[DAWN] Green lipstick, blue lipstick and 40 shades of foundation to choose from are just some of the reasons why 18-year-old Shahad al-Qahtani is excited about superstar Rihanna’s make-up line debut in Soddy Arabia...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face...
Rihanna, known worldwide for her chart-topping songs and daring, provocative style, is wildly popular among the Saudi women coveting her new make-up line called "Fenty". Rihanna and other celebrities like Kim Kardashian who experiment boldly with their hair colour, make-up and clothes have become household names in Saudi Arabia, where fans can follow their every move on social media sites like Instagram and Snapchat.
Their styles, however, stand in stark contrast to how most Saudi women dress in public. Many cover their faces and hair with black veils. Women in Saudi Arabia must also wear long, loose black robes, known as abayas, over their clothes in public.
"I’ve tried her brand in Dubai and I came here to buy the things that were sold out there," al-Qahtani said as she selected products to put in her shopping basket from Rihanna’s Fenty line that launched on Thursday in Sephora make-up stores across the kingdom.
Al-Qahtani said she likes to experiment with her style and bold make-up choices at parties and weddings where women are segregated from men.
Even though most women will cover their face and hair in public, make-up sales are one of the biggest spends among Saudi women. This is in part because of the increasing number of Saudi women joining the workforce who now have their own salaries to spend from.