At all times, there was always a woman in the world who attracted the gaze of men and aroused the admiration and desire to imitate women. Today there are many such beauties, but the brightest of them stand out for their unique personality and charisma.
Even if you know nothing about the rulers of eastern countries, most likely you have at least once heard of Sheikh Moz. Her full name is Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Misned. Yes, she is the recognized style icon and, as the world media say about her, the first fashionista of the East. Indeed, this woman deserves respect.
The most stylish beauty of the Arab world.
early years
How was this possible in a country where women dress in black from head to toe, cannot participate in political and social life on an equal basis with men, and have only recently gained the right to drive?
Perhaps Moza was lucky with her parents and husband. She was born into the family of a prominent Qatari businessman. The father did not object to his daughter being educated as a sociologist at the National University of Qatar. And her husband, the Crown Prince, whom she married at the age of 18, allowed her to finish college. Moreover, Moza completed an internship at leading US universities.
Of course, her life was little like a fairy tale: Moza faced all the realities of life in the Arab East. The emirs of the Al Thani family, from which her husband came, seized power in Qatar back in the 18th century. Since then, no one except members of this family has the right to rule the country. Qatar is still an absolute monarchy: the emir appoints the prime minister, members of the Council of Ministers and the Advisory Council. The power of the monarch is limited only by Sharia law.
Motherhood
Sheikha Moza is the mother of seven children. She had five sons and two daughters. In 1995, when Moza was 36, her husband Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (with the support of other family members, it is said) staged a bloodless coup in the state. He overthrew his own father, who was on a business trip in Switzerland, from the throne and declared himself emir.
Upon learning of the coup, Khalifa bin Hamad publicly renounced his son, and six months later he even attempted to regain power and title - albeit unsuccessfully. In response, his son and newly-minted emir, with the help of American lawyers, froze all his father's foreign accounts, so that new attacks on the throne became impossible. As a result, Khalifa bin Hamad was able to return to his homeland only eight years later, when he finally made peace with his son.
Sheikha Moza is not her husband’s only wife: the former emir has three official wives, and she is the “middle” of them. However, it was Moza’s children who became the heirs to the title. Her eldest son Jasim was destined for the throne, but in 2003 he announced that he was giving up his rights as crown prince in favor of his brother Sheikh Tamim.
“We tried to raise our children as ordinary people. When I returned home, we talked to them about everything: what I did, what I saw, what they thought and how they would act. Listening to the opinions of young people is very useful. After all, everything we do is for them,” says the sheikha.
Social activities of Sheikha Moza
Moza herself, when the children grew up, became actively involved in social life. She said she wants to make Qatar a secular state that respects human rights. By the way, it is indeed considered one of the most liberal countries in the region.
Since her husband came to power, the situation of women in Qatar has improved markedly. They received the right to vote, the opportunity to drive a car and choose clothes to their taste. True, not all conservative families agree to allow this. But Moza did a brave thing: she set an example by appearing in public without a veil in 2002.
Sheikha Mozah holds a number of government and international positions, which is rare in the Gulf states even for the wives of rulers. She is the head of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, president of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs and vice-president of the Supreme Council for Education.
In 2003, UNESCO appointed her as Special Ambassador for Basic and Higher Education. Moza tries to popularize international projects to improve the quality and accessibility of education, and pays special attention to the rights of women and children.
In 2003, with the assistance of the sheikh, the Education City was opened in Qatar - a university campus that includes international-class universities, as well as branches of famous US universities, where the best teachers give lectures. Students from different countries of the world study in the “City of Education”: half of the students are foreigners, which indicates a good level of teaching and prestige.
She also established the Arab Democracy Fund, to which her husband made an initial contribution of $10 million. The foundation's mission is to promote the development of free media and civil society.
In 2007, Forbes magazine named Moza one of the 100 most powerful women in the world, and The Times named her one of the 25 most influential business leaders in the Middle East.
They say that the sheikha has a difficult character, which is not surprising: winning her place in the sun in a society whose laws are harsh and which has been ruled exclusively by men for many centuries is not an easy task. But people love Moza. The women of Qatar are especially grateful to her.
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“Her Highness is the best thing that happened to Qatar. She inspires us all. Since she came to power, Qatar has changed 100 percent,” they say.
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Qatar, Sheikha Moza, her husband and children
In order to understand what kind of family this is, I propose to start with the general thing - with Qatar, from which Sheikha Moza, her husband and children are from.
Background information about Qatar
Civilizations on the territory of Qatar have been known since the 3rd millennium BC. Then it was part of the state of Dilmunt, which flourished due to trade and occupied a more impressive territory. Nowadays, Qatar lies on a small peninsula in the northeastern part of Arabia with an area of 11,493 square meters. km.
Geographically, Qatar belongs to the Middle East and the Persian Gulf area. The capital of Qatar is Doha. Qatar has a land border with Saudi Arabia and a sea border with Bahrain and the UAE. The population of this country is 2.42 million people. The Qataris themselves make up less than one-third of the population.
