Precious Lee

Precious Lee photographed by Paola Kudacki
Dresses blowing in the wind, and glitter shining under the light — with augmented reality (AR), the physical copy of our latest issue will transport you to model Precious Lee‘s cover shoot. Get ready to experience the palpable energy of a Vogue photoshoot through not just the cover, but also the story’s other images within the magazine.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
While Lee’s photos for our body positivity issue are captivating enough on their own, there’s nothing like watching them animate and seeing the model pose as if you were present on set. Simply point your camera on each image inside the magazine, and watch the model who has walked runways for Versace, Miu Miu, and Marc Jacobs, in action on the copy in your hands.

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How to get started:
1. On your phone, click the link below to unlock the experience.
july2021.voguearabia.tech
2. After allowing the link to access your phone’s camera, point it at one of the covers of Vogue Arabia’s July/August 2021 issue.
3. Next, open the magazine to the cover story and direct your phone to the pages.
5. Sit back, enjoy, and make sure to share your experiences on social media and tag #VogueArabia.
More AR experiences are being developed by the Vogue Arabia team, so stay tuned.
Read Next: Precious Lee Opens Up About Her Queen-Sized Spirit with Arab Curve Model Ameni Esseibi

American model Precious Lee is one of the foremost minds and faces the fashion industry is proud to call its own. Her rise to fame is now.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
Blossoming in the cradle of her tight-knit family and through the cultural dynamics of her Atlanta, Georgia, upbringing, Precious Lee is a model of wellness – body and soul. “I was a confident child; I always felt I could do anything,” recalls Lee of her earliest years. Raised by her educator and former model mother and entrepreneur and cosmetologist father, she remembers being, “The little girl excited to learn a complicated word like ‘perseverance’ and spelling it aloud, proving to myself that I could use it in casual conversation at age six,” she says. “I felt secure in my voice and what I believed in.” Her gumption propelled her family to give her the moniker “Miss Lee.” Far from being an elitist, it is her empathy that shines. “I loved helping people around me and would always defend kids from bullies. I could never watch anyone in pain or have their feelings hurt,” she says.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
Lee’s compassion stems from amour-propre. It oozes from her and into the world of higher expression. Fascinated by abstract art, history, and literature, Lee has penned multiple journals, her early ones capturing the sincerity of her vision, the depth of her imagination, and her enthusiasm for her future exploits. Along with writing, she conveys her thoughts and feelings through clothing, music, and dance. If her parents were her earliest cheerleaders, she now also has Versace, Miu Miu, and Marc Jacobs; photographers Steven Meisel, Mario Sorrenti, Luigi & Iango, Cass Bird, and Juergen Teller; and a large Instagram audience supporting her. Her Vogue Italia cover debut (for its September 2020 issue) was swiftly followed by British Vogue (April 2021), Vogue Brasil (June/July 2021), and now Vogue Arabia. In a candid interview with Arab curve model Ameni Esseibi, Lee opens up about her queen-sized spirit.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
Ameni Esseibi: Can you talk about your childhood? Describe how you were as a little girl.Precious Lee: I grew up in Atlanta raised by my mother, an educator and former model, and my father, an entrepreneur and cosmetologist. I was a very confident child. I was the little girl that was excited to learn a “complicated word” like perseverance and would spell it aloud and prove to myself I could use it in casual conversation at age six. I felt secure in my voice and what I believed in. My family often called me “Miss Lee” because I was so intelligent and ahead of my years. I always loved helping people around me, was a natural leader in school, always voted to speak on behalf of the school or club I was in; a young orator at heart. I would always defend kids from bullies. I could never watch anyone in pain or have their feelings hurt so I would always interject if I saw someone being mistreated.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
I loved dressing myself and doing my own hair. I expressed so much of myself through my clothing, hair, music, dance, and writing. I loved abstract art early and took a strong interest in history and literature. My mom still has some of my childhood journals and I was serious about my vision. I had a huge imagination and was always excited for the future. I played the flute/piccolo, was on the dance team, competed in cheerleading, was crowned Homecoming Queen, voted Best-Dressed and Best Hair, played volleyball and tennis, and participated in the Thespian Club and Student Government. I wanted to explore all of my interests and I’m grateful my parents supported me, especially my mom, who was my chauffeur and manager at every single performance or event! I always felt like I could do anything. I would make them sit and watch me perform concerts on a regular basis in our living room. I would have an entire look, lighting, and playlist for my performances and even a self-choreographed dance routine. Wow, bless them for sitting through them all! I was obsessed with music and dance. I would print out the lyrics to my favorite songs to learn them perfectly to sing. I would recite my poems and scenes from my favorite movies. I was hilarious!
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
