A NETFLIX SERIES
Wow. I really need this.
[LJ] After I left Kris and Brianna's event…
"LJ" LOUJAIN ADADAH
…I don't think Zeina understands, but I wanted to tell my side of the story.
So I felt that the spa would be the perfect place to talk peacefully.
You gave Farhana a platform where she could tell the story her way.
What did she tell you guys? Tell me.
You thought that she had talked about you or about someone,
and she strongly believes that this conversation was photoshopped
and that it's not true.
She would never talk like that about anyone, and--
Sorry? That's not true.
You think I have that much free time to do that?
As if I have nothing else to do.
She can say whatever she wants.
It's not my level. It's really not,
and I cannot be associated in this way.
When I received the message, I honestly laughed.
-I posted it on my Story… -[Zeina] Hmm.
I posted it as a joke, as if to say, "What are you using me for?"
With a smiley face. Five minutes…
Then she got really angry, so I removed it.
I was like, "Wait, relax. I mean, this is not true."
She said, "No! Why would I ever say something like this?"
I thought you believed that she said that about you.
No. I was laughing. Well, deep inside, I knew she did say that.
I'm telling you, babe, she tells all kinds of nonsense stories. And the lies…
The amount of lies…
None of what she said came as a surprise to me. I believe LJ 100%
because I think Farhana is capable of such a thing.
Look, I know that she's extremely jealous of me.
When she used to come to my house,
-she just came once or twice… -[Zeina] Hmm.
She came over and said, "Lucky you. You're enjoying your life on your own,
without your husband. He left you with enough to do whatever you want."
And I was like, "Heaven help us…"
-I could see she's envious. -[Zeina] Hmm.
I mean, she was looking at everything with envy.
[whimsical music playing]
By the way, Farhana is throwing a party to mark the end of her birthday month.
-Did she invite you? -Her birthday festival?
-Did she invite you? -No, I would never go anyway.
This is the sixth time she celebrates her birthday.
As if it's some festival.
I wish I had this much free time to throw my birthday parties, but I don't.
I barely celebrated once. Barely.
I'm still not sure whether or not I'm going to the event.
I mean, it depends on my work.
And you just opened up my eyes to other… things.
Cheers.
Let's enjoy.
[upbeat music playing]
["Crown" playing]
♪ Tell me how I look in a crown ♪
♪ I paid the cross The word is going up on my head ♪
♪ That's all I need to know, bruh ♪
-[man] Fahad, you sweating yet? -A bit.
-[man] Turn it up. Put it up. -[laughs]
[Ebraheem] DJ Bliss is my close friend.
He's the first Emirati DJ, and he's a controversial person.
EBRAHEEM AL SAMADI
-[crowd cheering] -[electronic music playing]
He's one of the wealthiest and most successful DJs in the Middle East.
He worked with artists all around the world,
like Shaggy and Wyclef Jean.
I want to see you clap!
♪ Let's get this, let's get this Let's get this ♪
♪ Let's get this thing started ♪
As a DJ, I want to take it to another level…
MARWAN AL AWADHI
…and be the world famous Emirati DJ.
Like, the DJ who got exported out of here.
I go by the name of DJ Bliss.
I'm representing Dubai.
I'm representing UAE.
I'm representing the whole world.
♪ That's me unashamed I'm a big man ♪
♪ Go about your business If you learn about your brain ♪
♪ You got me around and round and round ♪
♪ 'Cause ain't nobody do it like me ♪
♪ And that's why I'm shining ♪
What did everyone do this weekend?
[panting] One of my friends
set me up… on the first…
-My first blind date ever. -[Bliss] What?
She had this kind of like, cocky attitude, like…
"Why am I here?"
How did it go? I'm dying to know.
Yeah. So, her name is Loujain, LJ, okay?
You went on a date with LJ?
-[Ebraheem] You know her? -Of course I know LJ.
Like, really good?
-[Bliss] Yeah! -She didn't tell you?
No!
No way, never.
Like, Ebraheem and LJ? Because I know them both…
-They have different personalities. -[laughs]
It doesn't make… It doesn't work.
-So how did it go? -If I wasn't a gentleman, I would've left.
-I don't wanna judge her… -[Bliss] Yeah.
Maybe it's the first time she was on a date with someone so handsome?
[laughter]
-You know? -[Bliss] Could be.
One thing about LJ, she doesn't hold back.
-Whatever she thinks, she says. -Yeah.
So you're either going to love her or hate her.
Kris Fade had an announcement dinner. LJ was there.
And there's another friend of my wife called Farhana.
I didn't know there was a history. Apparently, those two don't get along.
-And-- -Please tell me they fought.
She stormed out.