The climatic conditions here are very unfavorable - deserts and semi-deserts. In the north there is a low sandy plain with rare oases, covered with moving (eolian) sands; in the middle part of the peninsula there is a rocky desert with areas of salt marshes; in the south there are high sandy hills. The climate is continental tropical, dry. In summer, temperatures often rise to 50 °C. The peninsula is poor in water. There are no permanent rivers; most of the water has to be obtained through sea desalination. Underground fresh water sources and oases are located mainly in the north of the country. The fauna is poor, dominated by reptiles and rodents.
Deserts made life difficult and short for people in Qatar. The lack of permanent rivers made it even more difficult. Therefore, the population has always been small. However, the thirties of the twentieth century became a turning point in the success of these lands. It was then that rich oil reserves were found and the state flourished. Before the discovery of oil, Qatar was famous mainly for its pearl fishing and maritime trade. Until 1971, this emirate was under British protectorate. After gaining independence, due to the huge income from the sale of oil and gas, Qatar became one of the richest countries in the region.
Qatar ranks 6th in the world in oil production; in addition, it has gigantic reserves of natural gas (2nd place after the Russian Federation), and its concentration on such a tiny spot makes production very profitable. There are several power plants in Qatar, and electricity is provided free of charge to the population. In addition to energy and oil production, which makes up the bulk of budget income, Qatar is engaged in steel production.
Qatar is an absolute monarchy. Since the 18th century, power here was seized by the emirs of the Al Thani family. And since then, no one has the right to rule Qatar except this family. The Emir appoints the Prime Minister, members of the Council of Ministers and the Advisory Council. The power of the emir is limited only by Sharia law.
However, despite the “backward” autocracy, the state is one of the most liberal in the region. And this despite the fact that the population adheres to Islam, forcing the locals to observe many prohibitions and restrictions. The American Forbes magazine calls Qatar the richest country in the world. This country has the highest human development indicator in the Arab world.
Since 1992, Qatar has worked closely with the United States in the military sphere. Qatar also has the largest number of American military bases after Kuwait. According to some political scientists, the military presence is used by the Americans to control political affairs and the economic situation in Qatar and other countries in the Middle East in order to further strengthen US dominance over the region.
Sheikh
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
Sheikh Hamad, the head of the Al Thani family, was the Emir of Qatar from June 27, 1995 to June 25, 2013.
Sheikh Hamad became head of state of Qatar in 1995 with the support of other family members while his father was on an overseas assignment in Switzerland. It was noted that by this time most of the powers to govern the state were concentrated in the hands of Hamad. Upon learning of the coup, Khalifa bin Hamad publicly disowned his son and launched an unsuccessful counter-coup attempt on February 14, 1996. After this, Hamad, by hiring the American law firm Patton Boggs and, with its help, achieved the freezing of his father’s foreign financial accounts, protected himself from new attacks on the government. Khalifa bin Hamad was able to return to Qatar only in 2004 - after reconciliation with his son.
On June 24, 2013, Hamad announced that he was going to transfer power in the emirate to his son, Crown Prince Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. On June 25, 2013, he announced his retirement in a televised address.
Hamad's reign marked an era of reform and modernization in Qatar. First of all, Qatar's oil and gas complex received a new impetus for development thanks to the attraction of foreign investment from the world's largest companies: ExxonMobil, Shell, Total, etc. As a result, Qatar has become a leading producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Among Arab rulers, Hamad was considered a progressive leader, despite maintaining absolute power. In 1997, he made Qatar the first country in the region to grant women's suffrage, and in 1996 he helped launch the Al Jazeera television channel. The television channel is one of Qatar's most important instruments of influence in the Middle East.
The humanitarian and charitable programs supervised by the emir’s second wife, Moza, have gained great popularity. They say that Hamad bin Khalifa divorced his first wife, Sheikha Mariam bint Muhammad, even before marrying Moza. The emir married the third, Sheikh Nura bint Khalid, much later. Both the first and third wives of the emir were his distant relatives. Little is known about them, and few have seen them.
Sheikh Hamad is in poor health, suffers from diabetes, and has undergone surgery. Diabetes is widespread in Qatar, where consanguineous marriages are traditional among indigenous people. There have been multiple attempts on Sheikh Hamad's life.
Sheikha Moza
Full name: Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Misned.
Sheikha Moza received her education in sociology at Qatar National University (1986-1990), then completed an internship at leading universities in the United States. Sheikha Moza is the daughter of Qatari opposition leader Nasser bin Abdullah al-Misned. The marriage of Sheikha Moza and Sheikh Hamad is a dynastic marriage. His goal is to become related to her father, a famous oppositionist, in order to stop the hostility between the clans.
Sheikha Moza, which is rare for the wives of rulers of other Gulf countries, has a number of government and international positions, including honorary ones: head of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Social Development, president of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs; Vice President of the Supreme Council of Education; UNESCO Special Envoy.
Sheikha Moza considers her main goal to be to transform Qatar into a modern, leading country in the world, for which she participates in the political, business, social and cultural life of her countries and the region.
