Diva Dee on Dubai Bling, Season Two’s Unexpected Drama and Dressing For The Camera
The reality television star and entrepreneur sits down with Bazaar Arabia to discuss her intentions, redemption, and cast members
It’s been a busy few weeks for Danya Mohammed Almulla a.k.a. Diva Dee. Dubai Bling, one of Netflix’s most notable reality television series, has just dropped Season Two and the mother-of-two and cast member is anticipating a rush of reactions, posts and comments to start flooding in.
When we sit down less than 48 hours before the new season premieres, it feels very much like it’s the calm before the storm. Danya is prepared yet, as she mentions in the beginning of our interview, she’s still a bit nervous – and who wouldn’t be if they were in her shoes?
“We watch it when everyone else sees the show,” she explains, revealing the cast – which is comprised of Zeina Khoury, Lojain Omran, Kris Fade, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Farhana Bodi, Marwan Al-Awadhi, Safa Siddiqui, Loujain Adadah, Brianna Fade and newcomer Mona Kattan, and Danya herself – isn’t privy to what makes the final cut. “We don’t know what parts they’re showing, what parts are moving.”
Understandably, anyone would more than a little anxious if they were in her shoes – especially after last season. But how real is the drama… really?
“Yeah, it’s 100% real,” she says. “A lot of people think it’s scripted – because it’s so unreal. It’s just all of us being ourselves, basically” — being themselves with a multitude of stunning backdrops as the setting.
This season, the cast will venture outside of Dubai, visiting Mumbai and Al’Ula in Saudi Arabia. It’s certainly going to be a whirlwind of a season, guilty pleasure television at its finest, as the cast continues where they left off from Season One
Diva Dee on Dubai Bling Season Two Drama
“The way Season One ended, it was a lot of unresolved friendships or relationships…we weren’t all you know, on good terms when it ended,” she says. “When I went into Season Two, I did a lot of self-reflection and working on myself – you can’t change people around you. The only person you can truly change is yourself.”
“I went in trying to fix what was done in the past, because I don’t like to hold any burdens towards anyone. I don’t like animosity,” she says. “Of course in a certain situation, our feelings get the best of us, and you know, things get out of hand. When I went to Season Two, I decided to go in with good intentions. I’m going in with love, peace, happiness. I think it’s obvious but the person that I didn’t get along with (in) Season One, we kind of came together in Season Two.”
“There’s a lot of conflict going on in the world right now. And if we don’t start with ourselves and resolve the conflicts that we have, how can we expect for something bigger than us to resolve it?” she says. “When you watch the show, you’ll see that the response was a very mutual great response. And it was a very, very powerful moment for me. And I felt like a huge, huge weight was lifted off with me at that moment.”
“I’m a very honest, transparent person. If I feel like I genuinely want to make things better between us, I will come from a genuine place. I can’t fake it,” she says.
Out of all the cast members, who does Danya admire the most?
“Definitely Lojain Omran. I think she is such a great role model,” she says. “She’s been in this industry longer than anyone else. She is so humble, so down to earth, and graceful. And on Season Two, you’re going to see that we built a bond and became closer. I got to know her on a deeper level and she is truly an amazing person.”
And what about newcomer Mona Kattan Elamin? Does she have any thoughts her on?
“She’s a great addition to the cast,” Danya says sincerely. “She gets along with everyone, and everyone loves her. And I think she just fits perfectly with all of us.”
Dubai Bling, Season Two: Insight into Diva Dee’s Signature Style
Unveiling the theme of her Season Two dress code, Danya shares, “I’m very avant-garde, out of the box, different.” Her confessional ensembles, reminiscent of the iconic Jetsons, exude a futuristic charm. Admitting that as a mother of two, she is not shy to ask for help from her friends in the fashion industry but she does ensure she has the final say in what she wears. “I always choose a look. And I make sure it suits my personality. And then I get opinions from people that I trust.”
Committing to championing local talent, Danya discloses that she local designers throughout filming. “I dressed in Ezzat, Ménage, Gaffe Studios, and Hanayen Couture,” she says, listing off just a few home-grown heroes that can be spotted throughout Season Two. She also reminisces on the importance of jewellery on accentuating her personal style “Season Two you’re going to see me playing around with a lot of jewellery,” she enthuses.
Among her cherished adornments Mahallati Jewellery reigns supreme, a testament to her enduring loyalty with the brand, along with Toi Jewellery and Xoia Fine Jewellery. Viewers can expect to see a Nohma Design’s gold 18-karat piece on her nose, defying conventions with a tribal allure inspired by traditional Emirati attire.
“I’ve learned a lot about myself, I’ve learned that I have a lot of layers,” she says, reflecting on her journey. Her interests in championing sustainability and climate change – something she’s keen to discuss in all interview, even before COP28 came to Dubai – pay testament to that. Like all of us, she’s a complex person, doing her best to leverage her growing platform to raise awareness while also trying to be kind and understanding to all – not just her fellow cast members.
“I think the layer that suits me the best is me being peaceful,” she says.
But that certainly doesn’t mean she’s ready to be a push over. “I will defend myself if someone comes for me. But I like choosing the peaceful route and getting along with everyone. But you know, in reality shows you can’t just be in a reality show and be peaceful, there has to be some drama. So you’re definitely going to get a little bit of Diva Dee drama in Season Two – but I try to control it.”
Dubai Bling, Season Two is out now on Netflix.
Photographer: Loesje Kessels. Make-Up: Elishay Hameed. Fashion Stylist: Madiha Qaiser. Assistant Stylist: Shayan Shayman. Hair Stylist: Simona Bitar. Location: Aya Universe. Wardrobe: Designer 24.
Images supplied.