156 |Harper’s BAZAAR|September 2014contempt, it also affords her certain opportunities. Having a novelty
such as your nationality can set you apart from the pack, she says.
“I think the industry likes having its new ‘thing’ and every year there is
a new face – they love that change.”
Besides Hind, Hanaa Ben Abdesslem and Imaan Hammam, there are
few well-known Arab models. “I don’t fi nd the fashion industry uses
many dark girls, which I hope will be different one day. In the shows,
they mostly take white girls, probably one or two dark skins, one Asian...
But I hope it will be different, because we’re all humans, no matter what
colour we are.”
Now fi rmly ensconced in New York, has she learnt to marry religion
and runways? “I do my work and I do my part of religion. I observe
Ramadan but I also model and I’m very proud of what I do because I’m
basically saying to people that no matter where you come from or where
you’re born, you can do what you want. Modelling to me... Honestly,
I just love it. I don’t enjoy every shoot I do but most of the time I love to
do my work and I’m proud to do it correctly. It makes me happy.”
Eschewing religious restrictions, Hind very much channels this ‘can
do’ attitude. “I’ve decided to be open, to be easy, and to do what I believe
I’m supposed to do. Everybody should do whatever they want as long as
they’re happy.”
Aside from modelling, what would make Hind happiest is changing
people’s minds and altering their perceptions about the Arab world.
“I would love it if people thought less that all Muslims were terrorists or
some other thing. It’s not true. Like everywhere else in the world, there can
be bad people and good people. In Morocco we have a lot of tourists and
I always get asked if it’s dangerous. I’m like, really?! It’s one of the most open
Arab countries and the people... There is nothing mean about them.”
For now, Hind hopes to alter perceptions and elicit change using her
voice as a Muslim model, but in the future through another creative
outlet. “I hope one day to be a designer, as I love everything about
fashion and the history of it, but I need to go to school and learn about
it. Yves Saint Laurent was one of my favourite designers, he inspires me
a lot, and I have met Jean Paul Gaultier who I absolutely loved. Marc
Jacobs was also just amazing. He’s very professional, like ‘I’m not here tojoke around’, but I love it.” As for future collaborations, Gucci and
Chanel are next on her wish list. “I love all the Gucci campaigns – the
colours and everything, gorgeous.”
Back on home turf, it is Moroccan designer Said Mahrouf who gets
her seal of approval, “I like his designs and him as a person,” she says,
and the 2013 beauty campaign for Estée Lauder Middle East that brings
her the greatest satisfaction. “Somehow representing the Middle East,
it also represented me, so I was happy to do that.”
Her take on Arab beauty is candid. “In Morocco we are mostly dark
skin but we also have a small part that has blonde hair and blue eyes.
I think Moroccan women are beautiful but sometimes it doesn’t translate
into the pictures. They are generally a little bigger too but not super-tall.
In the Arab world in general, women use a lot of make-up, which is their
thing. Me, personally, I don’t. Especially during the day, I try my best
not to wear any make-up. Beauty is on the inside. Obviously every
woman likes to be pretty but wearing make-up isn’t going to change
anything. Most important, it’s about being confi dent with yourself.”
Of great importance to Hind is the more human side to her industry.
She deeply admires Audrey Hepburn for her elegance, but more for the
late actress’ strength of character and dedicated work ethic. She knows
that models don’t get to the top on good looks alone. She also seeks
personal motivation from her peers. “When I was younger I had so
many models that I really admired, but I loved Adriana Lima because of
her dark skin and the fact that she was succeeding. And I also loved
Linda Evangelista, who is the kind of person I would like to be.
She’s been in the industry for forever and she’s still working; for me,
that’s a real model.”
Hind aspires to a 30-year-career à la Linda, but understands that it
takes time to cultivate a reputation that assures such longevity. “At the
moment I’m a model, but at some point I won’t be 100 per cent. There
are so many things I want to do, like designing, or owning my own
Argan oil brand. But what I would also really love to do is help women
and children in Morocco – maybe one day I’ll have an association and
be able to teach people that you can do anything you set your mind to.”
As Hind says, she is the proof in the pudding.“BEAUTY IS ON THE INSIDE. EVERY WOMAN LIK ES TO BE PR ETTY BUT
WEAR ING MAK E-UP WON’T CHANGE THAT. IT’S ABOUT CONFIDENCE”
Hind Sahli
INTERVIEW
The
Coat, Dhs12,250;
bag, Dhs71,750,
both Gucci