She created the Arab Democracy Fund, to which her husband made the first contribution of $10 million. The main goal of this foundation, as stated, is to promote the development of free media and civil society.
Sheikha Mozah is also the initiator of the idea of transforming Qatar into a new “Silicon Valley”. For this purpose, the Qatar Science and Technology Park was created, which opened at the end of 2008. The park has attracted 225 million investments, including from such world leading companies as Shell and General Electric.
In addition, she is the initiator and embodiment of the “Education City” in Qatar - a university campus in the suburbs of the capital on an area of 2,500 acres, where leading professors from American universities lecture to students. Actively encourages the activities of the leading Arabic-language television network Al-Jazeera.
Sheikha Mozah holds honorary doctorates from Virginia Commonwealth University, Texas A&M University, Carnegie Mellon University, Imperial College London and Georgetown University ( Georgetown University). Since 2010 she has been a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
In the Gulf countries, this woman is both admired and irritated. None of the monarchs' wives appeared as often in public as Moza. Her elegant style and refined taste are admired by European designers. And Muslims never cease to be outraged by the fact that she wears figure-flattering dresses and covers her head with a turban, completely forgetting about the traditional black abaya.
Political scientists say that she managed to accomplish something unprecedented in Qatar: to create a virtual matriarchy in a patriarchal country. Since her husband's retirement in 2013 and the handing over of power to her son, she is still considered one of the most powerful women in the country and the world.
The influence Moza has in Qatar is legendary; she was even included in the list of 100 most powerful women in the world according to Forbes magazine in 2010. Those who have had the opportunity to deal with the sheikh's foundation admire her ability to work and determination. But they will not fail to sarcastically say that the foundation’s office resembles a “snake’s nest.”
There are rumors that Sheikha Moza has a tough character. But otherwise she simply would not have been able to defend her place in the sun. Rumor has it that Sheikh Hamad married for the third time to spite Moza, thereby demonstrating that her power is not unlimited. But still, no other woman could compare with Moza, who by that time had become an expert in diplomatic protocol and international etiquette, because it was she who accompanied her husband on all foreign trips. Is it a coincidence that it was during the reign of Sheikh Hamad that little Qatar managed to turn gas resources into financial prosperity and strengthen ties with London? It is believed that Qatar owes these successes to Moze.
In Qatar they almost pray to her. “Her Highness is the best thing to happen to Qatar,” says Qatari student Ezra al-Ibrahim. “She is an inspiration to us all. Since she came to power, Qatar has changed 100%.”
Sheikha Moza and the Emir of Qatar have seven children (five sons and two daughters): Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (4th Emir of Qatar since June 25, 2013); Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; Joan Hamad Al Thani; Khalifa Hamad Al Thani; Mohamed Hamad Al Thani; Al Mayassa Hamad Al Thani; Hind Hamad Al Thani.
Everyone who knows Moza’s children says that she raised them well. James Reardon-Andreson, dean of the diplomatic school at Georgetown University in Qatar, knows this for sure: “I know three of her children, and I’m actually shocked. They could be smoking weed somewhere in the south of France, as so many people do, but they are completely different. As a father, I admire the way this couple raised their children."
“We tried to raise our children as normal people. When I return home, we talk to them about everything: what I did, what I saw, what they think, what they want to do. Listening to the opinions of young people is very useful. Everything we do is for them,” says Sheikha Moza.
Jasim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (born 1978)
The former Crown Prince of Qatar is the third-eldest son of former Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad and the first son of Sheikha Moza.
Jasim received his education at the British Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. After graduation, he was appointed 2nd lieutenant of the Qatar Armed Forces on August 9, 1996. And on October 23 of the same year he became Crown Prince of Qatar. He replaced his older half-brother Mishaal bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in this position. Jassim renounced his rights as crown prince in favor of his younger brother Sheikh Tamim on August 5, 2003.
Sheikh Jassim is the honorary president of the Qatar National Cancer Society
(QNCS) since 1997. In addition, he has been Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Coordination and Consequences since 1999, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Ecology and Natural Resources since 2000. He has also been a patron of the Aspire Sports Excellence Academy since 2003.
Sheikh Jassim married Sheikha Buthaina bint Ahmad Al Thani, daughter of Sheikh Hamad bin Ali Al Thani. At the moment, the couple has three children: one son and two daughters.
Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (born 1980)
Second son of Moza and the emir.
He studied in the UK at Sherborne School in Dorset (a copy of which he later reproduced in Doha). There he also graduated from high school, the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, and served in the Qatari army. He speaks excellent English and is personally acquainted with Western leaders and their children.
Upon returning to his homeland, he began to provide enormous assistance to his father in governing the state. Appointed heir to the throne in 2003 after the abdication of his older brother Jassem. As mentioned above, in 2013, his father Hamad decided to relinquish power in favor of his son, and Tamim became the new emir of Qatar.
Some experts argue that Tamim came to power with the help of his mother, Sheikha Moza. Despite the fact that, purely formally, Moza’s status has decreased, because she is no longer the wife of the ruling emir, she has power over her son, much greater than over her husband. She carefully protects him from the influence of various political forces in Qatar. Therefore, the first political decision of the new emir was the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim al-Thani, a man whose political views had repeatedly annoyed Moza.