AE: Who did you look up to as a young girl?PL: My mother; I love her endlessly. She is a resilient, proud African American woman and total glamour girl. She’s brilliant and can talk toanyone. She’s gracious, always. I loved learning from her at a young age how I could be an intellectual and also express myself through fashion and beauty. Oftentimes, as a little girl, it was presented as you’re either interested in school or you’re interested in your wardrobe. I was both. I learned from her how to be a free thinker. She taught me to never dim my light, be kind to everyone, and always use my inner guidance. My mom has supported me through every phase of my life and I’m so grateful for her giving all the attention and time she did with me.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
AE: You’ve mentioned that you wanted to be a lawyer growing up. Any other dreams?PL: I wanted to have a career in helping amplify marginalized voices. I learned in eighth grade Georgia history class that I wanted to be an attorney after being selected to represent Native Americans against [19th century US President] Andrew Jackson in a mock trial. I was so committed to proving how wrong the president was that I knew, that was it. I had to speak up for others who were silenced and oppressed. It made sense because I never liked the idea of bullies. For the trial, I asked my mom to buy me a Calvin Klein suit – a navy and black wool blazer with matching corduroy riding pants and a cognac riding boot with a tiny heel. I carried a SpongeBob SquarePants briefcase and had pink faux eyeglasses. It was so monumental for me and I remember it so vividly because that experience truly did shape my mentality on advocacy. It was so natural to do, and at the same time it felt important. I also wanted to be an actor and I would put on full-blown productions at home and use quotes from my favorite movies daily. It got to a point where I would stay in my favorite character for days, even weeks. I look back and laugh at how incredibly animated and expressive I was growing up. It was amazing how I was able to dream expansively.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
AE: You’ve said your mother is the most glamorous person you know. What defines glamorous to you?PL: Glamour, to me, has a lot to do with your mentality. To be glamorous is to value what beauty is to you and committing to that no matter the circumstances.
AE: Your father is a cosmetologist. What did he teach you about outward beauty?PL: Individuality is the key to flair.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
AE: How and where were you discovered?PL: I was accompanying a friend for support to an open call. We met while participating in the Homecoming fashion show at school. We would talk about our favorite photographers, models, designers, publications, seasons, and trends. It was so fun doing the show for school but I never considered it as a career at the time. I always associated the industry with really thin women and flat chests. I was definitely not flat-chested or thin, however, my friend had their sights set on getting signed to an agency. I believed they could do it and I’m an all-or-nothing friend so I was fully supportive.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
I took their digitals, picked a time to go to the top agency in our city, and it was straight out of a TV show. So many people were in the hallway waiting for a chance to be discovered. There were so many people with one agent standing in front with no desire for small talk. I remember her explaining the industry and how she described New York as “the Olympics of fashion.” She had strict rules and informed us to leave immediately if she saw you and said thank you. We sat there as she said “thank you” more than 50 times. She was hilarious and fabulous to me but intimidating to most of the people in the room. I ended up being the only person offered a contract that day. I’ll never forget the feeling because I was late for my next class and constantly looking at my phone to try to make it on time. My friend was so supportive with me, staying to talk to the agents and waiting outside. It was wild and meant to be.
AE: Who are your heroes in fashion and why?PL: My heroes are the people who don’t compromise their values to be successful. People who stand firm in the storm; the indomitable women who are brave. Women of color creating more space unapologetically.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
AE: How has your relationship with yourself evolved over time?PL: My personal evolution is incredibly sacred to me. I am honored to live a life in which I can explore so many dreams. I’ve always considered the bigger picture and mission to be the focal point when achieving my goals, but I’ve learned to use checkpoints along the way. It’s the truest sense of self-love, showing self-compassion during the journey and not only when the mission is accomplished. By simply doing that I’ve opened up more space for myself to grow and expand. I’ve connected to the essence of myself exponentially since tuning into what it means to have unconditional self-love. It’s radical and necessary.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
AE: What are your summer plans?PL: I’m looking forward to spending more time on the beach, spa days, writing, and outdoor workouts. I think we all get more physically active in the summer but now it’s really about being outside more and experiencing nature. I love being at home but I’m grateful I get to spend more time traveling and getting back in tune with nature post-quarantine.
Photographed by Paola Kudacki
Read Next: Precious Lee Stars on Our Body Positivity Issue in an Ode to Real Diversity and Empowerment
Originally published in the July/August 2020 issue of Vogue Arabia
Style: Patrick MackieFashion director: Katie TrotterHair: Lacy RedwayMakeup: Raisa Flowers for Pat McGrathNails: Dawn Sterling at Statement ArtistsProducer: Heather Robbins at CLMCreative producer: Laura PriorJunior fashion editor: Mohammad Hazem RezqDigital tech: Evgeny PopovTailor: Anna OukolovaSet design: Jacob Burstein at MHS ArtistsPhotography assistants: Kyrre Kristoffersen, Nick GrennonFashion assistant: Vivian McHughProduction assistant: Olya KudackiSet assistant: Josefine Cardoni