-[Ebraheem] Who did? -LJ.
I was shocked and disappointed,
because I would've wanted to see that. [chuckles softly]
[Bliss] So much drama.
I think there's going to be more drama in Farhana's never-ending birthday.
-Who's going to be at this party? -I don't think LJ's going to be there.
I could bring her for a little spice.
No.
[all laughing]
I'm so excited about Farhana's birthday.
Most importantly,
I'd like to talk to her about LJ.
["We Are The Homegrown Heroes" playing]
♪ We ride, we save ♪
♪ We are the homegrown heroes ♪
♪ The sound that we make… ♪
-[Safa] Hello! -How are you?
LOJAIN OMRAN
[Safa] Zeina and I are meeting Lojain Omran for a coffee.
I love seeing Lojain. She's always a good energy.
So, how was your day?
I took my dear friend here
and we went for a walk up there around the building.
Ah!
[Safa] Oh, my God, I don't like it! Oh!
I can't! I can't! I really can't!
[screams] Oh, my God!
Whoo!
I went crazy, I mean… It's unbelievable.
And you know how I'm afraid of heights. I get really scared.
At the end, I sat down, and she went there--
-Yeah, she's really good. -Yeah.
-I've seen her. -The weight helps in activities.
Yeah. Well, I figured. I mean, after I gave birth, I gained 25 kilos.
-But they're gone now. -I've been working on it for two years,
and I still haven't come back to… like before.
-My pregnancy wasn't easy. -[Lojain] Hmm.
The cravings.
Yeah, like, I would eat all night,
and I couldn't fit into my clothes,
I couldn't go out, I'd feel ashamed.
I was in a very bad pregnancy.
Safa was not Safa.
Safa was not fashionable, Safa was not going out,
Safa was depressed.
Safa was lethargic, Safa had no energy,
Safa was a crappy wife.
And if I have another, maybe I'll be a crappy mom.
You've already decided, haven't you? That kids…
My husband is pressuring me.
-How? -He wants a second kid.
At first, he wanted four kids.
I was like, "Honey, you better marry a second wife."
By the way, with all due respect to men,
but I hate it when they say, "I want five kids or six…"
You don't get pregnant, or have morning sickness.
You don't go through labor, and suffer.
They say it as if they're making a restaurant order.
-Oh, God! That's true! -That annoys me.
-The couple should have an agreement. -Well, I said to Fahad,
"If you want a second child, we can try surrogacy."
[Lojain] Oh.
-He said-- -A surrogate mother?
Yes.
It's like, a surrogate womb. Like, she would carry the baby for you.
-Yeah. -Okay.
So maybe you girls can explain it to me.
-They take her eggs. -Her egg,
they plant it in another woman's womb, who becomes pregnant for her.
But the egg is fertilized by the husband.
They know the parents. It's called "renting a womb."
-[Zeina] Yeah. -It doesn't exist in the Arab world,
only abroad.
Surrogacy is not seen here in this part of the world, to be honest.
So, if modern technology says we can do things to eliminate the risk,
then why not?
There are so many issues that make this a tricky subject.
I can't really give a reliable opinion in the matter.
This specific subject, we can't go very deep into,
because it's not popular, and not acceptable,
not religiously nor socially.
Anyway, if I'm going to have a child,
it wouldn't be fair to let someone else carry it.
In my experience,
when they wanted to give me the epidural during labor
so that I don't feel the pain, I refused.
-You gave birth without an epidural? -Yes, I didn't try it.
-With both kids? -With both. Yeah.
Whoo! And you did it twice?
You know? When you carry your own baby, it's a totally different feeling.
Even breastfeeding. I breastfed my son for two years.
I mean, I breastfed my cousin, and I breastfed my other cousin.
They were at my daughter's age.
Oh, my God. Really? Like, come on.
[chuckling] It was a bit weird.
I didn't mind breastfeeding any child my kids' age.
Really?
-[Lojain laughs] -[Zeina chuckles]
I mean, it takes a lot of effort
for a mother to breastfeed her own son or daughter.
So how would it be like if she's giving this to other people?
This goes to show how much of a giver she is.
Uh…
If you do this, you'll feel that you're being unfair to your second child.
-You suffered for your first kid… -[Zeina] Hmm.
…then someone else had your second.
If they find out, they might hold a grudge against you.
"You refused to carry me so that you wouldn't gain weight?"
-[Safa] Really? -[Lojain] I'm telling you…
Lojain and I are trying to make her like the idea of having a normal pregnancy.
Because I didn't feel that she had a good enough reason
to take that extreme route.
[upbeat song playing]
Today, we are going to see a doctor
to find out how I can get a six-pack faster than going to the gym.