Experts do not rule out that even the overthrow of Hamad’s father in 1995 during a vacation in Switzerland was another of Moza’s machinations. However, then no one thought about it yet. The result was important: then Sheikh Hamad became the new emir, and Sheikha Moza got as close as possible to power.
Sheikh Tamim is one of the youngest heads of state and government in the world, the youngest active monarch in the world and the youngest emir of Qatar since the country's independence.
Sheikh Tamim heads the Qatar Olympic Committee and is a member of the International Olympic Committee from Qatar. He headed the organizing committee for holding the 2022 Summer Olympics in Doha. This plan was not continued because the IOC did not allow the capital of Qatar to the finals.
Tamim devotes a lot of energy to promoting sports in the country. Qatar is fighting for the right to host not only the Olympic Games, but also many world championships in various sports. Admittedly, it was not without success: the capital of the country, Doha, will host the World Boxing Championship, and in 2022 the country will host the next World Football Championship. Earlier in 2010, the World Indoor Athletics Championships were held in Doha.
Al Mayassa Hamad Al Thani
Born in 1984. The 14th oldest child of Sheikh Hamad and the eldest daughter of the emir from Sheikha Moza.
Sheikha Al-Mayassa graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Literature from Duke University (Durham, North Carolina, USA) in 2005.
During the 2003/2004 academic year, Al-Mayassa studied at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (known as Sciences Po
).
After completing her studies, Sheikha Al-Mayassa founded the public organization “Reach Out To Asia”. This organization is a charity aimed at helping victims of natural disasters in Asia by providing quality education.
Al Mayassa heads the Qatar Museums Authority and the Doha Film Institute, two of Qatar's leading cultural institutions. By adding to Qatari art collections and inviting the world's leading artists to Doha, she embodies the cultural policy of the State of Qatar. In the period from 2005 to 2011, more than $428 million worth of works of art were exported from the United States of America alone to Qatar. Paintings and antiques exported from Great Britain during the same period cost the state over £128 million.
“Many countries in the Arab world are very rich but have poor populations. There is a lack of innovation there. Stagnation. Qatar is trying to become a role model. It has been proven that you can make a lot of changes in a short time,” Al-Mayassa said in a 2007 interview with the American magazine Travel + Leisure. The daughter of the Qatari emir dreams of breaking through the walls of ignorance and illiteracy between East and West. She firmly believes that every person can make a difference in this world. In March 2012, The Economist
called her the "Qatari Queen of Culture".
Sheikha Al Mayassa Al Thani and her husband, Frédéric Mitterrand, Takeshi Murakami and Jean Jacques Iagon at the opening of the exhibition "Murakami Versailles" at the Chateau of Versailles.
Sheikha Al Mayassa married Sheikh Jassim bin Abdul Aziz Al Thani on January 6, 2006. Sheikh Jassim is the eldest son of Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, making the couple cousins. They currently have 3 sons.
Joan Hamad Al Thani
Born in 1985. The fifth son of the former Emir of Qatar and the third child of Sheikha Moza. He was educated at the Military Academy in France (École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr). Married, four children.
He was the chairman of the organizing committee of the 2015 Men's World Handball Championship in Qatar.
Mohamed Hamad Al Thani
Born in 1988. The sixth son of the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad, and the fifth child of the Emir with his second wife, Sheikha Moza.
The young man blogged on Instagram for a long time, but after completing his studies and taking a new position in the Ministry of Qatar, he deleted the blog. Speaks fluent English and French. Not married.
He attended Qatar Academy and was a member of the first graduating class of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Qatar, where he received his bachelor's degree in 2009. In 2013 he graduated from Harvard University, where he received a master's degree.
Sheikh Mohammed is a former captain of the Qatar Equestrian Team. He was also the chairman of Qatar in the competition to host the next FIFA World Cup in 2022. As stated above, Qatar won this competition.
Khalifa Hamad Al Thani
Born 1989 Moza's youngest son.
There is very little information about him in the English-language and Russian-language press. Due to the fact that his name is similar to the name of his grandfather, the former emir of Qatar, information about the emir is mainly shown. There are also very few photos of this young man on the Internet. This may be due to the Khalifa's low public activity. If one of the gossips speaks Arabic, they will probably be able to find more complete information about him.
Hind Hamad Al Thani
The youngest daughter of the emir and Moza. There is also little information about her on the English and Russian-language Internet.
Sheikha Hind, like her sister, graduated from Duke University in Durham (North Carolina). As Director of the Emir's Office and Chief of Staff (during her father's reign), Hind did not just stand on the sidelines, but was a key adviser to her father, helping to formulate his policies as well as representing Qatar at numerous conferences and official visits abroad. In doing so, she became the face of a new generation of Qatari women. It is not entirely clear whether she remained director of the Emir’s Office after her father’s departure from power. But some sources indicate that she has been heading the Emir’s Office since 2009. From the photo on the Internet it is clear that she, like other family members, takes an active part in the sporting life of the country.
