Karen Wazen, Lebanese fashion entrepreneur and influencer based in Dubai, is officially the first Middle Eastern Woman to ever be the face and spokesperson of a Roberto Cavalli campaign. Dressed in their signature animal prints, the social media star promotes the label’s new fragrances campaign - “The Paradiso Perfume.”
The news was out on the 18th of January 2022 and was the talk of the town in the Middle East as well as in Italy. Not only was Karen Wazen the first Middle Eastern face but is the first influencer to ever be featured in the house’s campaign.
According to an interview with Savoir Flair, Karen Wazen said, “This is such a huge opportunity, and they could have picked anyone. But they chose me. For me, to be the new face of Roberto Cavalli on a global level is an incredible feeling. It’s not just a win, for me personally, but also as an Arab woman, to be the face of an iconic Italian brand, it’s a big deal, and it’s a win for all of us.”
Roberto Cavalli is an Italian luxury fashion company that has had a global recognition since the 70s. Some of the world’s most famous names and supermodels, such as Naomi Campbell, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Cindy Crawford had the honor of representing and wearing some of Roberto Cavalli’s luxurious creations and glamorous pieces. So, to have Karen Wazen among those names is a proud statement when it comes to the Arab world especially Lebanon.
Natural freckles, natural lips, a cat eye, gold nails, and the iconic animal print are the key elements behind this stunning look and campaign whose message is to showcase empowered confidence and modern glamour.
The campaign was shot in Paris and will be unveiled in February 2022. The creative director of Roberto Cavalli, Fausto Puglisi, revealed to WWD, “We are extremely excited to welcome Karen to the Cavalli family. Her liberated spirit and glamorous style embodies the iconic Cavalli universe. We are proud to kickstart our collaboration together with a campaign that celebrates the core Cavalli fragrance pillars, which are the epitome of femininity and bring together a melody of notes inspired by our Italian heritage.”
However, this no-makeup-look is not something new to the Arab influencer. In 2018, Karen Wazen shared her journey with the skin condition called “vilitigo” and has been nothing but real and raw with her 7.1 million Instagram followers. She realized the impact and the power that she holds, saying, “It is possible that someone reading this deals with physical insecurities in their own way, which makes them feel uncomfortable, ugly or ashamed. So if this post might shine some light to those few, then I’m happy…”
Year after year, Karen Wazen is marking her territory in the fashion industry and proving that Arab women can make it anywhere in the world and even told Savoir Flair, “Growing up as an Arab woman living in the Arab world, I didn’t have a lot of women in the fashion or beauty industry to look up to who looked like me. I didn’t feel we were represented. And when I say this, I also want to speak about all the women who lack representation. Every girl deserves to dream. Every girl deserves to feel like she can achieve her dreams – that they are not out of reach. I am very proud to be a part of this change that we are witnessing.”
Karen Wazen is a living proof that dreams do come true and that to each his beauty no matter what size, color, or race !