The Dubai Headlines

Meet Vikram Ravoory (Instagram: @vikramravoory) who, about 2 years ago, moved to New York City and took on an Instagram hobby. “Fashion is a way to show off your personality and embrace who you are”, says Vikram who is known as Vik by his friends. Vik, originally from Florida, moved to NYC to pursue his degree as a dentist and realized that the opportunities available in NYC were limitless. “The energy of the city is contagious and it made me want to achieve more” says Vik “so I decided to see where my interest in fashion could take me and thought the social media route would be the best fit for my busy schedule.” Balancing his Instagram, keeping up with his daily routines, and continuing his dental education and future D.D.S. degree has been no easy task but he is no stranger to time management. “Back in Florida, my high school made an exception for me and I would leave every day at 10:30 AM to play tennis since my dream growing up was to become a professional tennis player… I had to make sure I kept up with school work, make up classes online and also attend the tennis practices so I learned to be very efficient” he said in an interview conducted earlier this year. In addition to dental school and this Instagram account, Vik maintains a regular vigorous gym schedule in order to maintain and build on his lean 6-foot figure, occasionally posting some of his workouts on his page as well.

Since developing his Instagram account, Vikram has gained a solid following of people who enjoy his take on style and fashion. “I try to incorporate colors and patterns in my looks since lots of guys think they can’t pull it off… a little motivation is all they need”. According to Vik, too many male fashion influencers stick to “safe” colors and looks. Although he is unsure of the exact reason it could be in order to “not attract too much attention”. Several celebrities around the world are notorious for bold outfits including Michael B. Jordan, Brad Pitt, John Legend and Bollywood icon, Ranveer Singh. Vik is aware he is not a celebrity but believes ordinary people can also dress in similar bold colors and prints. “I wish I was a celebrity so I can dress well for pictures all the time…hopefully that time will come”.

One unique aspect of Vik’s page is the transparency that it shows. “I try to show the changes that editing can make to a picture with the intent to portray a sense of realness.” Clearly that mindset has grabbed the attention of people so far as his account @vikramravoory currently has about 45,000 followers. By taking the original picture and actively posting it along with the edited picture, followers can see the possibilities that editing provides to a picture. Vik says that too many people compare their own lives to what they see online and that since editing can make someone’s backyard into a tourist destination, it’s no wonder people are hesitant to post their own pictures. “Social media as an entity provides people with false ideas on what is ideal but by showing the before and after versions of a picture, I hope to show people that even influencers don’t get the perfect shot every time”. When asked to explain on some of these edits that are available Vik said “everything from tooth whitening, body morphing, texture”. Vik, however, did say that he makes a conscious effort to never edit his own physical features such as his face or his body. “The six-pack, the height, the lighter skin, no blemishes, body type, it’s all real”, he says, “I worked hard to stay healthy and in shape through school and I make time since it’s all very important to me. I’m proud of that”.

When asked about where he wants to take his social media page, he said “My goal in the next month or two is to make videos and explain my thought processes behind the outfits I put together and help others gain confidence to wear something outside of their comfort zone”. In his opinion, many people tend to constantly buy new clothes, neglecting the items already in their closet. “A normal outfit consists of at least 3 items (shirt, pants and shoes)” and “the complexity of the outfit increases as more layers are added (jackets, watches, ties, coats, blazers)”. Vik’s page shows the possibility of keeping one item the same and by changing the colors and patterns of the others, a whole new look is created. Often, ladies struggle with finding clothes and fashion trends for their significant others and Vik thinks his page can help with that. “I think my page is good for guys trying to jumpstart their own fashion or for any girlfriends/wives who are trying to revamp their significant other’s fashion. I get several texts from old female friends in serious relationships who use my page to motivate their boyfriends”.

Currently, Vik works with several companies including Express/ExpressMen, Jaanuu Scrubs, the LiketoKnowIt app, and the TieBar which he uses to curate styles and looks for men. You can follow Vik on his Instagram account @vikramravoory.

 

Investors receive hundreds of emails each day pitching for funding. Most emails have a few lines about the startup and the CEO’s vision for how they’re going to make a difference to the world. Thoughtful emails where a founder is researching on a specific topic and needs valuable inputs and insights about the industry are rare. While writing your next post, reach out to the investor you aim to meet with and approach her to provide an excerpt for your article. If you’re in on-demand industry and researching on it, reach out to an investor who has invested in other such on-demand startups and ask them to share their thoughts on the relevant topic.