This is such an interesting country and interesting rulers.
All the best!
Source: wikipedia.org
Sheikha Moza: The story of the most influential and stylish woman in the Islamic world
Even if you know nothing about the rulers of eastern countries, most likely you have at least once heard of Sheikh Moz. Her full name is Sheikha Moza bint Nasser al-Misned. Yes, she is the recognized style icon and, as the world media say about her, the first fashionista of the East. Indeed, this woman deserves respect.
The most stylish beauty of the Arab world.
Personal life
Mother of seven children, Moza looks great. She is impeccably dressed in her own unique style. Photos of the sheikh, the owner of a model's height and figure, constantly adorn the covers of magazines, she is friends with designers, adores the creations of Dior, Armani, Chanel, Karven, Ulyana Sergienko and, of course, Valentino, whose controlling stake is owned by her family. The jewelry collection of the oriental beauty consists of products from famous world brands. Moza has not worn a hijab since 2002, but her head is always covered with a turban that matches the color of her outfit. She loves not only long skirts, but also trousers and even jeans.
Sheikha Moza bint Nasser on stage at the Fashion Trust Arabia Prize ceremony at the Qatar National Museum in Doha on November 3, 2021.
The life and actions of this incredible woman became a symbol of the first shoots of feminism in the East and gave hope to millions of disenfranchised Muslim women wrapped in burqas.
Who is Moza: short biography
Sheikha Moza was born into the family of a wealthy Qatari businessman in 1959. Her life is like an oriental fairy tale. Having lived a prosperous childhood and adolescence, at the age of 18 Moza met the future prince, but was in no hurry to get married and get bogged down in household chores. First, the purposeful girl entered the local university at the Faculty of Psychology, then went to America for an internship. Then, already educated and ready for family life, the girl got married.
Moza spent her first years as a married woman with her children. She devoted a lot of time to them and spared no effort. Just imagine: this fragile lady has 7 children! Then Moza’s life became more vibrant and eventful in terms of career and social activities.
Looks good in all outfits.
In 1995, Moza’s husband organized a bloodless coup in the state and seized power, overthrowing his own father. This coup was supported by the entire Anglo-Saxon world, after which Qatar began to be talked about all over the world because of its rich oil and gas potential. Soon after this event, the new emir of the country introduced his second wife to the public - the stylish and educated beauty Moza.
Today, Sheikha Moza is one of the three wives of the 3rd Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad. Like Sultana Roksolana, well-known to many, she won the trust of her husband and was admitted to government affairs. The husband also allowed his beautiful wife to appear in public without a veil, which is unacceptable in the Muslim world.
Sheikha is an active public figure and is a UNESCO Special Ambassador for Basic and Higher Education. The woman is well educated and has undergone internships at renowned higher education institutions in the United States.
One of the most educated women in the Arab world.
Moza devotes a lot of time and energy to the rights of women and children in Qatar. Thanks to the emir's wife, women in the country received much more rights than in neighboring eastern states. She is also included in the top 100 most influential women in the world according to the famous Forbes magazine and, it seems, has no plans to slow down.
Sheikha Moza's role in enthroning her husband Hamad
Moza's husband, Prince Hamad, became the emir of Qatar and the head of the al-Thani family on June 27, 1995, as a result of a quiet palace coup, in which, according to rumors, Hamad's wife, the charming Moza, had a hand. The son overthrew his father and began to rule the country, and the entire period of rule (until June 25, 2013) was marked by an unprecedented economic and social upswing. The people of Qatar were fascinated by the new ruler, who showed high class in ruling the country: Sheikh Hamad was so generous that he allowed a woman to participate in government affairs. And I never regretted it - her sharp masculine mind sometimes offered unexpected, but extremely effective solutions.
The female population of Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries adored Moza for her style, outfits, sense of tact and ability to promote their ideas. Thanks to Moza’s supervision, education in the country has reached a new level, social taboos for women have weakened, giving the state many highly qualified specialists. Moza always accompanied Sheikh Hamad on his foreign trips, being not just a figure of protocol, but also the most reliable adviser to the head of Qatar.
Moza's husband's political career ended on June 25, 2013, when Sheikh Hamad announced his intention to transfer power in the emirate to his son in a televised address to the nation. He announced his retirement, leaving Crown Prince Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani as head of Qatar.
Sheikha Moza's influence, femininity and style
For the Arab world, Moza's style is pure audacity. She wears dresses, skirts, and trousers. Among the national clothes of Qatar, a woman prefers only a turban. And it is often replete with bright colors and unusual decorative elements.
The sheikha could easily give a master class on how to look sexy, relevant and fashionable without violating the rules of decency. She has a wonderful figure and a beautiful well-groomed face. She knows how to highlight her assets, preferring fitted outfits and a minimum of makeup. Moza boldly steps out in high heels, always maintains her royal posture, and looks stunning in any situation.
