Saudi Arabia hosts inaugural swimsuit fashion show

Saudi Arabia’s first swimsuit fashion show defied its conservative traditions, as it featured Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal’s designs, which included exposed shoulders and visible midriffs.

“It’s true that this country is very conservative but we tried to show elegant swimsuits which represent the Arab world,” said Qanzal.

She added that it was an honour to be involved.

“When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a historic moment because it is the first time to have such an event,” she said, reported AFP.

The show happened on the second day of the first Red Sea Fashion Week at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort, located off Saudi Arabia’s western coast.

The resort is part of Red Sea Global, a major project under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Since 2017, he has introduced significant social changes to modernize Saudi Arabia’s strict Wahhabi image.

These changes included curbing religious police, reintroducing cinemas, and hosting mixed-gender music festivals.

However, there was also more crackdown on dissent, including from conservative clerics who opposed these reforms.

At the fashion event last Friday, Syrian influencer Shouq Mohammed commented on Saudi Arabia’s efforts to integrate with the global community and expand its fashion and tourism sectors, suggesting the outcome was anticipated.

According to a report from the official Saudi Fashion Commission, published in 2022, the fashion industry contributed $12.5 billion to the national GDP, representing 1.4% of the total, and employed 230,000 individuals.

“It’s the first time to have a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia, but why not?

“Seriously, why not?” Mohammed said.

He further said that It’s possible and they have it here.

“That’s very brave of them to do that today, so I am very happy to be part of it,” Raphael Simacourbe said.

French influencer Raphael Simacourbe, present at the event, mentioned that while he didn’t find anything daring, he acknowledged that within the Saudi context, it marked a significant accomplishment.