< PreviousDress: Zaid Farouki Glasses: stylist’s own 60 On The CoverJacket & gloves: MÉNAGE 07 Sunglasses: Balenciaga 61 On The Cover“There’s a gamer inside everyone. What makes gaming really special is how it connects you to people all over the world and makes you feel like part of a community.” Top, pants & blazer: Victoria Beckham available at That Concept Store PVC jacket: MÉNAGE 07 On The Coverof you as a human, they see you as more of an object available for public scrutiny, so you get used to it. I’ve been working on not letting it affect me – the good and the bad comments, because you need to work on both. These people don’t know me, and I need to remind myself that the good comments are not the reason that I am happy. Just like how you don’t let the bad comments be the reason that you’re sad. COSMO: Earlier this year, you won an award at Cosmo’s inaugural Arab Woman Awards Next Gen for your contribution to media. How does it feel to be an Arab woman at the forefront of this conversation? NOOR: It’s a blessing. This award, I have it in my Insta bio, girl! It means a lot. You always think of how you started, and I started as a very young girl, a high- schooler, and it was on my vision board. Then it happened! I really appreciate Cosmo for doing an event like this because it gives you a push to keep doing what you’re doing. They notice it. A lot of people take what we do for granted. They think it’s all glam and no work, and they don’t see the effort we put into it. Your appreciation and recognition means a lot, it helps women get recognised for their achievements. COSMO: You are the Middle East’s biggest YouTuber and you’re Iraqi - you broke so many glass ceilings at once. That award was earned. Be proud of it. NOOR: It means a lot to me. Me doing this cover is a milestone for me. It is the biggest milestone for me this year. This was also on my vision board. I don’t know how to express that. Being on the cover of Cosmo is forever the highlight of my life. I’ll cherish it. COSMO: You were the rst YouTuber in the Middle East to hit 10 million subs. Did you always have this goal in mind? How did you achieve it? NOOR: That was the goal when I rst started. I asked myself ‘who did it before?’ The answer was no one. Even the team at YouTube told me it probably wasn’t achievable for someone from the Middle East, but then I hit 10 million, and I received that golden play button from YouTube. I always told myself I was going to do it, even if it took me 20 years. You receive a trophy from YouTube for each major subscriber milestone, so that motivated me to keep going, too. COSMO: So what comes after 10 million? NOOR: 50 million! There are currently no YouTubers in the Middle East with that number of subs. COSMO: What is your ultimate goal? NOOR: Being an Arab woman from America, I see how we’re portrayed in the media and I want to correct that. People tend to doubt me more because I’m a woman. They think I’m not educated in a certain way, or that everything I do has been decided for me by my family. My goal is to help change the perception of the Middle East and showcase the Arab world, because we have achieved a lot. We have another side to our story: our culture. I want to show the word what Arab women and Arab girls are all about. COSMO: Do you think you would have faced less hardships if you were a man? NOOR: There’s a Taylor Swift song, ‘The Man’ and it says, ‘If I was a man I’d be a fearless leader, they’d say I hustled’, and it’s true. A lot of the time, if we achieve something as a woman, we’ve only found success because we’re “cute” or we dress well. But if it was a man achieving success, he’d be classed as a hustler. COSMO: So you’re on the cover of our Gaming Issue. How did you get into this space? NOOR: There’s a gamer inside everyone. We all play games. For me, I started gaming in hotel rooms after big events. I would meet hundreds – sometimes thousands – of people at these events, and when I’m back in my hotel room, I would feel lonely. But then you pick up a game on your phone and you’re instantly connected to people. I started playing PUGB, and no one in the gaming arena would know who I was, but you’d have endless conversations with all the players. What makes gaming really special is that you feel like you’re part of a group and a community. It’s also a place that fosters creativity. It has really become a lifestyle. COSMO: You’ve just done a big collaboration with PUGB… NOOR: I have few things in my life that are big moments for me, like being a Cosmo cover star, but working with PUBG on their campaign with amazing. