Palestinian-American model Bella Hadid and friend Naomi Campbell have jetted off to Qatar, where they enjoyed a busy few days this week taking part in major fashion events and visiting the local museums.
The pair were in town for a variety of initiatives, including a fashion show held under the patronage of Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani. The event was part of Campbell's Emerge, a project supporting young creative and business talents in emerging regions, in collaboration with cultural platform Qatar Creates.
Both Campbell and Hadid walked the runway during the show, alongside other models who were all wearing clothes from award-winning fashion designers in or from Africa and the Middle East. They included Thebe Magugu and Abdel El-Tayeb.
Hadid looked fierce in a black oversized structural dress with a beaded chain asymmetrically placed around her neck, while Campbell sported a hooded, floor-length black dress with chest cut-outs, followed by a white and blue feathered gown.
At a gala dinner later that evening, Hadid turned heads with a hooded red dress and Campbell looked elegant in a purple velvet gown with puffed sleeves and a large diamond necklace.
The pair were also present earlier this week at the fourth Fashion Trust Arabia Awards, a star-studded event that recognises established and aspiring creatives across the Mena region, which this year took place at the National Museum of Qatar.
Hadid, who was joined by her father, property mogul Mohamed Hadid, looked sleek in a silk navy blue gown with hood by Alaia, while Campbell wore a modest long-sleeved gown with a cape and golden embellishments.
"It shows that even through struggle; passion, love and beauty will always shine through," Hadid wrote in a caption on Instagram alongside a clip of her and her father posing on the red carpet at the event. "There is so much talent from the people of MENA, the only problem is, not enough opportunity."
She added: "Sending my love and congratulations to all of the incredible designers who stand strong for their respected countries. Representation is so important and if we are not able to showcase the talent of MENA (Middle East &North Africa) to the rest of the world, how will it ever be known? They deserve the same respect, recognition & support as the rest of the world."
Other big names at the event included Valentino creative director Pierpaolo Picciolini, British models Jourdan Dunn and Poppy Delevingne, US-Somali model Halima Aden, American models Olivia Culpo and Jasmine Tookes, as well as British actress Jodie Turner-Smith.
A lot of the same faces were to be seen at the opening of Valentino's first exhibition in the Middle East, which took place at M7 in Msheireb Downtown Doha on Friday. It's the largest exhibition devoted to the fashion house, with more than 200 haute couture and pret-a-porter pieces, including some rarely seen outfits designed for people such as Elizabeth Taylor and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Campbell made a memorable entrance in an extravagant pink outfit complete with a matching headpiece that resembled a flower crown and lion's mane. The cape dress was from the Valentino Pink PP collection and she layered diamond necklaces with silver cuffs, beaded bracelets and diamond rings to round off the maximalist look.
Hadid was also present, with Culpo and Aden, as well as Romanian-Jordanian designer Amina Muaddi, Janet Jackson, French filmmaker Farida Khelfa and Yemeni-Emirati singer Balqees Fathi, to name a few.
Cultural offerings in Doha
Hadid and Campbell also went on a "beautiful night tour" of Doha's distinctive Museum of Islamic Art, which was designed by celebrated architect I M Pei.
The pair were present at the opening of the museum's Baghdad: Eye's Delight exhibition, which will be on view until February 25, exploring and celebrating the Iraqi city's heritage as capital of the Abbasid caliphate, which ruled between 750 and 1258.
The exhibition also highlights its legacy in the modern era, when the city again became an artistic, cultural and commercial hub in the 20th century. The display comprises 160 objects, including works loaned from major institutions around the world.
Hadid also found time to reconnect with her roots, as she and her father visited the Qatar Museums Gallery in the Katara Cultural Village, where the exhibition Labour of Love: Embroidering Palestinian History is running until January 28.
It's curated by Baha Jubeh of The Palestinian Museum and explores the legacy of tatreez, a traditional Palestinian embroidery technique, through the lenses of gender, labour, commodity and class.
"This show brought tears to my eyes and even more pride for my beautiful Palestinian roots and people," Hadid wrote in a caption on Instagram alongside photos of herself and her father at the exhibition. "I love you Qatar and I love you Palestine!"
These exhibitions, as well as myriad others, will be running throughout the Fifa World Cup, which is taking place in Qatar from November 20.
