When MENA Stars Mastered the Smokey Eye

The smokey eye has long been more than a makeup choice in MENA pop culture. From Haifa Wehbe’s early-2000s Beirut press moment, wrapped in black leather and attitude, to Nancy Ajram’s poised gala performance at the Phoenicia, the look signaled presence, confidence, and control. Elissa softened it with bronzed tones and satin layers, while Fayrouz made it unmistakably hers on international stages, proving that restraint could be just as striking as intensity.

As the years moved on, the smokey eye followed MENA stars across cities and contexts. Najwa Karam amplified it with volume and shimmer in Dubai, Sherine Abdel Wahab paired it with feathers and a pixie cut on the Doha stage, and Nelly Karim closed the chapter with a sleek, modern red carpet take at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival. Different eras, different silhouettes, one beauty code that continues to anchor some of the region’s most memorable style moments.