Ameni Esseibi is the Arab world’s first plus-size model. Esseibi calls herself ”the first curvy model in the Middle East”. She is of French-Tunisian descent and never ever thought about modeling when she was growing up. Ameni Esseibi is one of the only plus-size models in the Arab world and has lived in Dubai for the past 15 years.
More about Ameni Esseibi
In the summer of 2017, when she was in Tunis, the idea of modeling first occurred to me.
People are very insecure about bigger sizes in this part of the world but she remained confident by not focusing on other peoples’ opinions.
There is a very judgemental environment in the Arab world but she wanted to change that, to show how gorgeous any woman can be.
Ameni also had interned for Dior’s PR department, worked for jewelry designer Nadine Kanso and discovered a passion for make-up, skincare, and fashion.
Upon returning to Dubai in September 2017, Esseibi set out to carve a career in modeling for herself, setting up meetings with leading agencies across the city.
Esseibi visited more than seven major agencies, and most said that there was no market for plus-size modeling.
In between her father wanted her to put her idea on hold and do to the university but she did;t want to wait.
After that, she began by messaging photographers that she would come across on social media and started posting pictures on Instagram and tagging the agencies.
Three months ago, Esseibi finally signed on with three local modeling agencies Wilhelmina Dubai, Bareface, and MA Models, and the jobs have been rolling in ever since.
