Marriam Najeeb Mossalli’s career as a fashion editor and luxury consultant has made her an established name in the international fashion industry. And with her invitation to the Celebration of Design Gala, hosted by none other than the US First Lady Michelle Obama; her status as a leader and ambassador for the regional fashion scene in the Middle East became cemented.

In conjunction with the National Design Week in New York, the Celebration of Design Gala was held at the newly redecorated White House in Washington, DC and played host to America’s fashion leaders and executives. Marriam was the only fashion industry professional invited from the Middle East.

A fashion business adviser, writer, lecturer and entrepreneur, Marriam was recognized as the founder of Shoes & Drama and Niche Arabia, the Kingdom’s major luxury and fashion marketing consulting firm.

“I think it was a revalidation of my decade of work in the field. As the only Arab fashion professional invited to attend, it was an honor to be singled out and recognized by the First Lady herself and my Western peers,” said Marriam. “I’ve always been on a mission, whether it is through Niche, Shoesanddrama.com, or personal projects I take on, to be an ambassador for my country and act as a representative for the innate talent that is being produced in our region. Being able to represent the Middle East at such a prestigious event, was an honor, but also an ambition I’ve had from day one.”

Today, Marriam has emerged as one of the region’s leading thinkers on fashion and digital media. International brands and the media regularly call upon Marriam’s expertise. Her instagram, @shoesanddrama, was recognized in 2014 by Vogue magazine (US edition) as one of the top 15 most inspiring style accounts in the Gulf.