Scroll through the gallery below to see how Qatar is preparing for the World Cup
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Qatari youths wearing their national flags walk in Souq Waqif marketplace in Doha. AFP -
Men ride camels in Doha. AFP -
A labourer works along the Corniche. AFP -
A local journalist stands on the tribune during the training session of the French national soccer team in Doha. EPA -
A traditional dhow boat sails at the corniche in Doha. AP Photo -
Doha Skyline buildings display an animation of a football on its facade ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Getty Images -
An Ethiopian artist paints a picture of Qatari football player Hassan Al-Haydos on the Lusail Boulevard in Doha, Qatar. EPA -
Argentinian fans drum roll at the Souq Waqif market area in Doha, Qatar. EPA -
People gather at the Corniche Waterfront ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Getty Images -
A drone show depicting the World Cup trophy is seen above the Doha skyline, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 soccer tournament in Doha. Reuters -
Football fans supporting Germany cheer in Doha, ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
Sunglasses with some of the FIFA participant countries' colours painted on them are kept on a display for sale in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
Football fans supporting Argentina cheer in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
German fans cheer at flag plaza in Doha, Qatar. Final preparations are being made for the soccer World Cup which starts on Nov. 20 when Qatar face Ecuador. AP -
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Brazil Fan Activity - Doha, Qatar Brazil fans display a Neymar cardboard cut out at the National Museum of Qatar. REUTERS -
Horse-mounted guards patrol past a FIFA sign in a market area in Doha. AFP -
A man walks past a poster of the Qatar 2022 mascot La'eeb in Doha. AFP -
A tourist carries a child wearing the shape of "La'eeb", the Official Mascot for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at Villaggio Mall in Doha. Reuters -
A worker cleans a sculpture of the World Cup trophy in front of Al Thumama Stadium ahead of the World Cup soccer tournament in Doha, Qatar. Reuters -
A man plays football in a park in Doha ahead of the World Cup. Reuters -
Policemen stand guard outside the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha. AFP -
A worker pushes a wheelbarrow past a mural in Doha. AFP -
Motorists drive past a billboard with pictures of France's striker Kylian Mbappe (L) and Argentine's captain Lionel Messi in Doha. AFP -
Katara Cultural Village street are decorated with the national flags of the participating nations in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Katara in Doha, Qatar. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place from 20 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar. EPA -
A boy practice his football skills in front of the Khalifa Stadium in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
A woman poses in front of the Khalifa Stadium in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
People walk under the colourful arches with the FIFA World Cup banner at the Doha Corniche, in Doha, Qatar. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place from 20 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar. EPA -
People commute in a metro train in Doha. AFP -
People walk past FIFA World Cup banners at Lusail Marina Promenade in Doha, Qatar. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place from 20 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar. EPA -
A man rides a bicycle past a restaurant adorned with FIFA World Cup playing countries’ flags in a market area in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
People walk in the traditional market Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will take place from 20 November to 18 December 2022 in Qatar. EPA -
People walk past FIFA World Cup banners at a beach in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
Work stations in the Host Country Media Centre (HCMC) in the Msheireb Downtown Doha area, Doha, Qatar. The centre is not officially open yet but is hosting 03 November a press conference by the Supreme Committtee for Delivery & Legacy on the readiness for the World Cup. The FIFA World Cup 2022 will start on 20 November with the opening game between the host Qatar and Ecuador. EPA -
The names of countries participating in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are displayed on a LED wall of a building in West Bay, Doha Qatar. EPA -
Labourers work to build a structure along a street in Doha ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament. AFP -
Children play football at the Umm Al Seneem Park, which has the world's longest air-conditioned outdoor path, in Doha. AFP -
Iinside Hamad International Airport ahead of the World Cup. Reuters -
A man works in front of a billboard of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup football tournament in Doha. AFP -
Motorists drive along a street adorned with FIFA World Cup signs in Doha. AFP -
Labourers work to build a structure along a street in Doha. AFP -
Doha all set for the Fifa World Cup of football to kick off when Qatar plays Ecuador on November 20. Reuters -
Workers add finishing touches near the Fifa World Cup countdown clock in Doha. AFP -
Camel-mounted royal guards patrol the Emiri Diwan in Doha. AFP -
A man sells balloons in Doha as a sign shows the anticipation for the 2022 World Cup. AFP -
A worker prays near the flags of the World Cup participating countries in Doha. AFP -
Site engineers at the Qatar Education Stadium, an open cooled venue with a 45,350-seat capacity in Doha. AP -
Domes featuring different national colors near the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. AP -
Country flags of World Cup finals teams along a street in Lusail. Reuters