Vogue Arabia editor-in-chief Manuel Arnaut. Photo: Ziga Mihelcic
This month was extremely emotional for us at Vogue, as we approached the theme of the body from the rawest and most candid perspective to date. Every year, as temperatures rise and swimsuit season approaches, many of us embark on crazy diets and endless hours at the gym, looking for fast results in the shallowest way – I exercise just to lose weight quickly, not for my health. This could be a consequence of years of brainwashing from the entertainment and fashion industries, who have been promoting harsh patterns of beauty and an idea that the slimmer you are, the more beautiful you are, for decades.
Thankfully, the fashion community – from publications to designers – has been trying to fight this demon, with this reflecting in the visibility of more diverse bodies on covers, runways, and campaigns. This month’s cover star, Precious Lee, is the perfect example, as her glorious face and curves are everywhere this season – from the Versace show to the covers of British Vogue and Vogue Brasil. I met Precious in New York four years ago. She was not yet the supermodel she is today, but I was immediately blown away by her beauty and luminous personality. She had the full package. After I returned to Dubai, I told everyone in the office that the woman I met for dinner was going to be a star. And here she is, shining as bright as a diamond, shot for this month’s issue by Paola Kudacki, a photographer I have been keen on working with for years. Paola, Precious, and the team were in the studio until 3am, completely carried away by their creative process. Their passion is reflected in every single image they produced.
Precious Lee photographed by Paola Kudacki
In this issue, we also shatter further stereotypes around the classic idea of femininity. If sometimes society overlooks women with curves, the same happens with women with muscles. Strong female bodies are considered by some to be manly and not elegant, as if women have no right to a powerful figure. This led us to put together an editorial with three high performance athletes, styled in anything but their gym clothes, reclaiming their right to their femininity and strength.
Being on set with Dareen Barbar, Rania Hammad, and Zainab Al-Eqabi was definitely the highlight of my month, as I was inspired by their stories of perseverance and positivity. When they described to me how they lost their limbs, it put everything in my life in perspective. It makes me proud that we are dedicating a big part of this issue to people of determination, so many times overseen by society – and even more so by style publications. I’m happy to see that fashion brands, from high street to luxury, are also working towards including in their collections pieces for this segment, with Burberry, Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger, and Mango normalizing different bodies. But there’s still a lot of work to do around awareness and inclusion. As the Iraqi activist Zainab states, “The more you see my amputation, the more you will stop seeing it.”
Read Next: Precious Lee Stars on Our Body Positivity Issue in an Ode to Real Diversity and Empowerment

