‘Historic moment’: What the first swimsuit parade was like in Saudi Arabia

Models paraded on Friday (17) in swimsuits for the first time in Saudi Arabia, an unprecedented event in the ultra-conservative Muslim country, where women were not allowed to go out without the long black abaya.

With arms and legs on display, the models paraded by a pool wearing creations by Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal. “When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit parade in Saudi Arabia was a historic moment, as it is the first time,” Qanzal told AFP.

The show took place on the second day of the first edition of Red Sea Fashion Week, in a large luxury hotel on the island of Ummahat Alshaikh, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, accessible only by boat or seaplane.

Home to Wahhabism, a puritanical interpretation of Islam, Saudi Arabia has launched social reforms under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in recent years, easing restrictions imposed on women and opening its economy to entertainment.

The world’s largest oil exporter has long been associated with the repression of women due to the very strict rules imposed on them, such as the ban on driving and the obligation to wear the abaya and veil.

These restrictions were lifted a few years ago, but the law on personal status, which came into force in 2022, still contains discriminatory provisions against women. “It’s true that this country is very conservative, but we try to show elegant swimsuits that represent the Arab world,” said Qanzal.

“It’s the first time a swimsuit show has taken place in Saudi Arabia, but why not? It’s possible and we did it here,” said Shouq Mohammed, a Syrian fashion influencer who attended the event.

Raphael Simacourbe, a French influencer also present, considered the parade to be “a great success” in the Saudi context. “It’s very brave of them to do this today, so I’m very happy to watch,” he said.