And I'm taking my good friend Ebraheem with me,
and I'm taking my wife with me as well.
I'm not for this. Like, I support you, I'm your wife.
I'm here to listen to the doctor, but you shouldn't do it.
-I'm serious. -You convinced him.
[Ebraheem] Of course.
My name is Danya. I'm Emirati.
First of all, I'm a mother.
♪ Bang I'm, I'm, I'm a renegade ♪
♪ I'm a renegade ♪
♪ Gucci Yeah, I did it my way ♪
I'm also a wife to DJ Bliss.
[crowd cheering]
I'm also a YouTuber that loves beauty, makeup…
♪ Bang ♪
I'm Diva Dee.
♪ Show me what you got ♪
You don't want me to take off my shirt in concerts?
Honestly, no. Why would I want my husband to do that?
Internationally, he has to do that.
He doesn't.
-All the DJs do this. -No, not every artist does.
Most of them do.
It's not just about, you play good music, you release a good song.
No, looks are important.
But in a gym, my abs will take a very long time to achieve.
I need a six-pack.
This is a very serious procedure. It's not like filler or Botox.
-[Ebraheem] No, it's not. -Start small.
Start with filler, Botox. I've been telling him,
"Do fillers, do Botox," he's against it.
Now, all of a sudden, he wants a six-pack surgery.
I wanted Danya to be here,
because, you know, to be part of the decision.
But right now, I'm thinking maybe it was better if I didn't tell her,
and came alone, or just with Ebraheem.
Welcome. You are Bliss?
DR. JAFFER KHAN
-[Bliss] Correct. -You're a famous guy.
-Thank you. -Huh.
We should work on a song together.
-[Dr. Khan] Indeed. -[laughter]
If you hear me sing, you'll say something else.
Well, if you can help me, I'll help you.
All right. Done.
I want this area to look like a six-pack.
Hmm, I don't think your party agrees with you, but anyway.
Don't worry about them.
Bliss is like, "I wanna take off my shirt."
"I wanna rip it and have a six-pack in front of all these women."
I'm his wife. I'm entitled to be jealous. I am.
[Dr. Khan] So, this is where your chest starts, your abdomen starts.
So one tendon called the linea alba is there.
Okay, so obviously, we need to suck out this area.
One incision will be here.
And that'll be one centimeter or less in size.
-Yeah. -The operation lasts
-probably around an hour and a half. -Do I go to sleep?
And you'll have to have a general anesthetic.
-Take a nap for two hours. -I want to get general anesthetic
just for these pencil marks that's hurting me.
-You're joking, right? -[Dr. Khan] Now, complications.
Scars, infection, bleeding.
Mm-hmm.
I did not expect this.
I should've done my research before I came here.
But when the doctor's telling me all this,
I'm just picturing, like… Oh, my gosh.
Do I really want to do this or no?
These things you should think about. And it can be dangerous.
I'm not encouraging this, like… I think he's perfect the way he is.
I don't think he needs to do this.
But maybe his career requires that.
I think he can work out.
He doesn't need to actually do surgery.
Guys, I think I am good to go!
-Yeah! We got free abs. -[Danya] Marwan, you have abs!
Why do you want to have a surgery? You already have abs.
Jealousy is a woman's thing. We can do nothing about it.
This is how girls are. [chuckles]
We're going to be in the gym.
-We're going to be on the gym! -No, I'm really pissed off.
I mean it. You guys are pissing me off.
You figure it out. I mean it. I'm so pissed.
I can't with these two. They're so annoying.
[chuckling] Get your wife, boy. You gotta get your wife.
-Have a look at these abs one more time. -Go get your wife. [laughs]
[upbeat music playing]
[car horn honking]
♪ I'm a thrill-seeker Hey, it's nice to meet you ♪
♪ I'm the big noise Coming out your speaker ♪
♪ You know I own it, own it That's my attitude ♪
♪ You know I own it… ♪
[doorbell rings]
[LJ] How are you?
Today, I'm visiting Lojain.
She's special to me. She understands me well.
♪ You know I own it ♪
Hi, good morning.
-Hi, dear. Good morning. -Hi.
Did you check what I sent you yesterday about the stocks?
-Yup. I checked it. -Okay.
People are buying?
-They're buying. Now is the time to buy. -Okay.
Mazen, he likes to play around in the stock market.
I gave him some money, for me to invest.
I have no idea.
Now, he says, "Sometimes I lose and sometimes I win."
But I want him to depend on himself.
I was thinking about taking courses about that.
He can teach you.
-[LJ] Yeah! -I really like it.
-You need anything? See you. -Okay. Take care.
Unfortunately, I didn't sit that long with LJ, but she's really sweet.
So, do you like Dubai?