On her face you can only observe self-confidence and harmony with the outside world. She knows how to present herself beautifully, as befits the first lady of any country.
Like any wealthy woman, Sheikha Moza prefers dresses and suits from the collections of designers Chanel, Dior, Armani, Carven and others in her wardrobe. A fashionista cannot do without outfits from the fashion house Valentino: the Moza family owns the majority of the shares of the brand.
Under the wing of her husband, but not in his shadow.
Such an extraordinary personality, of course, inspires other representatives of the fair half with her example. The Qatari first lady's flamboyant and understated style has spread far beyond the borders of her homeland. And this is not surprising: every time the sheikha looks restrained and does not violate the traditions of her country, but at the same time everything looks fashionable, original, bright.
Tilda Swinton (179 cm)
Catherine Matilda Swinton is a talented star of auteur cinema, a muse and favorite of independent directors and a real phenomenon in Hollywood. Unique style, unique appearance, which is called alien, tall. She destroyed stereotypes about female beauty, and about how one can get to the Dream Factory from the art house and the world of avant-garde artists, and about the age of receiving an Oscar (Tilda received it at 47 years old).
Tilda is a real aristocrat, because she comes from an ancient Scottish family dating back to the 9th century. She calls herself an "alien in Hollywood" but receives offers from top American directors. Tilda is considered one of the most stylish women both in the world of cinema and in the world in general. She is the muse of not only directors, but also famous fashion designers.
Alexandra Anastasia Lisowska of the 20th century: what the most influential fashionista in the Arab world, Sheikha Moza, looks like and does
February 1 is World Hijab Day. It would seem that this is an exclusively Muslim holiday, but interest in Eastern culture among residents of European countries is gaining momentum every year.
Hijab is a special clothing for Muslim women, which is usually a headscarf that hides the hair and face.
However, being an Eastern woman does not always mean resigning yourself to the role of a submissive shadow of your husband and hiding your face all your life. And in the Arab world - the world of men - a woman can open her face and gain such enormous influence that the country's top officials will listen to her. Sheikha Moza proved this.
Cara Delevingne (177 cm)
British model and actress, who was named by Vogue magazine as one of the most stylish women in the fashion industry under the age of 45. And the reason for this is not only Kara’s unusual appearance (blond hair and dark sable eyebrows) and her demand as a model (Kara ranks 5th in the ranking of the world’s 50 supermodels), but also her taste and unique style.
The mother of seven children is the most stylish woman in the country
Yes, this beautiful, slender woman gave birth to seven children to her husband, the third Emir of Qatar, who ruled the country from 1995 to 2013, and at the same time managed to maintain an amazing figure. Sheikha Moza is the second wife of Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani. And the sheikh has three wives in total.
This is interesting: A hat under a coat for men
Residents of Qatar could not recover from amazement for a long time when they saw: the emir not only does not force his second wife to hide her face and figure under a hijab, but also allows her to actively participate in government affairs. Unheard of audacity for an oriental woman!
It must be said that the life of Sheikha Moza is a real oriental fairy tale in the spirit of “1000 and 1 Nights”, a ready-made plot for an exciting series, no less interesting than “The Magnificent Century”.
Norm Breaker
Sheikha Moza is the second wife of Emir Hamad, and it is all the more surprising that she managed to become the first lady of the country. Hamad, who is called one of the most liberal rulers of Qatar, allowed Moza to abandon the headscarf customary for Arab women, replacing it with a turban, and dress the way she liked. Sheikha Moza graduated from several universities and received an excellent education in the fields of public administration, sociology and humanities. Even after Hamad married for the third time (according to rumors, so that Moza would not feel that he was completely at her mercy), she accompanied the emir on all official trips and, in fact, remained the first lady of the country as long as the emir was in power.
Such a bright position could not help but provoke critics; in the Arab world, Sheikha has many spiteful critics who consider her power-hungry, tough and condemn her for violating traditions. This is what The New York Times wrote in 2022:
Sheikha Mozah is the target of vicious, often misogynistic abuse in the Saudi, Emirati and Egyptian media, where she is portrayed as a power-hungry manipulator by weak men.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Sheikha Moza says it was never her intention to flout norms or provoke others.
My husband believes in me, in my work, in my ability to make a difference, in my ability to be his partner... and he has given me the opportunity to do so.
- said Moza.
First - education, then - family
So decided 18-year-old Moza, who received a marriage proposal from the Crown Prince of Qatar. The girl was in no hurry to get married: first, she went to study at the Faculty of Psychology at Qatar University, and after graduating she went to America for an internship.
And only then came the turn of marriage. But Moza devoted all her time to her family - how could it be otherwise if seven children were born one after another?
In 1995, Qatar underwent major upheavals. Moza's husband decided to carry out a bloodless coup in the country, overthrowing his own father and taking his place. Supported by European rulers, Qatar quickly gained great influence in the world thanks to its oil and gas complex. And the new emir proudly brought out his beautiful, stylish and educated second wife.
