Project Runway Middle East Has Arrived and It’s Time to Meet the Contestants
“Make it work!” Does that ring any bell? Well, it will for Project Runway fanatics because, guess what? The long-standing and popular fashion reality TV show is finally getting its debut in the Middle East; thanks to prominent designer, Elie Saab, who partnered with MBC group to make it happen.
To welcome the show to the Middle East, Dubai Design District (D3) hosted an epic dinner and invited the oh-la-la of the design and fashion world, as D3 will be the location for the show’s season finale. The first few episodes have already been filmed in Beirut, and the winner will receive a cash prize of $50,000 from Maybelline New York, a one-year contract for his/her own fashion house within the D3, a one-year membership to Dubai Design & Fashion Council and a cover feature on Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.
A total of 15 contestants have been chosen from across the Middle East for the first season of Project Runway ME, and we can’t be more excited and proud of all of them, especially the three talented Egyptian designers. Yes, I’m being biased because I’m Egyptian. But let’s give it up for Mohannad Kojak, Amna El Shandaweely and Alia El Nahass.
The legendary Lebanese fashion designer, Elie Saab, will be the head judge. His co-judge will be the illustrious Tunisian fashion icon, Afef Jnifen. As for the Middle Eastern Tim Gunn, Saudi fashion and design consultant Faris Al Shehri will fill his shoes, and taking Heidi Klum’s role is the beautiful Lebanese-Australian model, Jessica Kahawaty.
Let’s meet the contestants
1. Mohanad Kojak – Egypt
2. Maroun Issa – Lebanon
3. Ilham Aitsil – Morocco
4. Heba Mojaddidi – Saudi Arabia (KSA)
5. Lucy Fadel – Jordan
6. Luma Saleh – Lebanon
7. Issa Hesso – Syria
8. Alia El Nahass – Egypt
9. Fatima Al Najdi – Kuwait
10. Selim Chebil – Tunisia
11. Taghreed Al-Arrayed – Bahrain
12. Amna El-Shandaweely – Egypt
13. Saba Tark – Iraq
14. Alaa Najd – Lebanon
15. Rayan Atlas – Algeria
WE SAID THIS: The show will air on MBC4 and MBC 2 MASR starting September 17th at 8 PM, Egypt time, and 10 PM in the UAE.