We've been here in Dubai for a year now.
And so far, I'm really happy in Dubai, but…
You know, I still need some time to feel more settled.
See, we moved from London to Lebanon.
From Lebanon, we came to Dubai.
So life for the children and I has been a roller coaster.
After my husband passed away…
-May he rest in peace. -…I felt lost.
I was a very young widow at the age of 27.
But I had to stay strong
to be able to take care of my children.
Some people are like,
"Yeah, she's lucky. She's enjoying her life."
But they don't know
what kind of problems we might have inside our lives.
LJ, deep inside, she's a baby.
She's working on herself, she's trying, she's fighting.
But there's a huge responsibility on her shoulders.
So she just needs someone to help her with this burden.
You know? Having your family with you is important.
I'm here just with the kids. Not with my family.
Your family is in Lebanon?
-Well, my dad is in Egypt. -Okay.
But my mom lives in the States.
My mom and dad got divorced when I was very young.
So I'm not really close to my mother.
-Really? -Unfortunately, yes.
-Is there communication between you? -No.
-None? -None whatsoever.
I've had no contact with my mother since I was little.
There's something in life,
the most important thing, which is a mother, and I don't have that.
She doesn't even know my kids.
-Oh. -Hmm.
-It's hard, I know. -It is.
My heart really ached for her.
I feel sad to see a mother and daughter
living their separate lives away from each other.
You made me cry.
[both sniffle]
Of course, if my mom wants to come to me and
be with me,
and take care of me again.
Like, take care of me literally,
I will forgive her.
I don't know if this is going to happen.
If it does, I'll be very happy.
And if it doesn't, I accept it.
So, I really don't know.
[somber music playing]
[upbeat music playing]
[music fades]
[music resumes]
♪ Hey little sister ♪
♪ It's a great time to be alive… ♪
FARHANA BODI
♪ Even though we're working nine-to-five Gotta count your blessings… ♪
Guess what, I couldn't end my birthday month
without throwing another party.
Oh, my God, I love the setup by the way. It's beautiful.
I'm so excited. I mean, I can't stop celebrating.
I always wanted to do this Amalfi Coast theme.
This is the fourth celebration I'm having this month.
♪ One, two, three, and… ♪
♪ Work, work, work Step it up ♪
♪ Just work, work, work Nine-to-five ♪
♪ Work, work, work… ♪
[Farhana] Hi!
-Lovely day. -That's my mom.
KHADEJAH DOWD
-[Farhana] Hi! So nice to have you here. -Hi.
-Thank you for coming. -Super cute.
-You like it? It's cute, right? Yeah. -I love it.
Come. Have a seat.
I always have my mom with me, I don't want to leave her at home alone.
My mother's main concern is her own well-being and mine.
-Fahad told me… -Okay.
…about what happened in, um…
-Yeah? -…one of Kris Fade's things.
-Oh, my God. -I need details.
Oh, my God. Like, it was so crazy.
Like, you don't even understand. It was literally, like, next-level crazy.
But how did it happen? What…
-Sorry? -What, what…
What antagonized it?
-So, she came, okay? -Yeah.
And I was just like, there's no way
that I'm going to sit next to her, and they put me next to her.
And I was just like, "Oh, my God!"
I could feel all these negative vibes,
and I didn't want to spoil my evening.
And then, Kris Fade's like, "Do you guys know each other?"
I'm like, "Of course. We used to be really good friends."
"And she did something really nasty to me on social media,"
-and I-- -And she was hearing all this?
She was. And then he's like,
"Is there a way you guys could forgive each other?"
I'm like, "Yeah, if she apologizes to me on the platform
that she literally slammed me on, like…"
Then she just stormed out.
LJ is not okay at all.
I feel she has a lot of animosity. She has an irritating personality.
[mellow music playing]
[Safa] Finding an outfit was a complete pain.
So I had to go and look at the outlets and things,
because this is Four Seasons all Dolce.
-Oh, my God! -Hello, hello!
Birthday Girl, how are you?
-[Farhana] My God! You killed it today! -So have you. Dolce sisters.
Hi, Fahad. How are you?
-Hi, how are you? -Oh, my God! I love your look!
I love your look too.
It's so Amalfi, so Dolce. I love the shades by the way.
I love the vibe.
Are you saying I was the best dressed?
[chuckles]
Of course. [laughs]
Of course I'm the best dressed.
Farhana's dress I would've worn to a picnic.
[laughing]
♪ I look good, I look good I feel good… ♪
You look so fabulous!
♪ I look good, I feel good ♪
♪ I look good, I look good I feel good… ♪
-Hi. -[Farhana] How are you?
♪ I look good, I feel good ♪
Happy birthday.