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. I worked with them on a song and my voice being in the game. The only other people they’ve worked with are Blackpink. Crazy! Alhamdulillah. COSMO: What was the inspiration behind the music video? NOOR: We wanted to create a ‘wow’ moment. It was inspired by a lot of art, but in a way that makes fans and players feel like we’ve represented the game well. COSMO: Would you ever want to get into the music industry? NOOR: Yeah, I like music a lot; it’s like therapy for me. Music is a great way for people to feel like they’ve got something to relate to, but it takes a lot of time, and I don’t have a lot of time right now, so we’ll see. COSMO: What else have you got in the pipeline for the rest of the year? NOOR: We just released the Mac Maker project, which is something we were working on for over two years. The biggest project I’m working on right now is very personal to me, but I can’t say too much just yet. Other than that, I just want to maintain my success. I want to keep doing projects that inspire me, and I want to be happy while I’m doing them. H A I R : B E T T Y B E E MAKEUP : MABS KHAK WA N I S E NI O R P R O D U C ER: S T EF F H AW K ER C O N T E N T D I R E C T O R : R O U H A N A E L H AG E C O N T E N T P R O D U C E R : T W I N K L E S TA N LY S E T D E S I G N : S T E P H E N O F O R I D I G I TA L E D IT O R : SA R A A L H U M I R I L I GH T I N G A S SIS TA N T: SE IF A B DA L L A FA SHI ON A S SIS TA N T: DH A R A G A NDHI BEAU T Y BY MAYBE L L I N E , SHOP PA BL E AT NO ON . C OM 63 On The CoverCRIB S IMA GE COUR TE SY OF GHAZLAH S TUDIO ATTN: Tu ing is *the* home decor trend of 2022 Tufted art has officially swept through the FYP pages of TikTok, claiming the attention of even the smallest of interior enthusiasts. And one brand that is firmly on our radar is Ghazlah Studio, the Saudi-based studio founded by artists Bassam Alkhulifi and Saud Alrasheed that are rewriting the rules of carpets and rugs. “Incorporating a piece of rug in your home brings a warm and welcoming feel to your setting,” the duo tell Cosmo. Their top styling tips? “Be sure to choose colours that match the overall theme of your space. And try to hang large pieces on high-ceiling walls.” Read more on cosmopolitanme.com 64Grandmillennials, assemble. ACTUAL ADVICE: Live like you live in a museum BY R AC H E L SY LV E S T E R A N D A N D R E A Z E N D E JA S THE GOODS 1. Estelle Colored Glass decanter, Dhs715, estellecoloredglass.com 2. Love Shack Fancy wallpaper, Dhs513, loveshackfancy.com 3. Bassett Mirror Company mirror, Dhs1,064, bassettmirror.com for retailers 4. Mrs. Alice candleholder, Dhs730 for 2, mrsalice.com 5. Trudon Louis XIV bust candle, Dhs990, ssense.com 6. Burke Decor chair, Dhs2,947, burkedecor.com 7. Aerin chandelier, Dhs2.712, aerin.com 8. Loretta Caponi x Villeroy & Boch porcelain plate, Dhs513, net-a-porter.com 9. Jayson Home antique marble coû ee table, Dhs10,991, similar styles at jaysonhome.com Call it the Bridgerton e ect (yes, still). Or just call it a way to turn your small pied-à-terre into something resembling Versailles, with regal decor like ornate mirrors and sculpted busts. Bonus: You’re allowed to actually sit on the chairs. IMA GE : GET T Y IMA GE S 65 Cribs 1 2 3 45 6 7 8 9BIG WICK The latest glow-up doesn’t involve exfoliating, squats, or appropriate water consumption. It’s actually a new take on an old flame. Literally. We are legit loving all the new candles popping up on the ‘gram lately. From unique scents (green mango and passionfruit, anyone?) to the chicest aesthetics (we’re looking at you, rose quartz), we are elbows deep in vegan soy wax and good vibes. Ahead, the prettiest home- grown candles to shop across the GCC. The lat squats actua We are up on (green m chices quartz and g gro SeaSalt&Breezy Muget Candle by Theia Dhs215, 800ý ower.ae Healing Energy Aquamarine by By Mystique Dhs130, by-mystique.com Amethyst & Selenite Candle by Inner Alchemist Dhs380, inneralchemist.online Wavy Candles by Nixi Candles Dhs120 for two, @nixicandles on IG L’Ban Scented Candle by From The Arabs