Dress (worn as headscarf): KHAITE
Ring: (stylists own)
Talent: Mandana Bolourchi
Photography, Creative Direction, and Production by: Mike Ruiz
Editor-in-Chief: Dimitri Vorontsov
Stylist: Tabitha Sanchez at The Only Agency @tabitharsanchez
Hair: Ana Estela @anaestelahair
Makeup: R Pro Makeup Artist @Rpromakeupartist
Location: Los Angeles, California
Dress (worn as headscarf): KHAITE
Ring: (stylists own)
How has your childhood shaped who you are today?
My parents played a huge part in who I am today. I am grateful for all of the experiences and opportunities they exposed me to early on. I grew up in a house with a huge library, and because my parents encouraged us to read so much, it helped shape me and allowed me to find things that I was interested in. I work harder to reach my goals as a result. I also got to see many of the things I had read about in books right in front of me through travels with my family whether it be architectural buildings, paintings, sculptures or places. It was so inspiring getting to see so many different types of art in my childhood; I realized how much I liked the creative work. Another aspect of my life that helped shape a big part of who I am today was watching my dad help people. Him becoming a philanthropist gave me the biggest motivation to become one as well, especially being born as a woman in a middle eastern country, I became really passionate about helping women specifically.
Dress: Dolce and Gabbana (via Clothed LA)
Jewelry: Stylists Own
When did you first become interested in interior design?
My family and I would go to many museums and monuments when I was younger. When I became old enough to drive, I would go on drives just to see the architect around me; I would even just drive around construction sites just to see what was being built. When I was younger I would always move things around the house and decorate the coffee tables at all of my relatives’ homes we would visit. I think I was obsessed with the coffee table books, and the interest grew from there. Growing up between Iran, Dubai, and Europe, I got to see so much amazing art and architecture. I think I just had an eye for design so it was something that came naturally but that I enjoyed very much.
Dress: Dolce and Gabbana (via Clothed LA)
Jewelry: Stylists Own
Did you always know you wanted to pursue a career in art and fashion?
What made you certain that this was what you wanted to pursue? I always knew since I was a little girl that I had a very distinguished and particular sense of fashion and design. I was probably too young to understand that it was in design I was thinking of by moving and changing things to fit a way that looked good. I think I was just certain that I was really passionate about my interests in design, art, and fashion that it became routine for me to do these things without it feeling like it was a career with duty or an obligation because I enjoyed these things so much that it was fun for me and work should be fun when you love what you are doing.
Dress: Dolce and Gabbana (via Clothed LA)
Jewelry: Stylists Own
What inspires you, in both your work and personal life?
I’m lucky to be surrounded by very strong and independent woman. It always inspired me how independent my grandmother was at the time for a woman in the Middle East. It was very rare being able to and having the drive to better her life and kids lives because of the circumstances of where she was from. She moved to the US to give everyone in her family the opportunity to follow their dreams in a place where freedom isn’t only for men. It inspired me to never accept any limits, to never limit dreams because of where I was born or my gender, she gave me the motivation to work towards something meaningful and to help other women like us. I always looked up to women who shattered the glass ceiling, and hoped to try to inspire others to never accept limitations because of the circumstances they were born into. I was inspired daily by my fathers passion for helping others and that is something that I carry with me no matter how busy life gets or if I go into different career paths, it is always engraved in me to continue to try to help others.
Dress: Attico
Earrings: Stylists Own
Have there been any moments or milestones so far in your career that have felt particularly meaningful to you?
Ever since I was younger I was always a huge fan of Dolce & Gabbana, it was always one of the brands that made me feel sexy and a badass at the same time. In December of 2021 I was able to host the Christmas Party celebrating the release of their Christmas collection. It was such a special moment for me because we got to collaborate with Harper’s Bazaar for the party which has been one of my favorite fashion magazines for so long. It felt like a dream come true. This collaboration was especially meaningful to me because of the location too, being able to shut down the Dolce & Gabbana storefront on Rodeo Drive for a night, since it has always been so iconic and one of my most beloved fashion spots. The whole thing felt so full circle for me in that moment, shopping here as a teen, a young adult and into adulthood and now hosting a collection release in my very own city!
Dress: Attico
Earrings: Stylists Own
Is there anyone in the industry you would love to collaborate with? There have been a few conversations with Versace…
Versace would be one of my dream collaborations, I value working with brands that I really feel connected to not only on a materialistic level but as a whole. I have always been a fan of Donatella Versace and her work and strides to keep her family’s legacy alive. One of the very first things I bought for myself was a Versace Medusa plate set and that’s just a little memory that I hold that reminds me of how I started with the brand. Hopefully one day something could happen with Versace and that would be another dream come true.
Hat: Photographers Own
Earrings (stylists own)
Shirt: Frame Denim
What are some of the biggest obstacles that you have overcome in your career? Do you have any other projects coming up or in the works?
The biggest obstacle I ever had to face in my career or actually before my career was all of the criticism I would get as a Persian, free woman, and pursuing my dreams and on top of that still being a good mom. I went public on Instagram and quickly gained a lot of followers, a lot of people enjoyed what I was sharing but at the same time a lot of people had such nasty things to say. I decided I wanted to change the definition of what a woman should or shouldn’t do and change the perspective or narrative of a mom in my culture. To me we are as limitless as men, but sometimes it’s not easy for people to understand that you can follow your dreams, be public about your life and at the same time still be a good mom.
I am actually so excited to announce I have been working with one of my great friends for almost 2 years now to start a women owned company called Ma Hair Co which is a line of hair products from brushes to perfumes. We are so eager for the release, we have been working on every tiny detail of the products. It is essentially the items we felt were missing when we needed them, things not in the market or readily available so we worked so hard to make these things so that other women with every hair type has what they need!
