Why did Huda Kattan make a Sudanese-American influencer cry?

Nya Dollie shared a tearful anecdote about her brush with the UAE-based beauty mogul

Last updated:
Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Entertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor
2 MIN READ
Nya Dollie and Huda Kattan attend the Huda Beauty Influencer meet-up hosted by brand founder Huda Kattan for the launch of Easy Bake Duo on September 29, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Nya Dollie and Huda Kattan attend the Huda Beauty Influencer meet-up hosted by brand founder Huda Kattan for the launch of Easy Bake Duo on September 29, 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Images for Huda Beauty

Dubai: It started like any other influencer moment — ring light on, lashes curled, camera rolling. But what unfolded next wasn’t your average “get ready with me.” It was a full-blown, mascara-smudging meltdown of gratitude.

The star of the moment? A small-town girl from Iowa, a Sudanese immigrant raised by a single mom who had never even been to the UAE — until Huda Kattan herself stepped in.

Yes, that Huda Kattan — beauty billionaire, social media mogul, and the woman who built an empire out of hustle, heart, and highlighter.

When the creator got that life-changing DM from Team Huda inviting her to Dubai, she thought it was a joke. But 17 hours and one tear-soaked flight later, she found herself in front of the woman she’d watched on YouTube for years — not as a fan, but as a guest.

And that’s when it happened.

On camera, the influencer’s voice cracked. Her eyes welled up. “I’m a small-town girl,” she said between tears. “We could never afford to travel. My mom worked so hard. And Huda… she actually saw me. She listened. She cared.”

And here’s the thing — in a world where authenticity is often staged, this short video was raw, unscripted, and painfully beautiful. Huda didn’t just fly her out — she lifted her up. She gave that small-town Sudanese-American dreamer a seat at the beauty world’s glitziest table — and then handed her the mic.

The comments section exploded with love. “This is what real influence looks like,” one follower wrote. Another declared, “Huda’s brand isn’t just makeup — it’s humanity with a side of contour.”

And honestly? They’re right.

This wasn’t a PR stunt alone. This was a power move wrapped in compassion, a masterclass in how kindness can go viral.

Because while most influencers chase clout, Huda Kattan just reminded everyone that empathy still sells — and it looks good under good lighting.

Manjusha Radhakrishnan
Manjusha RadhakrishnanEntertainment, Lifestyle and Sport Editor
Manjusha Radhakrishnan has been slaying entertainment news and celebrity interviews in Dubai for 18 years—and she’s just getting started. As Entertainment Editor, she covers Bollywood movie reviews, Hollywood scoops, Pakistani dramas, and world cinema. Red carpets? She’s walked them all—Europe, North America, Macau—covering IIFA (Bollywood Oscars) and Zee Cine Awards like a pro. She’s been on CNN with Becky Anderson dropping Bollywood truth bombs like Salman Khan Black Buck hunting conviction and hosted panels with directors like Bollywood’s Kabir Khan and Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh. She has also covered film festivals around the globe. Oh, and did we mention she landed the cover of Xpedition Magazine as one of the UAE’s 50 most influential icons? She was also the resident Bollywood guru on Dubai TV’s Insider Arabia and Saudi TV, where she dishes out the latest scoop and celebrity news. Her interview roster reads like a dream guest list—Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, Robbie Williams, Sean Penn, Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, Joaquin Phoenix, and Morgan Freeman. From breaking celeb news to making stars spill secrets, Manjusha doesn’t just cover entertainment—she owns it while looking like a star herself.
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