Dhs275, ounass.ae Ava Shell Candle by Wysh Dhs175, wysh-me.com Scented Soy Wax Candle by Mayiki Dhs135, mayiki.net 66 Cribs ENERGY Handmade Ceramic Candle by Pure Candles Dhs150, @purecandles_dubai Citrine and Jade Crsytal Candle by Prickly Pear Dhs75, pricklypear.com 02 Herb Garden Candle by Olfaction Dhs150, olfactionme.com Sneaker Shaped Candle by Typo Dhs144, namshi.com Handmade Concrete Candlejars by Hanorim Dhs180, itsherway.com Nur by Muse Candles Dhs45, @muse.candles.ae on IG Lavendar Wax Melts by Nightingale Lamp Dhs55, nightingalelamp.com 67 CribsGAMING SETUP IDEAS that’ll guarantee you a GG You can never get enough of neutrals @goldenmirmy Looking for something simple yet aesthetic? Go for some soft shades for an elevated look that’ll pretty much make you want to stay there 24/7. “Don’t try to build an area that doesn’t make you truly happy. Start with a colour scheme and slowly add pieces, good things take time (and sometimes money).” Truer words have never been spoken. DIY it @astronuggie If you’re someone who gets easily bored of your space, you can always find new ways to DIY your decor. Build your gaming set up with some warm tones and add throw in fun and colourful lighting every now and then to change it up. Personal touch is key @kayleens_coûee While designing your setup, it’s important to showcase not just your creativity but is meaningful to you. “You don’t need the fanciest computer or monitors—you can always get those later. It’s all about making a space that’s comfortable and cosy for you to spend hours in, and let your personality shine through,” Kayleen recommends. Make it 3D @andrascorner Amp up your current gaming setup by investing in 3D panels and hexagonal mirrors for that pop of dimension and uniqueness. Tech enthusiast Andra says, “Ever since I was a kid, I had a special affinity for Japan and Samurai. The Swords combined with the solid wood desk, panels and mirrors give away a nice and clean look, full of tradition and culture.” Picture your fave game @deerlyrae When in doubt, you can always look back on your favourite game of all time for inspo. This Animal Crossing-inspired gaming setup incorporates plushies, plants and so much more to provide a cosy space (so you don’t end up rage quitting *again*). Sorry, we don’t make the rules. 68 CribsThe digital world has no boundaries – and neither should your gaming space. From simple decor for the minimalist mindset, to unbeatable rigs with multi-screen setups, synthwave-inspired lights and an ergonomic chair that allows you to sit for over 10 hours, we’ve rounded up the very best gaming room inspo ahead of your next tournament. Add a pop of colour @kaileune Start off by thinking of a colour palette and then it’s easy to work around with all the types of equipments you need to bring it all together. Kai advises, “If you’re more on the simplistic side or if you’re a maximalist and want your setup to reflect that, go for it! If you like darker colours or if you’re a pastel lover, do it! Something as simple as a change in lighting can really change the vibe of your gaming space.” Go minimal @neonmochiii If experimenting is too risky, you can always keep it simple and clean with your setup. All you need to do is add in some fake plants that blend in well with your space. (Sneaky colourful keyboards is highly recommended) It’s all about the gadgets @rubajaiousy If decorating is not really your thing (we get it), you can always divert your budget and bring in cool tech gadgets for all your PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Nintendo escapades. You can even organize them around your PC cause nothing screams more impressive than that. Experiment with tech @kiradxb Dubai-based gamer Ewelina Kaczmarek started off by writing down a list of things she’d needed for her space - RGB lights, panels and gadgets. “Truth is there might never come the time when you will actually finish your gaming cave as you will always find things to change or improve but don’t worry about it, just enjoy the process.” Draw inspiration from travel @shryma Yep, dreams do come true. “I am very interested in the Japanese culture, the anime world and gaming. I chose to draw inspiration for my room from the colourful streets of Akihabara which is the hub of everything that made me fall in love with Japan. BRB, taking down notes on this. 69 CribsNext >