I got you something small.
Oh, no! Thank you so much. That is so sweet.
♪ I look good, I look good I feel good ♪
-Hello! -Oh, my God! Hi!
I thought you weren't coming.
-Like, "where is she?" -Happy birthday.
How many times per month do you celebrate?
-This is the last one, I hope. -Hi.
Farhana's environment and the people that she hangs out with,
some of them are really well-off and successful,
some of them come from wealthy families, and some of them married rich people.
[jazzy music playing]
Did you bring lemons, or were they here?
No, they were already here on selected chairs.
In Dubai, there are 26,000 millionaires from both genders.
Some are genuine, and some are fake.
Would you look at this?
I love the setup. I just want to do more Stories.
-[chuckles] Okay. -Obviously, everyone one is immaculate.
[Farhana] Where's my photographer?
Farhana, [mimics Farhana] "Hello, my lovelies!"
"I'm in…"
"The pillow's from here, the…"
"The slipper's from there, the makeup's from here,
the hair's from there, the jewelry from here,
the place is from there, the pasta's from here."
[whimsical music playing]
-Bro, your shirt is killer. -[Bliss] Thank you, bro.
I'm at the gym so I don't have to wear this white shirt underneath
and can just go with this.
[Ebraheem] Something will be popping out, right? Something with "six."
-As long as it's not one… -[laughter]
…it'll be good. I don't want the one-pack.
What I want is two, four, six, eight. Enough.
[Danya] The six-pack surgery.
Why do you just keep dragging it on and on?
It's not happening, stop it.
[upbeat music playing]
Did you guys go to Kris' party?
Kris Fade? We did.
[Lojain] And how was it?
It was nice.
Uh-huh. Okay.
-There was a fight. -No! Who fought with who?
She's asking about, uh, Kris' party.
Because I was in Riyadh, so that's why.
-[Farhana] There was so much drama. -[Lojain] Really?
There's been some action before I got to Dubai.
Sometimes, we enjoy finding out what's going on with the latest gossip.
[chuckles]
[Farhana] When they put LJ next to me, I went to sit there,
I thought it was you. I expected you to come.
Ah, okay.
Then I see the other Loujain coming,
-who I don't get along with. -Loujain Adadah. You know her?
[Farhana] We used to be friends.
And she did something really nasty to me on social media.
She fabricated a conversation and posted it on social media.
But who did this fake conversation?
I don't know if it's her or someone else. I don't know.
She just posted this on Instagram, and she tagged me,
saying, "@farhanabodi,
what are you using me for?" And I was like, "What?"
I miss a lot of the drama, by the way. [chuckles]
-Don't travel. -I'm missing a lot.
I shouldn't travel anymore. [laughs]
There's always gossip.
We'd be hypocrites if we said, "There's no gossip, I'm against gossip."
So, Khadejah, what do you think,
like, in your opinion, is the ideal person for Ebraheem?
[Khadejah] He would get along with somebody who doesn't…
Like, doesn't get into too much of what he's doing,
but in the same time, support him.
Anyone at this party?
There's no potential candidates you're seeing?
-No. -[Ebraheem] No.
[laughter]
[whimsical music playing]
When I asked him before,
"Would you marry this, uh…"
-It's a friend I know from Orlando-- -[Danya] Hmm.
"A friend that she knows."
-This is a problem. -[both laugh]
My mother has introduced me to several girls.
Once, she introduced me to an 18-year-old. I said, "Mom, she's a child."
I want someone
who can capture my heart,
and who respects you.
["Are You Ready For This?" playing]
[applause]
[guests cheering]
♪ Show me what you got ♪
♪ 'Cause I got time ♪
♪ I see you Way behind… ♪
[all] ♪ Happy birthday to Farhana ♪
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
[man 1] What's your wish?
My wish?
To make up with LJ!
-Oh, my God! -A husband! A new husband!
[Farhana] I don't think LJ and I can be friends ever again,
because she's someone I never want to be friends with.
If she apologizes to me,
I will forgive her, but I won't be her friend.
That's on you both.
[man 2] Take a picture.
You know something?
Whenever we're at an event for Farhana…
Okay.
…I really feel that we are,
uh,
like what a sponsor does.
I mean she invites us somewhere, but she's getting these sponsorships.
-It's all about sponsorship. -I was feeling embarrassed.
Because people might think that I'm one of those influencers
waiting for someone to pay for my dinner.
That's why I make it a point not to eat or…
Yes, my darling.
Actually, I'm so happy
that the two of us cleared the whole air about the Palazzo Versace.
[Zeina] I want us to be friends. I think you are a nice girl.