Political achievements of the “gray eminence” - Sheikha Moza
The second wife of the Emir of Qatar not only oversaw charitable and humanitarian programs - her ill-wishers could still survive this. No, the ambitious Moza aimed at nothing less than the role of a “gray eminence.” They said that Emir Hamad was completely under the influence of his second wife.
Thus, Moza was accused of the fact that Qatar’s economic policy during the reign of her husband became aggressive. This was manifested in dumping gas prices and the desire to capture a large part of the world gas market.
Moza had quite a lot of official government positions: she headed the Education and Science Foundation, was the head of the Qatar Supreme Council for Family Affairs, and served as vice-president of the Supreme Council of Education. In addition, her husband entrusted her with the role of UNESCO special envoy.
Having become closely involved in political problems, Moza opened the Arab Democratic Fund, the main goal of which is to help develop independent media. The first contribution to the Fund was made by the Emir of Qatar - he donated $10 million.
It would take a very long time to list the many honorary titles and positions of Sheikha Moza. But even without that it is clear that this woman did not intend to spend her life, like her compatriots, behind a closed door, hiding from people under a blanket.
Amal Alamuddin (about 180 cm)
She is not just an exquisite beauty who managed to “ring” the main Hollywood bachelor George Clooney, but also a successful human rights lawyer, legal adviser to the King of Bahrain, UN adviser, specialist in international and criminal law, an Oxford graduate who speaks fluent French, English and Arabic languages. And an incredibly stylish woman! Her outfits are chosen with great taste and European chic.
Amal is often called the "unattainable ideal of modern femininity" as she is both stunningly beautiful and very successful. Alexander Vasiliev, a fashion historian, very accurately described Amal and her style: “I would not be afraid to call the taste of this 36-year-old woman impeccable. Amal does not make any mistakes in choosing a silhouette, or in choosing a color, or in choosing a length, or in choosing accessories. This speaks of a very correct upbringing and good manners. Many may say: “We would like her money, and we would dress like that.” Nothing like that! It often happens that when a woman has funds, it does not help at all. Ladies buy the same tasteless things that they dressed in before, only they now pay very substantial sums for it. As designer Giorgio Armani rightly said, elegance is the mind of a woman.”
Qatar's first fashionista
Most Qatari women still dress the same way they did in the days of their Arabian great-grandmothers. The main item of clothing is the abaya: a cross between a long dress and a cloak that hides the figure from chin to heels.
In addition, they wear a niqab on their heads - two scarves tied in such a way as to hide their hair, forehead and neck, leaving only their face visible. Some do not limit themselves to this, hiding their face, leaving only a narrow slit through which only the eyes are visible.
3rd Emir of Qatar and his beautiful wife. Source - instagram
Despite the fact that Sheikha Mozah made changes to the laws of the country and allowed women not to wear national clothes, the indigenous women of Qatar are in no hurry to take advantage of this opportunity. They are used to dressing the way their grandmothers did, and do not want to anger their husbands with revealing clothes.
Moza first appeared before the people without a hijab in 2002, making a real revolution in the consciousness of her compatriots with her appearance. And if devout Muslims could somehow come to terms with an open neck (especially since a luxurious platinum necklace covered a slender neck), then they still cannot look calmly at the curves of a feminine figure emphasized by outfits: by Islamic standards, even in a fairly long dress and with her hair covered by a turban, Moza is more undressed than dressed.
Sheikha Moza with her husband. Source - instagram
And the figure of 60-year-old Moza can cause genuine admiration. Indeed, how can one hide such luxury under a shapeless blanket?
At meetings with first ladies and other influential ladies of Western countries, Moza always dressed so thoughtfully and stylishly that - without exaggeration - the whole world watched the next "fashion duel", time after time admiring Moza's subtle taste and her ability, adhering to her own line, not go too far.
The highlight of Moza’s outfits is the use of super expensive jewelry. Even eminent European couturiers, who had long condemned the excessive display of luxury and wealth, could not contain their delight, admiring the large pearls, massive platinum necklaces (worth a million dollars) and bracelets, belts with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, with which the emir’s second wife adorned herself. All this looked not pretentious on Sheikh Moza, but incredibly elegant, stylish and appropriate.
Today Moza and her husband are the owners of the Valentino fashion house; their family also owns the M Missoni brand, the QELA brand, and they own shares in LVMH, Harrods and Tiffany & Co. And yet, Moza’s place of honor in the history of world fashion is guaranteed for her unique style, which was formed over the years, based on the taste and experience of the most elegant first ladies.
And in the political life of Qatar, Moza left a very noticeable mark - not only with her activities as the wife of the emir, but also with the fact that she became the mother of the next, 4th emir of Qatar. Sheikh Hamad voluntarily handed over power to his son Tamim in 2013. Of his 27 heirs from three wives, he chose the son of Moza.
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Sheikha Haya Bint Hussein Al Maktoum
Sheikha Haya became the second wife of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamad Al Maktoum. The sheikha is of royal descent: her father is the King of Jordan. She received an excellent education at Oxford, was introduced to Sheikh Mohamad Al-Maktoum at one of the royal celebrations, and a few months later became his wife.
