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PEOPLE & ARTS Tuesday 15 OcTOber 2019
For Huda Kattan, beauty has become a billion-dollar business

By MALAK HARB complements the bold col-
Associated Press ors of Kattan's lines.
DUBAI, United Arab Emir- "I feel like it's very normal
ates (AP) — From a humble in a cosmetic business to
start of leaving the world of go after the No. 1 beauty
finance to write a beauty business or the industry,
blog, Huda Kattan now has which is the U.S.," she said.
become one of the most "Of course, I do want to go
recognizable names in for the U.S., but I still feel like
makeup around the world. there's so much to do in this
The 36-year-old Iraqi-Amer- part of the world."
ican now runs her epony- That focus has served her
mous empire Huda Beauty, well so far. With a net worth
a makeup line valued at of more than $600 million,
$1.2 billion that has fast be- Kattan was named one
come a favorite among of the "10 most powerful
A-list celebrities and artists influencers in the world of
around the world. beauty" in 2017 by Forbes
Her personality has been magazine and was named
key in connecting to the by Time as one of the 25
public via social media, a most influential people on
major driver for her make- the internet.
up known for its vibrant col- Huda Kattan poses at the Huda Boss Facebook Watch screening celebration in Dubai, United Kattan's makeup line in-
or and contouring popular Arab Emirates, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2019. cludes lipsticks, eyeshadow
among Arab women. She's Associated Press palettes, foundation and
part of a growing vanguard highlighters among other
of lines built around person- Facebook. Her beauty line International, big brands in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia products. She now is ex-
alities, an expanding busi- has found success glob- the UAE such as Mac, Bob- and the United Arab Emir- panding her empire with a
ness model as more-estab- ally, and especially across bi Brown and Estee Lauder ates. This year alone, the newly launched perfume
lished brands face slower the Mideast and Persian "saw slight declines in their color cosmetics market is line headed by her business
sales. Gulf, where Huda's business value shares in 2018, due valued at $2.3 billion in the partner and sister, Mona.
"I do think the idea of model has been particular- to the stronger competition Mideast, growing to $3.1 Huda Kattan has also start-
makeup as a form of self- ly successful. from smaller brands" like billion by 2023, according ed a reality web show on
expression will just grow So-called "beauty influ- Huda Beauty, singer Rihan- to Euromonitor. Facebook's Watch service.
even more," Kattan told encers" are seeing strong na's brand Fenty Beauty Kattan said her business "I think there's a buzz of
The Associated Press in growth in the United Arab and Charlotte Tilbury. remained strong because the beauty brands that
Dubai. "I don't think it's go- Emirates, a federation of As makeup sales slow in of her focus on the Mid- have boomed and cre-
ing to be about beautifying seven sheikhdoms home Europe and the U.S., they east. Unlike in many West- ated billion-dollar brands
anymore." to Dubai. They also play an continue to grow in the ern countries where more like Huda Beauty, Kylie, so
Kattan reaches customers important role in showcas- Mideast. From 2018 to natural makeup looks are many other brands. But in
through a YouTube chan- ing beauty and personal 2023, Euromonitor predicts in vogue, women across reality it's becoming super
nel where she uploads all care products in Saudi Ara- a 7.2% growth in the color Arab Gulf countries often competitive and sales are
her makeup tutorials. Her bia, which has the highest cosmetics industry across lean toward bright, eye- dropping for almost every
brand's Instagram account number of active users in the Mideast, with a 2.9% catching makeup trends beauty brand out there,"
boasts more than 39 million the region on social media growth across the Gulf Co- and accessories that offset said Mona Kattan while sit-
followers, along with her platforms. operation Council, which the utilitarianism of black ting beside Huda at their
seven million followers on According to Euromonitor includes Bahrain, Kuwait, veils and abayas. That office in Dubai. q

Still working '9 to 5,' Dolly Parton marks 50 years at Opry

By KRISTIN M. HALL performances and events C. Newman had given me
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — at the Opry. his spot."
Country superstar Dolly Par- She joked to reporters Parton said she was grate-
ton is still working "9 to 5," before her performance ful to still be chasing her
and doing what she loves that when the Opry ap- dreams and said she's got
as she celebrated her 50th proached her about the more film, TV and music
anniversary as a Grand Ole anniversary, she told them, projects on the way. The
Opry member. "I don't want people to Opry performances will be
The 73-year-old actress, think I'm 50 years old." aired on an NBC special on
singer and songwriter, who The anniversary reminded Nov. 26 and Netflix will air
first played the Opry when her of the first time she got an anthology series based
she was just a teenager, to perform at the Opry. on her songs in 2019.
played the longstanding "Well a lot of people think "I'm just very honored that
radio show Saturday night this is my 50th year the I'm still around, not only to
in Nashville, Tennessee, in Grand Ole Opry," Parton just get to accept this, that
front of sold-out crowds. said. "It's actually been 60 I can actually perform and
Hank Williams Jr., Lady An- because first time I got to get out there and still do-
tebellum and Toby Keith sing on the Opry I was 13 In this Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, photo Dolly Parton performs at ing what I love to do," Par-
performed in her honor as years old. And actually her 50th Opry Member Anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry in ton said. "And maybe I'll be
Nashville, Tenn.
well and her shows capped Johnny Cash introduced Associated Press around another 50 years,
off a week of Dolly-themed me, I believe. And Jimmy who knows. If I'm lucky."q