Nancy Ajram's fashion evolution in 31 pictures: how the Queen of Arab Pop's style matured

The Lebanese singer knows fans will always see her as a 'baby faced' star

Nancy Ajram wears a black turtleneck and denim shirt during a TV appearance in Beirut on December 5, 2001. AFP

Performing in a black dress with lace detail after receiving her 2003 Murrex D'or award in Jounieh on November 29, 2003. AFP

The singer in a black shirt and jacket with fishnet tights after a press conference in Kuwait on February 2, 2004. EPA

In a white halter neck dress at the Arabic Music Awards in Dubai on May 15, 2004. EPA

The singer wears an orange floral dress while performing at the Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts in Jordan on July 28, 2004. AFP

Sporting a leather shearling jacket and jeans during a tsunami benefit concert at Biel in Beirut, Lebanon on February 1, 2005. EPA

In a black top and skirt while performing at Al-Behira Theatre in Al-Qarm Garden, Muscat, Oman on January 26, 2006. EPA

Pretty in a pink top and high-waisted trousers while visiting the Dunniyeh mountains of northern Lebanon on June 26, 2006. AFP

In a delicate green and orange dress at a concert in Manama, Bahrain on May 18, 2006. EPA

This yellow gown is her performance outfit at a Manama concert on January 2, 2007. EPA

Striking in a leopard print gown while performing in Cairo, Egypt on July 24, 2007. EPA

In a cream gown at Jumeirah Mina A'Salam, Dubai on October 12, 2007. AFP

Classic white shirt with jeans and a statement metallic belt on the set of the 'Moshta'aa Leek' video in Beirut, Lebanon on November 6, 2007. EPA

The singer goes casual in jeans and a grey top to perform in Muscat, Oman on December 3, 2007. EPA

In a bright red strapless dress, Nancy Ajram holds up the Kuwaiti flag while performing in Kuwait on February 29, 2008. EPA

In a black gown at the Big Ball gala in Dubai, UAE, on June 1, 2008. EPA

Making an entrance in a silver sequinned gown at the World Music Awards 2008 in Monaco on November 9, 2008. Getty Images

Sleek in a black velvet sequinned gown at the Miss Lebanon 2009 contest in Adma, north of Beirut, Lebanon on June 26, 2009. EPA

A purple dress for another performance at the Miss Lebanon 2009 contest on June 26, 2009. EPA

In a draped one-shoulder grey gown at the Zouk Mikael International Festival, Lebanon on July 31, 2009. EPA

Going fashionably green at the 15th Cairo Festival for Arab Media on November 15, 2009. EPA

Quite the picture in a white satin dress with bow detailing, to promote her album 'Nancy 7' in Beirut, Lebanon on December 13, 2010. EPA

Classic LBD with sheer tights for the Elie Saab show at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on January 26, 2011. Getty Images

Cheerful in a cream blouse and red trousers for an appearance at Mall of the Emirates, Dubai on October 9, 2013. Antonie Robertson / The National

Statuesque in a white Grecian gown for the World Music Awards at Sporting Monte-Carlo, Monaco, on May 27, 2014. Getty Images

Performing in a panelled black gown during the 50th International Festival of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia on August 12, 2014. EPA

The singer in a cream gown during the DSF 20th anniversary celebrations in Dubai on January 10, 2015. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Peppy in a black dress with silver polka dots at Live Achrafieh Music Festival in Beirut, Lebanon on June 17, 2017. EPA

A deep red gown with floral detailing is her stage outfit at the International Festival of Carthage in Tunis, Tunisia on August 9, 2017. EPA

Striking in a sequinned gown at the 2019 Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts in Jordan on July 20, 2019. EPA

Nancy Ajram performs in a sequinned dress and fur coat at the German University in Cairo, Egypt on December 14, 2019. EPA

She has been in the public eye since 1998, and in the last 23 years, Nancy Ajram, 38, has become one of the most famous faces in the Arab world.

Known as the Queen of Arab Pop, the Lebanese singer, who is performing this weekend at Expo 2020 Dubai, is famous for her big vocals, catchy pop hits and mellow tunes. But she is also famed for bringing a dose of glamour with her everywhere she goes.

In the early days of her career, it wasn't unusual to see the Salamat singer pair jeans with a colourful top on stage, however eye-catching gowns have been a reliable default look during her time in the public eye.

Travelling across the Middle East, Ajram makes regular appearances in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan, as well as delighting home crowds in Lebanon. On stage, she turns to slinky gowns, with lashings of velvet, sequinned, satin and beaded texture. She is always turned out to perfection, with a big blow-dry and flawless make-up.

Off-duty, she teams jeans with crisp shirts and big sunglasses.

Aware that she has grown up in the public eye, Ajram told Vogue Arabia in a 2019 interview: “I sought [a] change in appearance because I can no longer reflect the image of the cute girl.

“Yet I am also convinced that no matter what I do, my audience will always see me as someone with a baby face. Perhaps this has something to do with my smile. That’s what those who have been following me for the past two decades tell me. But I also like to appear as a woman whose clothes and body do not hinder her from expressing her feelings and choices.”

Scroll through the gallery above to see more images of Nancy Ajram over the years.