In today’s world, an attempt to include “all” has become a major goal after much backlash that big labels and brands have faced due to catering only certain ethnicities and body types. And now all major brands have taken the productive step in introducing “all inclusive” collections across the board.
This trend has of course have also followed the runway and international labels are being more inclusive in their shows by casting a diverse lineup of models of all ethnicities and body types.
Dubbed as the first Saudi body positive model, Ghaliah Amin has been handpicked by fashion house Reemami for the latest edition of Fashion Forward Dubai.
The Dubai-based model only a year into her modelling career has worked for companies like 11 Honore, Khloe Kardashian’s Good American, and bespoke, ready-to-wear Marina Rinaldi.
“People are excited to see diversity on the runway and in the fashion industry,” the model and television presenter shared with Arab News, adding, “It was so satisfying to see this scale of acceptance in our region and I hope for it to continue.”
Though casting plus size models has become quite common in the west, it is still a slow process of picking someone of a curvy shape in Saudi Arabia.
Addressing the cultural and industry norm of the fashion world, Ghaliah said: “Growing up as a little girl, I noticed that the fashion world and high brands associated themselves with a certain body type, which, initially, made me feel quite conscious about my body. But, I gradually realised that being healthy meant more than just being a certain size or weight,” she said.
“This made me feel self-conscious as a child,” Amin shared. “This is why I make it a point to represent curvier women and help them realize that anyone can look and feel beautiful, despite their body type.”
Now a body positivity activist, Ghaliah was born and brought up in Jeddah, moved to Dubai to pursue a degree in fine arts.
She occasionally dabbled into modelling for her friends and eventually started enjoying it enough to take it up full time and score opportunities.
Amin was then noticed cast by plus-size Italian brand Marina Rinaldi, which became her debut project in professionally modelling.
“It was an exciting project. I love their collection and their stand on embracing your body,” said Amin. Since then, there has been no looking back for Amin as her modelling career kicked off, and she was proudly strutting across high-fashion runways.
Sharing a pro and con of the fashion industry, Amin says: “The fashion world is becoming more inclusive, but it’s still very slow.”
On her journey on becoming “body positive activist” and launching a social media initiative in 2018 entitled “Ana Ghalia,” which translates to “I am precious,” that aims to promote body positivity and embrace inclusion, Amin said: “I knew there was a gap in the fashion world, and I knew I was not the only one feeling that way. I realised it was time to tackle that unspoken issue and make it a point for all women to realise that anyone could look good and stylish irrespective of their body type or size. I then started an initiative ‘Ana Ghalia’ [I am precious] for my social media platforms to promote body positivity because beauty is all about becoming the best version of you,” she asserts.
