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Leading Ladies

Saudi Talent Reshaping Saudi’s Cultural Landscape

Here are 8 cultural trailblazers shaping the future across literature, music, fashion, and film. They inspire generations to come.

By NATALIE KEBBE

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1 of 8

Abadia by Shahd AlShehail

Abadia, founded by Saudi entrepreneur Shahd AlShehail, blends modestwear with local craftsmanship. Their pieces incorporate traditional components like subtle beading and sadu weaving, showcasing cultural traditions to a wider audience. The brand's name, a blend of Arabic terms for desert and timeless, reflects their commitment to heritage.

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Dana Awartani

Dana Awartani, a Jeddah-born artist, focuses on geometric shapes, using various media like painting, film, and textiles. She reimagines traditional crafts in contemporary ways. In "Listen to My Words," she critiques the use of mashrabiyas to conceal women in Middle Eastern societies. Her work was featured at Abu Dhabi Art through the Al Burda endowment program.

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Haifa Al Mansour

Haifa Al Mansour, the first female Saudi filmmaker, made history with her film "Wadjda" shot entirely in Saudi Arabia. Her latest film, "The Perfect Candidate," challenges patriarchal norms. Al Mansour believes Saudi Arabia's film industry is evolving with the opening of cinemas and increased production.

4 of 8

Hissa Hilal

Hissa Hilal gained fame with her powerful poetry on Million's Poet, criticizing extremist clerics. Her controversial work preceded her TV appearance, and she had already published poetry collections under the pseudonym 'Remia'. Hilal continues to address social issues through her writings.

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Manal AlDowayan

Manal AlDowayan, a prominent Saudi artist, gained recognition for her artwork "Suspended Together." Her project "Now You See Me, Now You Don't" showcased interactive trampolines at Desert X in Al Ula. She explores themes like female travel restrictions and encourages visitor engagement.

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Nour Sufyani

Saudi Arabia's first female DJ, Nouf Sufyani, known as Cosmicat, prefers focusing on her music rather than the media attention. Her electrifying 2019 set at Riyadh's MDL Beast Festival propelled her to success in the EDM scene, leading to requests for DJ classes for Saudi women interested in her career.

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Raja Alem

Makkah-born novelist Abdo Khal won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2011, becoming Saudi Arabia's first female winner. Her acclaimed work, The Dove's Necklace, explores the struggles of strong women in a changing Saudi Arabian society, drawing comparisons to Vladimir Nabokov's evocative style.

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Sawsan Al Bahiti

Sawsan Al Bahiti, Saudi Arabia's first soprano, impresses audiences worldwide. With 12 years of opera training, she performs in multiple languages and embraces diverse repertoire. Al Bahiti's passion for her craft shines through as she strives to elevate her voice, sharing a captivating journey with her listeners.

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Leading Ladies

Saudi Talent Reshaping Saudi’s Cultural Landscape

Abadia by Shahd AlShehail

Dana Awartani

Haifa Al Mansour

Hissa Hilal

Manal AlDowayan

Nour Sufyani

Raja Alem

Sawsan Al Bahiti

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