To celebrate Mother’s Day we asked our readers to nominate some of the UAE’s fabulous mum’s for a Friday makeover and fashion shoot. While each mum is a hero, these four special ladies shared their stories with us.
Lina Lai, 65, is originally from Malaysia and is staying in the UAE to help her daughter Cindy look after her newborn daughter – Lina’s third grandchild. She has three children of her own. Lina, was nominated by Cindy, who gave birth to her second child just two days before our makeover shoot.
‘I am nominating my mum, who flew over from Malaysia to be with me for preparation of my second child, and who will be staying here to take care of baby and I during the traditional ‘confinement’ period. She just turned 65 years old but is super-healthy and strong for her age, and I am striving to be half the mum that she has been to us! She definitely deserves some pampering and a photoshoot – she loves photos!’
Lina says: ‘I really enjoyed myself. This is my first time [doing a photo shoot] and I tried things I have never tried. I really loved the pastel colours; they are not colours I usually wear. My make-up is different to anything I have ever tried and I really love it.’
Iana Lobo, 34, is originally from India and has been in the UAE for ten years. She lives in Silicon Oasis with her husband and her daughter, Jordyn, who is 18 months old.
She was nominated by her friend Shefali for being a ‘brave mum.’
‘I knew she was struggling with conceiving but I didn’t know why until one day she told me she was expecting her first baby... after seven years of trying. I was overjoyed; when she delivered I was told she had a complication and had to be rushed to the ICU, although the baby was fine. That’s when I knew she had been fighting lupus, a condition where the white blood cells attack your own body. The fighter that she is, she came out of the ICU and came home with her baby girl in no time! She fights lupus every day and works full-time. Every other waking second she spends with her darling baby Jordyn. I have big respect for this girl. She has taught me to smile through it all and how to look out for others all the time.’
Iana says: ‘I had the most wonderful day, it was a real escape from reality. This was the first time I have done something like this since my wedding. I love how my hair and make-up was done. I struggle to buy clothes normally so it was great to find something that I feel good in. Back to reality now!’
Fatema Safri, 33, is originally from Pakistan and has been in the UAE for ten years. She lives in Al Qusais with her husband and her daughter, Hawra, who is 12.
Fatema was nominated for the makeover by none other than Hawra, and it was extra special, as on the day of our makeover shoot, Fatema celebrated her 33rd birthday.
‘I thought of nominating my beautiful mum, Fatima Ali Asghar. My mum is going to be 33 years old on March 7, 2018. Please consider my mum and it will be a great surprise for her on her birthday and mother’s day. She needs a makeover, too. My mum is a great mum because she is an amazing cook. She doesn’t have any house help and manages to do all the work with perfection. My lunch is always amazing. She has always been very honest. My mum is very positive about life and teaches me to do the same. Her encouragement is a source of my great grades and success.’
Fatema says: ‘I had the most wonderful time; everything was so perfect. Getting my hair, nails and make-up done by professionals was simply fantastic! The head and neck massage was the best part. Posing in front of a professional photographer was very exciting. My daughter has given me the greatest gift for my birthday – the experience was unforgettable.’
Amanda Flanagan, 39, is originally from Ireland and has been in the UAE for four years. She lives in Sustainable City, Dubai, with her husband and three children.
Amanda was nominated for the makeover by her friend Wendy Schellekens.
‘I hereby nominate Amanda Flanagan for the Mother’s Day makeover. She is a wonderful mum and teacher that deserves the title of saint,’ wrote Wendy. ‘She managed to welcome and educate so many old and new Dubai toddlers, and has taken a sabbatical this year to home-school her own three children. She is patient, kind-hearted and caring and I couldn’t have hoped for a better surrogate mum than her to take care of my little one during his first year here in Dubai.’
Amanda says: ‘It’s so nice to get out of the house and have a few hours for me. I’m currently home-schooling my three children so they are keeping me very busy.
‘I tend to wear casual clothes so it’s great to have the opportunity to dress up. The jumpsuit isn’t something I would usually wear but it’s really flattering, and the dress is a great shape.’
Make-Up: Emma Gambino
Hair: Marquee Hair Salon
Nails: Nail Spa