The benefits you gain by reaching out to an investor include:
Gaining a valued connection

An expert validating your thoughts to strengthen the article

Press coverage for the investor

Respecting her opinion as an industry leader

An artist is a person engaged in certain activities and process to relate, demonstrate and transform a thing or human. So, when it comes to “Make-up Artist”, what could be their defining role?

A make-up artist use their tools and talent to makeover, transform and improve a person’s face. For them, your face acts as a canvas: the inspiration of countless poems, artwork and songs that make them an artist. Successful makeup artists have a passion for beautifying the individual, so they are keenly aware of which colors look best on which person. They are masterful with their makeup application techniques; they have a deep understanding of skin types, skin colors, and makeup ingredients; and they appreciate how practices and techniques must change as to accommodate a specific event, setting, or location.

Makeup artists working in film, theater, television, and commercials may be required to perform special effects makeup or apply prosthetics. In theater, television, and film jobs, makeup artists may sign on to work for an extended period of time, while makeup artists working in the special events industry, like weddings, for example, are usually hired for the day. In the creative, fashion, and special events industries, makeup artists often work as freelancers or independent contractors, while those working in salon and spa settings may work as either employees or as independent contractors, where they rent booth space from the salon owner.

Many makeup artists, particularly those working as independent contractors or those operating their own makeup artistry businesses, have an excellent knowledge of business and management principles.

I am the CEO of Benson Music Records (BMR) located in USA 🇺🇸. Lucas Benson Ologbenla is the founder & the Executive Director of this able company. Was founded in June 2013 in New York USA , when the CEO got an inspiration from his late father Benson Ademola Ologbenla by name . Lucas Ologbenla is also the founder of the Lucas9jaTV online YouTube channel well known and registered with CAC. We are bringing new African & Nigerian movies to your views and door steps with higher qualities of production. Standard and best entertainment TV with good engineers and well trained editors. Our vision is to get the entertainment to the world through music and bringing up the competent Artists with their unique talents. Benson Records is ready and always support them until they are fully successful and being marketed to the whole world.

VISION: We see a world where the artist is supported and enabled to pursue the creation of amazing music, and to organically find connection with their audience.
MISSION: To secure the means, spaces, and resources needed for the development of tomorrow’s artist and their original expression.
Benson Records has engaged the initiatives of developing a regional commercial production studio, as well as for-profit record label supporting the development of emerging artists. Benson Records offers management, artist development, production, and booking for those signed to the label for two-year contract periods at a time.

Releasing a track called ‘Love Sucks’ on Valentines Day is a statement and a half. But Canadian artist MELANIE? hits reset on what happily ever after really means. We caught up with her on the loved-up weekend to catch her thoughts on love and music.

Can we call it an anti-valentines day track?

In one-way it is because I’m putting out a song called LOVE SUCKS on Valentine’s Day, but in another it’s not! I love LOVE now because I FINALLY LOVE MYSELF PROPERLY AND THEREFORE I LOVE OUTWARDLY PROPERLY. So it’s not that I was against love when I wrote the song. It was really that love sucks when you don’t love yourself first.

Tell us more about the inspiration behind the single.

I’m always inspired by my own life experiences and want to share what happens to me so that I can hopefully inspire change and empower other women and other people to make changes within their own lives. These are my own stories and my own life laid out on the paper.

Your music is very empowering and about self-love, what’s the key to loving yourself?

The key is to keep getting up every day knowing that life is not perfect, and we all are not perfect, but we have to treat each other better and we have to do better in this world. Do your best and keep moving forward even if it’s just little by little.

“Love Sucks” is very guitar-heavy, it’s great to see women making insanely good guitar music – is there any one in particular that inspires you and your music?

I’m inspired by the greats from Kurt Cobain, Amy, Janis, Zeppelin, Tedeschi Trucks Band to Leon Bridges, Marcus King.

What else can we expect from you this year?

Tons of new music and tons of shows.

Finally, are you a Valentines or a Galentines day kind of girl?

I’m an everything type of girl. I tell my boyfriend and my friends and family I love them everyday, you don’t know when the last time you’ll say I love you to anyone is. Make every moment count.

New Music: Melanie?

“As a kid, we’re programmed to think romantic love means having to find Romeo or Prince Charming, but no one teaches us the importance of finding love in ourselves first. On its surface, “Love Sucks” might read as an anti-love anthem for the broken and jaded, but in reality, it’s a love song to yourself. It’s not love that sucks, it’s the narrative and expectations around love that suck. What they need to teach you is that happily ever after has to live inside you, and being your own love story is the only route to a fairytale ending. Self love = the best love, everything else will follow”

MELANIE? “YEAH YEAH”
Canadian-songstress MELANIE? blesses us with a retro-tinged karaoke flick for new track “Yeah Yeah”.

