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Arab Bombshells Who Rocked Chunky Highlights in the 2000s

We take a look at how blonde hair became a bold statement in early 2000s Arab entertainment.

Mariam Elmiesiry

May 08, 2025
Arab Bombshells Who Rocked Chunky Highlights in the 2000s

Chunky blonde highlights defined early 2000s Arab pop visuals - thick, high-contrast streaks placed deliberately against darker roots. The style marked a shift from the blended balayage of the '90s toward something more graphic and intentional. From Nawal El Zoghbi in Elly Etmanetoh to Nicole Saba in Ya Shaghelny, these highlights became a staple in music videos, photo shoots, and televised performances across the region.

Nawal El Zoghbi

Elly Etmanetoh 2003

In 2002, Nawal El Zoghbi’s Elly Etmanetoh music video became a defining moment for her career. Sporting bold highlights, Nawal embraced a modern, international look that was all the rave back then.







Nicole Saba

Ya shaghelny 2004

In Ya Shaghelny, Nicole Saba wears her platinum blonde hair bone-straight with a precise centre part. The contrast between tone and texture frames her face cleanly, reinforcing the polished, sculptural aesthetic that dominated early 2000s pop visuals.

Yousra

Middle East Oscars Awards Ceremony in Cairo 2008

At the 2008 Middle East Oscars, Yousra’s hair was styled in voluminous curls streaked with chunky highlights - a look that echoed the era’s appetite for high-impact glamour. The contrast in tones added definition to the curls, aligning with late-2000s trends in Arab celebrity styling that favoured precision and visible effort.

Sherine Abdelwahab

Sabry Alil 2003

In Sabry Aalil, Sherine Abdel Wahab debuts a cropped pixie cut with choppy blonde streaks - short, spiked, and deliberately textured. The style marked a departure from her earlier looks, aligning with the early 2000s trend of high-contrast, statement hair across Arab pop culture.

Razan Maghraby

Photoshoot in Beirut 2001

Razan’s 2001 Beirut photoshoot features straight, glassy hair streaked with thick blonde highlights - a high-contrast look that mirrored the early 2000s aesthetic dominating Arab pop magazines and music TV.

Laila Elwy

26th Cairo International Film Festival 2002

Laila Elwy's voluminous, bouncy curls at the 2002 Cairo International Film Festival capture the early 2000s trend of textured hair with natural volume. 

Yasmine Abdelaziz

Photoshoot 2000s

Yasmine’s early 2000s look featured a layered bob with bold, chunky blonde highlights - voluminous, face-framing, and cut to move. The style echoed a broader trend in regional pop culture where texture and contrast defined on-screen hair aesthetics.

Samira Said

Alo Album 1998

On the Alo album cover, Samira Said wears her hair in full, defined curls - high-volume and tightly styled. The look reflects early 2000s visual codes of pop stardom, where controlled texture and bold silhouettes shaped an artist’s image as much as the music.

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