Saudi Arabia has hosted its first-ever fashion show where women model for swimsuits without covering their heads.

The poolside show was held on Friday during the inaugural Red Sea Fashion Week at the St. Regis Red Sea Resort.

Influenced heavily by its adherence to Islamic law, Saudi Arabia is one of the most conservative countries in terms of women’s fashion.

In public, women are traditionally expected to wear the abaya, a loose-fitting black cloak, with a headscarf to cover their hair.

Although Saudi Arabia has gradually seen reforms allowing freedom in dressing and reducing the enforcement of strict dress codes, social expectations and cultural norms still maintain a conservative approach to women’s fashion, particularly in public and formal settings.

The Red Sea Fashion Week swimwear show featured the summer beachwear collection by Moroccan designer Yasmina Qanzal.

The collection included mostly one-piece swimsuits in shades of red, beige and blue.

The Arabian models had exposed shoulders while some had their midriffs partially visible.

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Qanzal, a media report state, said it was “an honour” to be a part of such a historic fashion moment in the country.

“This country is very conservative but we tried to show elegant swimsuits which represent the Arab world,” the designer said.

“When we came here, we understood that a swimsuit fashion show in Saudi Arabia is a historic moment because it is the first time to have such an event.”

The Red Sea Fashion Week is part of the Red Sea Global project, a cornerstone of Saudi’s Vision 2030 social and economic reform plan.

The programme, championed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to modernise Saudi Arabia and diversify its economy beyond oil.

Mohammed, who became first in line to the throne in 2017, has since initiated a series of social reforms in the country.

Those changes include re-introducing cinemas and organising mixed-gender music festivals.

Susan Ubangha, who was recently delivered of a baby girl, has cried for help over her deteriorating health condition after giving birth at the Alimosho General Hospital in the Igando area of Lagos State.

The new mother alleged that her husband used the money meant for her medical bill to buy a phone and a dog.

Ubangha, in a lengthy post on her X handle, stated that her ordeal started in the weeks leading to the delivery of her baby as she started to experience sudden and severe shortness of breath.

The nursing mother who claimed to have been rushed to the hospital alleged that her husband failed to pay for her hospital bills.

She claimed that her husband was opposed to a caesarean section due to the financial constraints while he suggested that would deliver the baby naturally

She wrote, “I got traditionally married recently and took in. I thought that was the best thing that happened to me, everything was going well until I entered the 35th week. I suddenly developed shortness of breath, I could barely walk two seconds without being out of breath. Thinking it was one of those symptoms of late pregnancy, I didn’t take it seriously until the 14th of April when I could barely breathe, and couldn’t lift my head up.

“I was rushed to a nearby clinic, they couldn’t handle me, so I was taken to my hospital where I was admitted and placed on oxygen. The doctors told my husband we should opt for CS, as I and my unborn child were at risk. My husband said no, that I’d definitely deliver naturally. He insisted he had no money for CS and that they should work on stabilising my breathing. So for three days, I was on oxygen and feeling better. Seeing that I was responding to treatment, my husband went around and insisted I should be discharged against the doctor’s advice.”

Ubangha said she became weak to argue with her husband whose insistence led her to be discharged from the hospital.

She however noted that she developed breathing problems again after she arrived home, adding that her husband thereafter bought a herbal drink which he asked her to drink to make her baby’s head turn for natural delivery.

She further narrated she was in so much pain that she drank only for the pain to intensify while she struggled so much till about 1 am in the morning when she couldn’t take it anymore.

She said, “I cried out, my neighbours came running and I was again rushed to the hospital, admitted and placed on oxygen. While my doctors determined what to do, my husband insisted he had no money for a cesarean section. All these while, I was spending my life’s savings on medications, this and that tests.”

“This dragged on until the morning of 29th April, I was broken, my baby wasn’t moving, my breathing wasn’t good, I couldn’t push and my baby’s position was beached. I cried out on Facebook where a kind Samaritan sent me 500k to pay for CS and whatever else I might need afterwards.”

Speaking on how her husband allegedly squandered the money, Ubangha said, “I immediately sent the sum of 180k and an additional 60k so he could pay for the surgery and whatever we might need. He took the money and spent it instead on a phone and bought a dog while I was battling with life, thinking he was paying.

She said, “We waited from 10 am when I gave him the money to about 2 pm, Doctors were shouting, time was running out, I had to call his sister, counted another N180,000 and gave her, she’s the one who paid. He came at 6 pm when I was being wheeled into the theatre. I could hear both of them fighting, the sister threatening to arrest him.”

Ubangha who eventually gave birth through a cesarean section alleged that her husband had abandoned her, as she was left with her newborn baby girl and her aged mother at the hospital.

Ubangha explained that she was stranded having spent all she had on the medical bills and food, and appealed to the public for help to save her.

In a picture attached to the post, the nursing mother could be seen with a swollen leg

“First diagnosis was that I had peripartum cardiomyopathy. I’ve done ECKG, chest X-ray and a series of other blood tests that I’m waiting for a report on. Whatever the outcome, I will need every help I can get. I need about 500k to help with whatever treatment plan and to help facilitate my discharge process,” she added.

Ubangha explained that she was stranded having spent all she had on the medical bills and food, and appealed to the public for help to save her.

Controversial singer, Portable, has been arrested by the Lagos state police command for allegedly failing to pay the debt he incurred after purchasing his G-Wagon from a car dealer.

The singer, born Habeeb Okikiola, was apprehended on Tuesday, Benjamin Hundeyin, the state police spokesperson, told TheCable Lifestyle.

“Yes, Portable has been arrested,” Hundeyin said.

The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ hitmaker was said to have bought the vehicle worth N27 million but paid only N13 million.

Portable allegedly refused to pay the remaining N14 million and whenever the car dealer requested for his money, he always claimed the vehicle was having issues.

The singer purchased the car last year and was once seen using the vehicle to distribute food items to children on the streets.

This is not the first time Portable will be arrested by the police. In April last year, the Ogun police arrested the singer over an alleged assault.

The arrest came after the expiration of the 72-hour ultimatum given to him to turn himself in.

The singer previously resisted attempts by the police to arrest him and also referred to himself as “a federal government liability”.

Portable gained fame in December 2021 with the release of ‘Zazoo Zeh’, his hit single featuring Olamide and Poco Lee.

He has also produced hit tracks including ‘All Eyes On Me’, ‘Clear Azaman’, ‘Neighbour’, and ‘Ogo Forever’.

The singer is known for making headlines over controversial reasons.

He recently collaborated with Skepta, the British rapper, on ‘Tony Montana’.

Portable also recently said fashion was his ‘profession” before venturing into music. He revealed that he is still a fashion designer and “combines” the profession with his music career.