Egypt’s Yasmine Kenawi on Broadway Star Rita Sebeh’s Premiere Look

A distressed Renaissance-inspired dress, a dramatic cape and an avant-garde edge set the tone for Rita Sebeh’s pink-carpet appearance at the Stuttgart premiere of '& Juliet' on October 8th. Styled by Egyptian celebrity stylist Yasmine Kenawi in a custom design by Egyptian designer KOJAK, the look drew on the romantic yet rebellious spirit of Sebeh’s onstage character, translating Juliet’s aesthetic into a contemporary fashion statement.

For Sebeh, who plays the starring role of Juliet in the hit musical, the production marks a significant milestone in a career spanning a decade of professional stage work. After moving from Cairo to Germany in 2016 to pursue theatre, she studied in Hamburg before continuing her training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. Since graduating in 2021, she has played Princess Jasmine in Disney’s 'Aladdin' in Germany and performed as Lisa in 'Mamma Mia!'. In '& Juliet', Shakespeare’s tragic heroine gets to rewrite her ending. The jukebox musical follows Juliet as she survives the events of Shakespeare’s play and escapes to Paris to discover independence, friendship and herself.

The story resonated with Sebeh, particularly its exploration of women finding their voices and challenging societal expectations. “I’ve always been drawn to the star-crossed lovers story of Romeo and Juliet, especially coming from Cairo, where there are so many societal ‘dos and don’ts’ around marriage, dating, and the stigma of inter-religious relationships,” she says. “The idea of a heroine finding her own voice amid the noise, while keeping her softness and discovering her power through vulnerability, trial and error, is something so many women can relate to.”

That balance of softness and strength also informed the premiere look. Sebeh turned to stylist Yasmine Kenawi, whom she had worked with before, to develop a look that would bring her personal style and her connection to Juliet together on the pink carpet.

“I immediately contacted Yasmine,” Sebeh says. “I thought of Egyptian designers right away. It was important for me to represent Egyptian talent on an international stage. I’m proud of where I come from.”

Kenawi and Sebeh agreed that KOJAK was the right fit for the look, drawn to the designer’s historical references, unfinished textures and avant-garde approach. The brief was to channel Juliet’s personality without recreating her theatrical wardrobe, allowing the character’s romantic and rebellious qualities to inform a look that still felt distinctly Sebeh.

“When Rita first approached me, she already had a very clear idea of what she wanted, and my role was to help elevate that vision and bring it to life,” Kenawi says. “We wanted to create a custom piece with an Egyptian designer that felt personal to Rita and expressed her identity, while drawing inspiration from her character, Juliet, in '& Juliet'.”

The resulting look centred on a distressed dress with Renaissance-inspired details, bringing a sense of history into a contemporary silhouette. A dramatic cape added movement and presence, while the styling played with contrasts: feminine yet edgy, romantic yet rebellious. For Kenawi, the aim was to find the balance between couture and costume, referencing Juliet’s spirit without making the outfit a literal extension of the stage wardrobe.

The accessories carried the same attention to detail. One ring, featuring a wing, stood out to Kenawi as a subtle nod to Juliet’s angelic and romantic side. The glam completed the look, echoing its Renaissance-inspired mood while keeping the overall effect strong and contemporary.

“The dress was definitely beautiful on its own, but I think the cape was the element that brought the entire look together,” Kenawi says. “It gave Rita a real presence on the red carpet and added that sense of drama and theatricality we wanted, without taking away from the dress itself.”

For Sebeh, fashion has long been a way to express individuality. Her personal style moves between everyday streetwear and statement dressing, with an affinity for 1970s-inspired pieces, dramatic shapes, layered jewellery, and a darker edge. When dressing for significant occasions, she looks for designs that feel artistic and challenge expectations.

“The boldness in the outfit reflects the boldness in my soul and what I can promise to offer as an artist,” she says.

Her portrayal of Juliet has also found its way into her everyday wardrobe. Sebeh says she wears more rings and sneakers since taking on the role, incorporating small elements of the character’s style into her own. On the Stuttgart pink carpet, however, the collaboration with Kenawi and KOJAK gave those shared influences a more elevated expression, with Egyptian design at the centre.

For Sebeh, Juliet’s story is ultimately about finding the confidence to define her own future. At the premiere, that idea translated into a look that brought together the character’s romantic rebellion, Sebeh’s personal style, and the creative vision of two Egyptian fashion talents.