The Vogue Arabia Body Positivity summer issue is an ode to real diversity and empowerment, questioning the traditional notions of what society once described as the perfect body.
Precious Lee photographed by Paola Kudacki
Wearing a show-stopping dress by Saudi label Ashi Studio, supermodel Precious Lee announces the Vogue Arabia July/August 2021 issue with verve and attitude. In an issue that celebrates body positivity, the cover star and trailblazing curve model salutes women of all shapes. The Body Positivity issue is a call to arms for all women to love and appreciate their bodies with confidence and style, to draw their inspiration from those who have shattered stereotypes, to look towards women of character who refuse to compromise and comply with the expectations of society.
Lee was photographed in New York by Paola Kudacki in a joyful series of looks underscoring her feminine power. In an insightful conversation with the Arab world’s first curve model, Ameni Esseibi, Lee talks about the serendipitous start to her career and her rise to the top. “I was a very confident child; I always felt I could do anything.” A wise and assertive woman, Lee lists her heroes in fashion as, “People who didn’t compromise their personal values to be successful. People who stood firm in the storm; the indomitable women who are brave.”
Precious Lee photographed by Paola Kudacki
On working with Lee for the July-August issue, Editor-in-Chief Manuel Arnaut says, “This month we approached the theme of the body from the rawest and most candid perspective to date. Every year, as temperatures rise and swimsuit season approaches, many of us embark on crazy diets and endless hours at the gym, looking for fast results in the shallowest way – I exercise just to lose weight quickly, not for my health. This could be a consequence of years of brainwashing from the entertainment and fashion industries, who have been promoting harsh patterns of beauty and an idea that the slimmer you are, the more beautiful you are, for decades. Thankfully, the fashion community – from publications to designers – has been trying to fight this demon, with this reflecting in the visibility of more diverse bodies on covers, runways, and campaigns.”
The Body Issue goes further than skin deep by shining the spotlight on three extraordinary women of determination from the region – each of whom has lost a leg. They have suffered trauma, overcome adversity, and showed tremendous courage and today they are athletes, record breakers, and inspirational speakers. Shot by photographer Sandra Chidiac, they front Vogue Arabia’s digital covers: Lebanese athlete Dareen Barbar, Egyptian mother Rania Hamad, and Iraqi pharmacist-turned-athlete and TV presenter Zainab Aleqabi. “I would tell my 15-year-old, post-operation self to be patient, not to care what other people think, and believe in myself,” reflects Barbar, while Hamad recalls her life lessons: “Be brave and strong because this life is so difficult. There is always light at the end of the tunnel.” Aleqabi, who set up a Facebook page called Disabled and Proud, speaks of her desire to “break that barrier between myself and society.” She believes that the more people see her amputation, the more they will stop seeing it. These women’s journeys of hope and resilience show that every body has a story.
Photographed by Sandra Chidiac
The July/August 2021 issue also explores the changing perceptions of femininity, with three muscle-building Arab women who talk about strength, beauty, and crushing stereotypes in the Middle East. Saudi fitness athlete Somaiah Al Dabbagh says, “You can be a feminine Arab woman and also be physically strong,” while Jordanian-Filipino strength coach Angelica Yassine believes that the Arab world is becoming more open to the idea of women with muscles, and that “the relationship between physically strong women and femininity is about feeling confident in your own skin.” Palestinian-Jordanian engineer and CrossFit athlete Dara Kayyali shares, “Women are pushing boundaries of what it means to be feminine. Women with muscles also want to feel beautiful.”
Photographed by Maria Kordzadze
The beauty pages showcase Egyptian content creator and performer Hadeel Marei in an effervescent shoot that celebrates her unique style. While modeling the season’s bold beauty looks, the TikTok influencer says, “There is a certain mold that holds women – our jokes are expected to be about our age, looks, shape, or being ultra-fem. I’m steering away from that reductive concept, and defying the cultural norms that tell me to be more docile and calm.”
Egyptian TV host Rahma Khaled. Photo: Supplied
The Body Issue is a testament to Vogue Arabia’s commitment to showing different kinds of bodies in a true tribute to diversity, celebrating the power and perfection of every single body.
Read Next: Ameni Esseibi Highlights the Importance of Body Positivity and Self-Love During This Pandemic

Natalia Vodianova, Precious Lee, Irina Shayk, Imaan Hammam and Candice Huffine have joined DREST as avatars you can style. Photo: DREST

If you love fashion and computer games, or are a budding stylist who dreams of dressing an A-list star, then you’re in luck. Until December 9, DREST is giving its players the opportunity to cast and style supermodels in a series of photoshoot challenges.
Natalia Vodianova, Precious Lee, Irina Shayk, Imaan Hammam and Candice Huffine have joined DREST, an interactive luxury styling game, to feature as hyper-realistic avatars allowing players to dress their favorite models in a series of outfits.
Style your favorite model through the game, than shop the look. Photo: DREST

The models can be cast through a Booking Fee that grants players a set number of uses, after which the talent will need to be re-booked. Once models are booked the player can style them in a number of outfits, with more than 200 leading brands to choose from including Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Off-White, Loewe, Chloé, Thom Browne, Burberry, Stella McCartney and Fenty. Playing stylist, players can also style their model’s hair with nine different styles to choose from, each designed by leading celebrity hairstylist Sam McKnight.
An example of a photoshoot challenge. Photo: DREST

