��������

DUBAI: Lebanese celebrity hairstylist Tony El-Mendelek this week posted a video on Instagram showing himself giving US diplomat Morgan Ortagus a glamorous new hairdo. 

In the video, El-Mendelek begins by trimming Ortagus’s hair, focusing on shaping her bangs and the ends with clean, precise cuts. He then proceeds to blow-dry her hair into large, voluminous curls. 

“The woman you’ve been all waiting for,” he captioned the video of the Deputy United States Special Envoy to the Middle East.

The post quickly drew praise from fans and industry peers alike. Celebrity makeup artist Bassam Fattouh commented with fire emojis, while others left heart-eyed emojis and messages such as “the best,” “the king,” and “when the magic hands meet the big boss, perfection happens.”

El-Mendelek is known across the Arab world for his decades-long career in hairstyling. Based between Lebanon and Dubai, he has worked on magazine shoots, television programs and runway shows, and was previously the exclusive hairstylist for the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation (LBC). 

His salon in Beirut attracts celebrity and bridal clientele, and he is frequently tapped for styling public figures across the Middle East, including Egyptian singer Sherine, Yemeni Emirati singer Balqees, Egyptian singer Amal Maher and Lebanese actress Aimee Sayah, Lebanese singer Nawal El-Zoghbi, Egyptian star Angham and Lebanese music sensation Yara, to name a few. 

His portfolio also includes red carpet appearances, weddings and television productions, earning him recognition as one of the region’s most sought-after stylists.

Morgan Ortagus is an American political advisor, diplomat and former television commentator. 

Born in Florida, she served as spokesperson for the US State Department from 2019 to 2021. She currently holds the role of Deputy Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East. 

Ortagus began her government career with USAID in Baghdad and later served as an intelligence analyst at the US Department of the Treasury. She also worked in Riyadh as Deputy Treasury Attaché. Outside government, she held private sector positions with Standard Chartered Bank and Ernst & Young.

DUBAI: Flute in hand and a deep connection to both East and West, Daniel Alhaiby is preparing for his first solo concert at Lebanon’s Casino du Liban on Sept. 10.

The performance follows his years of experience playing at prestigious venues and events, including the Cannes Film Festival, where he shared his music with international audiences.

“Cannes is pure magic. Each time I play, I feel like I’m representing not just myself, but a whole culture, a whole story,” Alhaiby told Arab News.

Returning to Lebanon for his solo concert is a deeply personal moment for Alhaiby.

“Performing in Lebanon is like coming full circle for me. It’s where everything started, and it holds so much significance,” he said.

“Sharing my music in my home country feels like a celebration of my journey, from Paris to the world stage and back home again.

“Casino du Liban has always been a dream venue for me … The audience can expect a truly special experience. I’ve carefully crafted the setlist to take them on a musical journey that blends my original compositions with reimagined classics.”

Alhaiby’s musical influences are diverse, ranging from Piazzolla and Rimsky-Korsakov to Fairuz, Hans Zimmer, Pink Floyd and Bach.

“I’m influenced by emotion more than genre. Anything that moves me, be it a Bach partita or an oriental improvisation, finds its way into my music,” he said.

The musician shared that he was drawn to the flute from a “very young age,” saying: “Its sound always felt close to my soul, there’s something about its breathy, expressive tone that connected deeply with my emotions. Over time, it became more than just an instrument; it became my voice, my way of expressing everything words couldn’t.”