But whenever there's an event where I feel that…
It's full of influencers and cameras and stuff,
-I would, uh, like to skip it. You know? -I don't know. To each their own, but…
[Farhana] Why do you come to a party, then?
If you feel that it's gonna be sponsored, why do you want to be there?
Like, don't come.
You have a choice, right?
Don't get offended in case I don't show up, you know?
No. It's fine. It's up to you.
Like, if you don't want to come, it's completely up to you.
Okay, I'm just going to say hi to Ebraheem and them.
Today's birthday was not fully sponsored.
My dress, uh, is not really sponsored.
It's something that I picked up on my own.
And, uh, my jewelry, I have…
What I'm wearing, this is one of my own pieces,
and the rest is from, uh, the PR team.
[Zeina] Okay, bye, guys.
Bye. Nice to meet you, bye.
It was an event for the purpose of creating content.
And I don't like such events.
♪ Sing a song a while But don't dare cramp my style ♪
♪ 'Cause I am the star of the show ♪
♪ Independent girl Yeah, I'm a headliner… ♪
[Lojain] I was invited to Farhana's party.
Basel and I didn't stay long, we had business.
We fulfilled a social obligation, we heard all the gossip, [chuckles] and we left.
Perfect.
Thank you, guys. I only wear high heels when I'm with you. You're all tall.
-[men laughing] -I'm not short. You guys are too tall.
I've been doing interviews for 17 years,
as both the interviewer and the interviewee.
We are recording the whole interview.
Whenever there's a question you don't like,
-which never happened… -Never.
"I don't want to answer."
I have no problem or objections. I know your questions.
Nour is not just a reporter. He's also a friend.
He knows me very well.
The first question is going to be personal.
Up until now, I've never seen Lojain talk about love,
other than in the context of familial love.
Can familial love suffice in place of the other kind of love?
No, it can't.
But when you care for someone, whether it's a friend, a husband…
And then, you feel as if it's only one-way…
As in, you keep giving, but the other just doesn't know about giving.
Stop immediately.
I get that question a lot.
They want me to marry.
I don't know why. [laughs]
I mean, I never complained. I'm happy, I'm enjoying my life, thank God.
Who knows? I might be romantically involved.
I might be engaged to someone, I might be planning to get married.
Anything is possible.
At the end, it's up to me to decide, "Am I making the right choice?"
All these amazing purses, they're amazing, do you have a warranty for them?
Uh, I never thought about that.
All I think about when I'm buying anything that's expensive…
[Nour] Hmm.
[Lojain] "Will my daughter be able to use it?"
-Like an investment. -Right.
The lifespan of a media person in the Arab world,
-for men and women. -Is short.
-We have an expiry date. -[Lojain] Especially for women.
The standards here in the Arab world are totally different
for us, as women who work in the media.
In the rest of the world, they don't care.
If she gains weight, uh,
if she becomes older, gets wrinkles…
They don't care.
What they care about is in here.
[Nour] Hmm.
Unfortunately, it's the exact opposite.
Nowadays, all the standards have changed.
They'd get someone from social media, she might be a fashionista, or a blogger…
Just because she has a nice body,
or she has a pretty face,
or she has a nice flirtatious fake attitude.
Our standards are superficial and vain, and that's the sad thing.
So in one or two years, maybe even less,
are we going to see Lojain as an actress only?
Will you stop working in this field entirely?
No! Never. I'll still be a presenter.
Today I'm presenting the closing ceremony for the Dubai Shopping Festival.
Nice.
I'm still a presenter, which is my passion.
[captivating music playing]
-[camera shutter clicking] -[crowd cheering]
CLOSING CELEBRATIONS
I've been a media presenter for 17 years.
I was able to prove myself, succeed,
and build myself a good fan base.
Acting is a brand-new experience that I'd like to have.
I want to see how far I can go with it.
Life is about experiences.
There's nothing wrong with trying and failing.
What's wrong is not to even try.
[crowd cheering]
God bless you.
A very good evening, full of light, and joy, to our lovely audience.
["Rise Up Let's Go" playing]
♪ I do better When you do better ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪
♪ You do better when I do better ♪
♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah… ♪
We're going out to have dinner with our friends,
DJ Bliss, Danya, Ebraheem and Safa.
♪ Watch out, watch out ♪
[Zeina] Hi!
-[Danya] How are you? -[Safa] Good. You?
-How are you? -[Ebraheem] I'm good.
You looked stunning yesterday.
-As always… -Thank you.
-…with those beautiful glasses. -[Safa chuckles]
It was nice.
[Danya] Farhana is my best friend.
She was upset about what Zeina said because she mentioned it to me.
I thought it was my place to let them know,
"You actually hurt her, not on any day, but on her birthday."
Like, that is not cool at all.
