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Lebanese star Nicole Saba talks style, music and family

Saba began her career on the conveyor belt of girl groups that were taking shape in the late 90s across the Middle East’s pop music scene.

Photo by Shihab/ Khaleej Times

Like most Lebanese pop stars, Nicole Saba knows how to make a statement. Couple her mature sex appeal with an exciting career resurgence and it’s easy to understand why Splash decided it was time to finally have an Arab woman as the face of their brand.

Over the weekend the high street fashion house introduced Saba as their newest ambassador, a duty she’ll share alongside actor Salman Khan. Though she doesn’t command nearly the same star power as her Bollywood counterpart, the 40-year-old is undoubtedly bringing a certain energy and flair to the new campaign.

“It’s something of a mission for both myself and Salman,” the singer and television personality told City Times. “I’m an artist so I love fashion. I have my own style but I can also fit with the image that Splash wants to market as well.”

Style is a relative term in Saba’s playbook; the type of woman who relishes in the eccentric and daring. With a marriage to heartthrob actor Yousuf Al Khal and a new baby daughter in the mix, Saba’s enjoying the comfort of her own skin as she explores her ever-changing identity.

“Our fashion transformation comes from experience. You actually start to understand what fits you in every area of your life even beyond clothes,” she said.

“In the Arab world we like to dress over-the-top and avoid being simple, so it’s about finding what’s best for your body, with the right cuts and colours.”

Saba began her career on the conveyor belt of girl groups that were taking shape in the late 90s across the Middle East’s pop music scene. She was a member of The 4 Cats and while the band was commercially appealing for a while, something bigger was on her horizon.

“I wasn’t that professional or experienced,” she explained about her entry into music. “Back then we were doing it almost like a hobby but today I work on everything myself, from choosing the music to advising on video shoots. I’m in control now.”

After leaving the group, Saba was offered the role of a lifetime opposite Egyptian screen legend Adel Imam in the 2003 film The Danish Experience. Since then she’s dabbled in many other projects and has just released the video for her newest single Ma Ba2a Tede2elli.

“People come and go, but most don’t leave their own mark,” she said about remaining relevant in the entertainment industry. “I don’t think that we work just to exist. I may take time with my career choices, but I like them to have an impact.”

“I’m trying to have it all by maintaining a balance between family and career, but it’s not time to slow down.”