Meet The Real Housewives of Dubai
In anticipation of the first episode airing tonight in the UAE, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia has detailed everything we know about the women who will be starring in the reality show of the summer…
Heralded as the show’s first official international edition, The Real Housewives of Dubai will spotlight the lives of six powerhouse women as they balance their social, professional and personal lives in the bustling cosmopolitan city. From desert photo shoots to camel rides and yacht parties, expect to see Dubai – the storied playground of the rich – take on a central role in the show. And already the trailer for this new reality TV series, with its eyebrow-raising content, has had a polarising effect in the UAE.
But whether we admit to it or not, Real Housewives series have long occupied a spot on our list of guilty pleasures. With over 10 offshoots and counting from the original Orange County programme, its ability to indulge our craving for voyeuristic content is undeniable. The show trades in a currency of escapism. It offers a welcome vicarious distraction to real life as it lets its fans peer into the private world of women, who by virtue of belonging to another stratosphere of wealth, lead lives that are a mere fantasy to most. What the franchise does so well is give its audience a sense of connectedness to those it profiles. Although all the Real Housewives shows seem to involve some sort of sensationalist, at times outrageous, high-stakes drama, devoted viewers always find themselves rooting for their favourite ‘character’. So… who will be yours?
Caroline Brooks
Real estate director turned entrepreneur
Born to Honduran parents, Caroline is a first-generation American and proud Afro-Latina. She moved to Dubai in 2010 with her now ex-husband. Determined to thrive after her divorce and driven by a resolve to be a financially independent mother to her son, Adam, she took on the role of executive director of a Dubai-based real estate brokerage. Her latest passion project is the launch of The Glass House Dubai, an inclusive luxury beauty salon designed to service women of all ethnicities regardless of their skin colour or hair type.
Lesa Milan Hall
Fashion designer
Former Miss Jamaica, Lesa has a discerning eye for fashion and a keen penchant for business. She is the founder and designer of Mina Roe, a luxury maternity fashion brand, which she envisions expanding to include clothing fit for all body types. She lives in Dubai with her husband, Richard Hall, a real estate developer and their three boys.
Nina Ali
Mum-preneur and influencer
Impeccably turned out domestic goddess Nina Ali helms a high-end fruit cake company. Born in Beirut, her family moved to Texas where she grew up in a traditional Lebanese household. An avid dancer and fashion aficionado, she consistently shares her hobbies and glamorous family life with her half a million Instagram followers. In 2011, Nina and her husband, Munaf Ali made the move to Dubai, where they have since lived with their three children.
Sara Al Madani
Fashion designer and business owner
Her Excellency Sara Al Madani, is an Emirati fashion designer, a CEO and a board member of both the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as the UAE SME Council in the Ministry of Economy. As beautiful as she is smart, she has graced the cover of many high-end magazines including Harper’s Bazaar Arabia. A born entrepreneur, Sara – who is divorced and a mother of one – launched her first business aged 15 and is active in delivering motivational speeches across the region to encourage the next generation of girls to follow their dreams.
Chanel Ayan
Supermodel
Chanel was born in Kenya and is of Somali and Ethiopian descent, but has called Dubai home for half her life. She started her catwalk career at 18 and has been touted as Dubai’s first black supermodel, having been consistently featured in shoots for the likes of Dior, Valentino and Prada. An ambitious go-getter, she also runs a flourishing talent agency and has become quite the fashion and beauty connoisseur from her many years working in the industry. Channelling all she has learnt in the industry, Chanel is in the process of launching a highly anticipated make-up and skincare line with Toni Malt. Chanel is happily married to her American husband, with whom she has one son.
Caroline Stanbury
Podcast host and reality star
Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Caroline made her reality TV debut on Ladies of London. She lives in Dubai with her other half, Sergio Carrallo, a former Real Madrid football player – the two tied the knot at Raffles The Palm. In addition to hosting a relationship podcast called Divorced Not Dead, she is also a brand ambassador and has worked on a series of capsule collections, notably a shoe collection with Black Suede Studio that was released just last year. She shares three children with her ex-husband, Cem Habib whom she was married to for 18 years.
Images supplied by Bravo
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s June 2022 issue.