ayesha Mulla will be the centre of attraction for the Kimono show.

“It will be my first time, not only my first fashion show out of India, but also my first experience with Japanese culture and I am so excited about it,” Ms Mulla said.

Yakoob Al Ali, centre, flanked by women dressed in Kimonos at the Novotel, WTC.

The Look Up Fashion Show will feature modern creations of the Japanese Kimono by designer Yuko Murakami

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Huzaifa Ibrahim, centre, is the Global Peace Ambassador from the UAE

Look Up Fashion showstopper Ayesha Mulla, centre, and the show director Rytsuko Kaneko with her husband during the pre-event news conference.

The Kimono is traditionally worn with a broad sash, called an obi, and is commonly worn with accessories such as zōri sandals and tabi socks.

Sporting a bronzed tan and dressed in a suit, Ms Mulla said she did a trial on the morning of the pre-event announcement and she felt “so good” with the obi giving a hidden boost of confidence to some sorts. The way a person wears their Kimono is known as kitsuke, meaning “dressing” in Japanese.

Ms Mulla has featured lately in the remix video of the old Hindi classic “Ghar aaya mera pardesi” (translation – Home comes my outsider/ foreigner).

Given the enthusiastic response and mutual sentiments in Emirati-Japanese relations, expect to see a lot of kitsukes at the Look Up Fashion Show trying to establish an “at home” feeling in the Land of Future.