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This Egyptian modelling agency is disrupting beauty standards

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There is a disruption of the preconceived notion that Egyptian beauty is fair skin and silky.

Iman Eldeeb, founder of model agency, UNN, says: "Beauty cannot be limited by the appearance and shape of a face or body. I feel this is a misconception of beauty. Hair colour, eye colour, all these things were part of a very old understanding of beauty and this is something we are moving away from as much as we can."

A diverse lineup of models are shaking up Egypt's fashion scene thanks to the modelling agency, UNN, meaning "rebirth" in the language of the black Nubian minority.

READ MORE | 'You are beautiful and enough as you are'- Nandikwa Dolls founder on diversity and beauty standards

For some, developing Egyptian and Arab talent for global fashion houses is much more than just good business - it is a form of healing. 

Adhar makuac Abiem, model and South Sudan refugee, says: "There is no discrimination [at the agency], I'm like the rest of the models, it depends on me how I act on set, do I follow the instructions well and how does my work come out, so there is nothing about my colour." 

Industry experts say Autumn of 2021 was the most racially diverse season on the record. It is reported that models of colour made up more than 43 percent of those on global runways. 

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