The sheikh has two children, she did not devote herself to motherhood and is actively involved in social work. One of her projects was a fund to combat hunger in Sheikha Haya’s native Jordan. In addition, the wife of the ruler of Dubai can often be found at the races; horses are her passion. The sheikha adheres to the European style of clothing, often attends social events and is considered one of the most beautiful women in the Middle East.
Charlize Theron (178 cm)
A model and actress of South African origin, who amazingly combines elegance, talent, stature and touching grace. Charlize dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but due to a knee injury she was forced to give up her dream. Having bought a one-way ticket to Los Angeles, she found herself in the cinema. Her life was changed by an incident at a bank, where a teller who refused to cash Charlize's check incurred her wrath, which in turn was noticed by successful impresario John Crosby. Purposeful Charlize had to prove to Hollywood that she was a serious actress: “Apparently, my whole career is an attempt to prove that I can really play serious roles in films.” She was not afraid to gain a lot of weight and disfigure her face with makeup for the film “Monster” and became the first South African to receive an Oscar award. Film critic Ebert called her acting "one of the best in film history." Charlize is well versed in fashion and skillfully emphasizes her truly amazing (she is also called “angelic”) beauty with elegant outfits.
Queen Fatima Kulthum Zohar of Saudi Arabia
Very little is known about the queen: she was born into a very simple family, studied at Dubai International College, and then became a lawyer, graduating from King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It is still shrouded in mystery how the poor girl managed to attract the attention of the king and become his wife, especially considering the fact that King Abdullah was married more than 30 times, but not one of the wives managed to ingratiate himself with the royal husband enough to stay alive in his chambers. Fatima succeeded. For many years nothing was heard about her at all, but then the king’s wife unexpectedly started a Facebook page, which she maintains in English.
Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser Al-Misned
The second wife of the former Emir of Qatar Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the mother of the current ruler, Sheikha Moza is not only involved in charity work, but is also an active participant in political life. The sheikh became a special envoy of UNESCO, has a number of government and international positions and even the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
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But Sheikha Moza is especially famous in the fashion world: the mother of SEVEN children, the sheikha has an ideal figure and a brilliant sense of style. Paying tribute to the traditions of her country, the sheikha dresses restrainedly and modestly, but at the same time in strict accordance with world trends.
Taylor Swift (178 cm)
A country singer who has many awards to her name, including the title of “most stylish star.” Taylor, despite her youth, is faithful to feminine silhouettes and retro style. She herself says this about her preferences: “I like the image of a housewife from the 50s: dresses, cardigans, low-heeled shoes. I feel uncomfortable when I wear pants for a long time. You see, if I wear trousers, that means my man will have to figuratively wear a skirt. And I don’t like it when I have to control everything in a relationship.”
Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan
The wife of Jordan's King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein Al-Hashimi and the mother of the heir to the throne, Prince Hussein, the eldest of the couple's four children, Rania is considered the world's most famous eastern queen. She is an activist in the fight for women's rights in the Middle East, a fighter for the right of women to open their own companies and enterprises, regardless of the opinions of their father or husband. The Queen insists on a gradual change in the traditional style of clothing: Rania herself loves jeans and shirts in men's style, regularly appears in public with her head uncovered, and among couturiers she prefers Giorgio Armani. In 2008, Rania became the first Arab queen to appear in a rather revealing outfit for Eastern culture on the cover of Vanity Fair.
Queen Rania also has the rank of colonel in the Jordanian army: this rank was bestowed upon her personally... by her husband.
Tatiana Sorokko (180 cm)
A real phenomenon in the world of fashion and style, one of the first Soviet-Russian top models who made a dizzying career on Western catwalks, as well as a collector of haute couture clothing. She is called “the first Soviet pride in the international fashion market” and a fashion legend. In 2000, at the suggestion of American Vogue, Tatyana was included in the annual international list of the hundred best-dressed celebrities, and in 2007, Harper's Bazaar named her among the best-dressed women of all time. She is called a “trend setter”, “fashion co-creator”, “fashion-directing model”.
It is Tatiana who is credited with popularizing vintage fashion. Her private collection includes unique pieces of clothing and accessories. “Tatiana’s wardrobe is timeless and reflects her unique view of style. Her clothing choices go beyond the latest fashion trends,” says fashion historian Dennita Sewell.
Tatyana herself believes that “a sense of style can only be innate. Fashion can be learned, because it surrounds us everywhere. But fashion is fickle - it comes and goes. And style is your core and spirit. He either exists or he doesn't. You can educate yourself as much as you like, but I don’t think a true sense of style can be instilled if it’s not there from the beginning... I was expelled from school three times for wearing a short skirt and having a perm. My teacher said that chemistry should be in the head, not on the head. And suddenly I saw that in the West there is the same mass mentality. Women feel comfortable when they belong to something. But I never wanted to belong to anything or anyone. I create my own vision through my own understanding of fashion and generally consider myself not a fashionable person. Far from fashion, despite the fact that I work in this industry. But I have a certain style. Fashion and style are two different things.”