So, Zeina, when you left yesterday, did you leave, uh, Farhana,
like, in, "I can't be here and I need to leave"?
I felt like it was so sudden.
-Like, "What's going on?" -If she got upset,
it must be that she got offended because of--
[Bliss] You talked to her. What did she tell you?
-I felt she was upset. -She told you?
Yeah, she told me that.
"Zeina said she didn't like my birthday party."
"She knows my lifestyle, why did she come?"
[Ebraheem] Did she tell you there and then?
No. I talked to her later.
-After the birthday-- -[Zeina] She's right.
-It's my fault. I shouldn't have come. -[Danya] Yeah.
[Zeina] When you're getting a sponsorship on everything,
I mean, I even found out that the pillows were sponsored.
Because she made a post, "Thank you for the pillows."
Even the pillows, they got them and put them on the chairs.
[Safa] Her mind is at work, not with us.
You women keep stabbing each other. Where's the women power?
-Where is this… -Exactly.
-Femininism or whatever. -[Ebraheem] Yeah.
-[Danya] Support each other. -Femininiminism.
[Ebraheem] Femininism. Where's this power of womanhood?
I don't like drama and gossip, like, "This person said this or did that."
I'm busy with my own life and my own business.
I don't have time for this.
It's my fault that I actually
gave it another chance to go to that event.
She doesn't care about all these guests that came for her.
-All she can think about is to pay back. -[Bliss] That's the problem--
This is Farhana's life. None of anyone's business.
That's how she makes money. She doesn't have, uh,
a rich husband like Safa to help.
[Safa] Can I ask you something?
There is a newspaper article, and it came out,
it says, "Bodi is listed as the richest and most popular Instagram star."
It says, "Her 1.2 million followers,
and net worth, which is listed at $1.5 million."
-Her net worth? -$1.5 million.
-[Danya] Okay, but that's not-- -Why are you smiling? [chuckles]
[Bliss] Wow! [clicks tongue] I mean…
Farhana, if you have that money, hey.
I'd pay for my own party, for sure.
Is she pretending to be a millionaire? I think the opposite.
If her whole party's sponsored, she's telling us the opposite.
[Zeina] They're being sponsored.
[Ebraheem] Do you guys think that she could be, like,
my style, and I could marry her and make her a real millionaire?
Oh! That's a nice friend. You should do it.
What a favor!
You're trying to marry LJ and become a billionaire.
It was a blind date. It didn't work out.
He loves gossip. [chuckles] Ebraheem loves gossip. He was there for all of it.
Your Instagram is showing that lavish lifestyle,
like, you have that all on social media…
Safa is only showing 10% of what she has.
Okay, only 10%, whatever, even 1%.
-You're showing-- -She's sharing her own life.
-[Danya] That's fine. -It's her life.
If she wants to buy a pair of high heels--
The point I'm making is what you said--
None of my stuff is sponsored.
You're not letting me talk. Let me make my point.
It was like a tag team.
Like, Zeina says this,
then Zeina is quiet, then Safa talks.
Then Safa talks, then Zeina talks. I'm like, "Enough! Shut up, both of you!"
I want to talk. Let me speak.
-What's the difference between you two? -Should I tell you?
I tell them I worked my ass off in real estate,
-and this is how I got it. -So did Farhana.
She worked her ass off to get where she is.
But we don't know if it's sponsored or it's hers.
[Danya] So what?
[dramatic music playing]
[line ringing]
[Farhana over cell phone] Hello! Oh, my God! Hi.
Farhana, how are you?
I'm good. How are you?
I'm just a bit annoyed. I wanted to talk to you.
Okay, tell me. What happened?
So, I'm here with… Well, I was. I just walked away.
Um…
DJ Bliss and Danya, Zeina and Safa.
The whole topic was about sponsored things.
I'm like, drop it. But you know something?
Uh, Danya.
Uh, Diva Dee. [chuckles]
She really took a stand for you.
She's like, "Guys, I mean, come on," you know…
Safa was talking about… What is it…
Like, "Is her lifestyle true or not true?" She's questioning it.
[Farhana] My lifestyle is true. Oh, my God.
They're kind of trying to say that you're fake, and I'm like…
[Farhana] I'm certainly not fake.
I'm a self-made woman.
I don't have a billionaire or millionaire husband taking care of me.
So you girls want to, uh, gang up against me?
Cool. I'm ready for it.
Me, alone, I can face all of you girls.
With a lot of confidence and my strong personality.
I felt guilty, sitting there and this was happening
so I wanted to fill you in.
You know I'm loyal. So you have someone who's behind you,
a brother named Ebraheem. I got your back.