Taking the experience up another echelon – blending virtual with reality – once the look is complete, players can not only share their creation but can also shop the pieces, thanks to a partnership with Farfetch.
On being chosen to have her own avatar, model Imaan Hamman tells Vogue Arabia, “I remember being very excited when I got asked to be part of DREST. When I was a little girl I always had a thing for playing dress up with avatars, it’s so my era! Fashion for me has always been an outlet where I could be myself in many ways and be bold, so having my own real life avatar is a dream come true. It was such a cool experience, so different from a normal day to day shoot. It went by so fast. I had to stand in the middle of the room and I was surrounded by a 1000 mini cameras/lenses in a circle that took a photo of every single part of the body. How cool?”
Photo: DREST

The models admits playing with the latest fashion items appeals to her, saying “I would definitely have lots of fun with just exploring and experimenting. I would love to dress up in three different kinds of styles: classy, street and sexy.”
While shopping in the virtual world and online is fun, the former Vogue Arabia cover star admits, when it comes to buying clothes she still prefers IRL. “It’s so important for me to be able to try the clothes on before buying – to feel the fabrics and feel confident,” she says. “I love to shop when I am in Paris, I feel like there are always better collections there than in other cities. I love Galeries Lafayette and Le Marais area is where you can always find me – I have a huge love for vintage and I always find the best pieces there.”
Players can do group or individual shoots. Photo: DREST

Behind the collaboration between the models and DREST is a philanthropic endeavor. “We have made a pledge to match 50% of revenue earned by the supermodels in-game and donate this to their respective causes through charitable donations,” explains Lucy Yeomans, Creator, Founder & Co-CEO, DREST.  For Hamman, her cause is She’s The First, “a non-profit that fights for a world where every girl chooses her own future. We work with local organizations to make sure all girls are educated.”
Read Next: This is How Model Imaan Hammam Celebrated Her 24th Birthday

Anna Wintour opened Vogue’s annual Forces of Fashion summit with a message of positivity. Describing the recent US election result as “inspiring,” she went on to praise designers who have fearlessly pushed on despite the challenges faced during the ongoing pandemic, reassuring virtual attendees that this is “a moment of change and of hope” – an appropriate prelude to the first discussion of the day: “Whose Positivity?,” moderated by Gabriella Karena-Johnson and featuring models Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee, Tess McMillan and Jill Kortleve.
Anna Wintour and the “Whose Positivity?” panel during day one of the Vogue Forces of Fashion summit

“We have to acknowledge the fact that there was a time, not long ago, where this entire panel wouldn’t exist,” said Karefa-Johnson, referencing the shifts in the industry over the past decade and increasing diversity now shown on the runway. Recalling her first entry into the world of fashion, Kortleve described a painful two-year period of simply trying to lose weight in order to fit with the zeitgeist, while McMillan found herself pigeon-holed by agencies who wanted to place her in their ‘Curve’ sections – something she described as “very offensive.”
Model Tess McMillan, Vogue Forces of Fashion 2020 summit

Critiquing the vocabulary used to describe models’ bodies, Lee talked of the divisive implications of using such terms as ‘plus-size,’ a categorization she feels is antiquated given the fact that the average size of women in the US is a 14.
“I’m more than capable of creating a beautiful moment in a picture,” she said, as the discussion dug deeper into their thoughts on tokenism. “I think of my work as art,” said McMillan. “I’m not just a body that sells clothes.” Elsesser supported this, referring to a time when she would only be styled in “lingerie and a jacket,” for high fashion editorials because there were no runway samples created to fit her shape.
Describing her appearances on the Alexander McQueen and Fendi runways as “amazing moments,” former Vogue Arabia cover star, Elsesser explained the importance of such castings in relation to the resulting trickle-down effect: samples are created for the runway show and later shot for editorials before ultimately making it into stores.
Left to right: Alva Claire, Precious Lee and Jill Kortleve walk for Versace SS21 / Courtesy of Vogue Runway

Collectively and throughout the discussion, topics linked back to notions of ‘labelling’ and ‘limitation’. These are beautiful women who don’t want to be dictated to by the fashion industry, society, or anyone else for that matter. Describing her experience of walking the Versace SS21 runway as “a win for so many women…an exhale almost,” Lee was grateful that her chosen look – a short, vibrant fitted dress with towering neon green platforms – celebrated (and not covered), her body. “Don’t allow my extra 12 inches to scare you away!” she said, laughing.
Read Next: Everything You Need To Know About the Vogue Forces of Fashion Summit, Happening Now