MELANIE? Yeah Yeah Music Video Zebra
Forget Stokey Karaoke, Canavans and Blues Kitchen, MELANIE?’s retro-tinged karaoke video will blow you and all of your friends’ singing clear out of the water, no matter how good you think you sound when drunk.

Her previous action-packed lyric video saw the Canadian songstress skydiving, horse-riding, rollercoasting, arcade racing and doing just about any other -ing you can think of. MELANIE? Explains the flick in more detail; “The song is about fighting through inner conflict to find your power after heartbreak,” she tells us.

MELANIE? Yeah Yeah Music Video Stripe
MELANIE? Yeah Yeah Music Video Silk
The song is basically about finding freedom and inner-strength in a down-and-out moment, fit with a growling guitar line and bolstering vocal delivery. “The words “Yeah Yeah” are said by a woman who has found her confidence / Yeah Yeah, this didn’t break me / Yeah Yeah, I got this / Yeah Yeah, I don’t care anymore /Yeah Yeah, I can get through anything”.

The video she’s premiering today takes this concept lightyears further. MELANIE? plays an anarchic assassin dodging kicks, punches and swings from her foe. She fights her way a dimly lit warehouse, claiming back her strength one destroyed furnishing at a time. It’s equal parts Kill Bill, Charlie’s Angels, and Killing Eve – and if it’s any indication of the future, we can’t wait to see what’s next!

The President of the Saudi Chess Federation, Mr. Moataz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Sulaiman, announced the formation of the Federation’s Board of Directors during the meeting held by the members at the Sports Authority headquarters in Jeddah.

Where the President of the Saudi Chess Federation installed Mr. Ahmed Al-Balali as a vice-president, both Lama Al-Sudairi came as a member of the Council, Mr. Rami Al-Tassan is a member of the Council, and Mr. Yasser Al-Otaibi is a member of the Council and Secretary-General of the Federation.

For his part, Chairman of the Saudi Chess Federation, Moataz Al-Suleiman, thanked the Chairman of the General Authority for Sports and Chairman of the Olympic Committee, Advisor to the Royal Court, Sheikh Turki Al Sheikh for his continuous and continuous support and support for the game of chess, and his confidence which he presented to the Board of Directors after its approval.

Personal Trainer and Founder of Latif Fitness Centre Abdullatif AlMaraghi has worked with over 3000 individuals in Bahrain and within the MEA region in the past 7 years.
His clients range from professional football players to individuals looking to improve their health and movements to young teenagers and kids just learning to appreciate their health.
With a client list as diverse as his personal training methods, he regularly works with some of the well-known Bahrain national football team players desiring increased energy and strength, in addition to the 1st GCC football player to join UFA Champions League 2020 with Slavia Praha; Abdulla Yousif.

Abdullatif has appeared in various Radio and TV shows including (Rewind, Good Morning Bahrain, Star Caffee , Ekseer Al Hayat, Sun Of Bahrain), and has delivered lectures to over 5000 of university students and employees within the private and public sector. He has founded his own Fitness Centre in 2015 and has started the 1st Arabic Fitness Conference; Revive, back in 2016.
Originally from Bahrain, Abdullatif earned his Bachelor Degree in Informatics System and worked as a banker from 2007 to 2016 before getting his Professional Personal Training Certificate from the American Councel in Exercise in 2013. He has been passionate about sports since an early age being part of Bahrain National Tennis team from 1997 to 2007.
He lives, dreams and eats fitness every day of his life. Abdullatif wanted to share his love for fitness with others to inspire them to become a better stronger version of themselves. He has started his Instagram account (@Latifitness) back in 2013 to share his knowledge with the world, and ever since has become a well-known influencer and expert within his field in the MEA region. Abdullatif has transformed thousands of lives through fitness and healthy lifestyle changes, and was selected in the top 7 Personal Trainers in Asia in 2019.
Abdullatif is a father of two and although balancing family and a career may be tough sometimes he believes that finding time for yourself and your health is very important, and a great example for family.

Well , I place 2nd at southern states bodybuilding championships in men’s physique and that’s a big event.
I’m mentioned in a book about the war in Iraq called “moments of truth in Iraq” written by Michael yong .

Picture of me with Derick Lundsford he placed 2nd at the Olympia in the 212 lbs division
That one is from southern states championship where I placed third.

Picture of me training at MI40 an elite gym for professional fitness athletes.