Shanina Shaik is the stunning cover star of Harper’s BAZAAR Arabia for January 2020. The 28-year-old model showcases a variety of exquisite ensembles in a picturesque desert setting. In her accompanying interview, the Saudi-Pakistani beauty opens up about her mission to challenge racial prejudices in the fashion industry, as well as her recent separation from her husband, DJ Ruckus. Let’s take a moment to admire the beauty of her photoshoot! Let’s get started!
In one breathtaking shot, Shanina Shaik models dazzling jewelry from Chaumet Arabia while wearing a lace-embellished blouse paired with a wide-brimmed hat.
The captivating cover shot features Shanina adorned in a silk robe and matching veil, elegantly secured by an intricate silver leaf crown.
In another stunning image, the Victoria’s Secret Angel dons a black embellished ballgown, complemented by her long, flowing tresses.
In the accompanying interview, Shanina expresses her pride in having shattered racial prejudices in the modeling world. With a remarkable 20-year career in front of the camera, she reflects on the challenges she faced while starting out in the industry and the pervasive racism that still lingers.
“They said I was never going to be a high-fashion model and that I’d never do runways. Agents, clients… they all told me the same thing,” she shared. “I would go to castings and never get the jobs that I wanted, and it really affected me – especially as so much of it was because I look so mixed.”
Shanina continued to share her experiences of being turned down for jobs because of her skin color, expressing her belief that not enough has changed in the industry, despite contrary claims.
“I remember going to castings in Europe and getting turned away because of my skin colour. That was only six years ago. We’ve come a long way, and we are moving towards a better future.”
She added, “I’ve had to bang down so many doors for people to understand and embrace me. But there are still some jobs I don’t book because I don’t fit into a certain category. I’ve had to bang down so many doors for people to understand and embrace me.”
In another part of her interview, Shanina reflects on her “really rough year” and her split from Greg Andrews, also known as DJ Ruckus, after three years of marriage. Teasing a potential new romance with someone named “P,” she admitted she had “given up on love.”
However, the supermodel’s heartbreak has only made her stronger, and she is now focused on helping others achieve their dreams. “When you deal with really hard things that happen in life, you feel much stronger. I do. I try to look at the positive and see what I can learn from it, what I can take from it, and how I can help others,” she shared.
