½ + ½ = 1. The world of woman and the world of man, two separate worlds joined by the sign of equality. And as proof that the contents of the two worlds forever differ, and forever remain equal: university girl students presenting a fashion show...
Here is Miss Rafiqa Chehab. I had never seen her before in any show; apparently she has divorced her chronic fear of appearing as a model. And I was sure of it when she said: "This year I left my fear behind and appeared; but however it may be, the first moment is hard. I loved all the fashions I showed, as though I had chosen them myself. I prefer the audience to be ladies only, especially at the university. The 'model' is a charming creature we lack in our society; but I should not like to be a model — there are other aims in life that occupy my mind."
And Miss Hilda Khoury stands on the show's stage for the first time. "At the start of the show I was like someone walking in a dark, frightening room, and little by little I became mistress of the situation. In my view, modeling requires courage and self-confidence, and so I shall never be a model, for what it demands runs contrary to my shy nature. And were it not for the association's charitable aim — helping needy girl students — I would never have stood up as a model."
And Miss Janet Lambak, in Lebanon for the first time, and likewise on the show's stage. "It was a lovely experience, especially after I recovered my confidence in myself and got the better of the 'nerves' that had taken hold of me out of fear of the audience. Ah, how delicious it was to show the blue woolen 'slacks' — at least I walked with an ease I never felt in the other dresses and the high heels. Modeling is a delightful hobby, but hard as a profession; for the model must always keep the beauty of her figure — and she has to preserve that figure — take delight in her work, and be forever pleasant with the customers, even were she being hanged..."
Miss Alice Shami had never stood on a show's stage before. "When I went to Chamaa for the fitting of the dresses, the American girls were with us — and everyone knows the shortest of them stands 175 centimeters — and the dresses were large, and we had to wear
shoes with heels nine centimeters high! I said I would be a 'laughingstock' — I cannot walk in such shoes and such dresses. But my fear quickly evaporated
Hilda Khoury
Alice Shami
Janet Lambak