BEAUTY

Winnie Harlow and Shahad Salman Make History on the ‘Vogue Arabia’ June Cover

(Condé Nast/Vogue Arabia 2019)

Winnie Harlow and Saudi Arabia’s Shahad Salman pose together for the Vogue Arabia June issue, and their dual presence is empowering on so many levels. The theme of this Vogue issue is “women standing for women” and features articles about inspiring women in the Middle East.

Winnie Harlow first rose to stardom when promoted by Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model. Since then, she’s become an international supermodel. Shahad Salman is a rising model from the Middle East. Both women have a unique skin condition called vitiligo, which is caused by a lack of skin pigment called melanin. However, neither woman has allowed that to set them back. Instead, they have boldly and beautifully charged forward with success.

Winnie has been a huge influencer in the body positivity movement in the west, while Salman has done the same in the Middle East.

Shahad thanked Winnie for the inspiration, “Before I didn’t feel good with myself and I didn’t like the way I looked. Winnie gave me the confidence to fight.” After Winnie discovered Shahad on social media, the two connected.

This is Winnie Harlow’s first Vogue cover and she expressed her excitement for the achievement on Instagram.

 

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My first Vogue cover… I’m crying right now. I remember being 16 and @shanboody telling me she could see my face on Vogue… VOGUE! I laughed it off now look.. look at this! 😭🙏🏽 After every rejection, every naysayer, every trial and tribulation. Every night traveling and living alone without my family and friends. All to be able to tell.. no SHOW the world that representation matters. That beauty is within the eye of the beholder and no ones “definition of beauty” should matter but your own. That we open doors and walk new paths to make way for everyone!!! Editor-in-chief-Manuel Arnaut (@mrarnaut) | Photography: Dan Beleiu (@danbeleiu) | Fashion Director: Katie Trotter (@katieellentrotter) Video: Giorgio Lattanzi (@george_giorgio) | Hair: Nabil Harlow (@nabilharlow) | Makeup: Kate Mur (@muakatemur) | Production: Snap14 (@snapfourteen) Fashion Assistant: @mohammadhazemrezq #StrongerTogether

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For the two women to combine forces on the cover of Vogue Arabia, in the name of women’s empowerment, is culturally historical. Here’s to all women.