[music intensifies]
[upbeat music playing]
♪ I don't feel no pressure ♪
♪ When I'm in the light ♪
♪ 'Cause I got something special… ♪
[LJ] We had a brunch over at my place.
I invited DJ Bliss and Zeina, to have some fun
and to tell them about a surprise.
Ebraheem will be here in a bit. I invited him.
-Ebraheem is coming too? -[LJ] Yeah.
I told him to come over.
After she had told us about him at Bulgari's,
like, "We didn't click, and it was so bad, and…"
I was like, "That's it. They will never meet again."
I was so surprised that she invited him.
I was thinking of having a getaway in the desert.
-Okay. -So, we're going to have an Arabian, uh…
-[Zeina] Arabian Night? -Nice.
What do you think of having a nice little getaway, all of us?
"All of us"?
-I mean, us, our group. -[Zeina] Okay.
-Everyone's invited. -[Danya] Okay, nice.
Like, everyone everyone? Or--
Who are you talking about?
-I mean, you tell me who's the-- -No, you specify.
-[laughter] -Do we tell Farhana or not?
[LJ] Uh…
Regarding Farhana, I mean…
Not just yet.
How was the birthday?
-It was nice. -It was cool.
-A little drama with Zeina. -Really?
Really? You didn't tell me.
-The usual, Farhana… -Mm-hmm.
A big event, cameras everywhere, everything was sponsored.
[Danya] That's it!
Why is everyone bothered by Farhana? Why?
I was afraid to breathe and have someone tell me to make a post.
-[laughs] -No way!
My friend sent me a message. He sent me a photo from the birthday.
So, I looked at it, and I was like,
"Which one's the cake and which one's Farhana?"
I think she has to take some fashion tips.
-Hi, Ebraheem! How are you? -[Ebraheem] Hello.
Hey, buddy. Help me out. Save me, bro.
-Come here. I got you. -Save me.
[Ebraheem] When LJ Invited me,
I thought she might want to apologize for her attitude on the date.
I didn't know.
-Hi! -Hello!
[laughs]
-I love the hearts. -[Zeina] What a surprise.
-[LJ] Nice to see you. -Good, long time.
Long time, I know. I felt like…
Like I wanted to see you again,
so that we can talk in a more chilled out place.
You know, I got to thinking about it again.
I think maybe I was mean.
No, I don't think you were mean. You were just in a bad mood.
I mean, you were nice, and then, like…
She was on a roller-coaster.
-[chuckles] -What is going on?
Because the last time we sat, Ebraheem was just tearing LJ to pieces.
So, we're having a getaway. LJ just invited us to a getaway.
We're going to go to the desert.
Yeah, I would love you to come with us.
-Thank you. I'd like that. -[LJ] It'll be nice.
And I was thinking of something.
Maybe you can do, like, a nice flower arrangement.
What do you think?
-All the flowers for you. No problem. -Yay!
-[Bliss] Hey! I love this. -Thank you.
[Zeina] I mean, seriously, for two people that didn't click,
-this is really nice. -I know!
[Ebraheem] I was shocked,
What changed between back then and now? She was like a different person.
[laughter]
Maybe I misjudged her.
Maybe I judged her personality too soon.
And you're going to be playing the music for us. [chuckles]
I told everyone they get one favor from me.
So, use it and choose it as you please.
The only thing I need for you to do, LJ, is stay at this party, okay?
Do not leave the party, no matter what.
And that is gonna be the best party ever.
I will get a photographer to stay with us and take pictures.
-It's not collaboration or sponsorship. -[Bliss laughs]
No. It's okay.
It's someone going to stay with us, take videos, for the memory.
She said it's not sponsored.
However, Ebraheem is sponsoring all the flowers,
DJ Bliss is sponsoring the music, so… [giggles]
-[Danya] Thanks, dear. -[LJ] I'll see you next week.
-Sure. Thanks for having us. -Get ready.
-Nice seeing you again. -[LJ] Bye.
Do stay a bit longer.
Let's go.
-Bye! -[Danya] Bye! Thank you.
-Bye. -Bye.
[laughter]
[upbeat song playing]
I was invited to Safa's house.
I'm friends with Safa, even if we argue.
-What's up, boys and girls? -Hey.
-Welcome, guys. -How are you?
[Safa] We decided to call everybody over to have a barbecue,
because I decided to make an announcement to everyone.
Hope you guys are hungry.
We are. You know that I don't eat carbs.
So is there, like, uh…
-So, we have steaks… -Nice!
Wait. You're a vegetarian?
I'm a pescatarian.
Oh, then we'll get Hassala to catch you a fish.
-[laughs] -No!
Hassala, can you come outside, please?
Seriously calling someone to catch a fish?
-Yeah! -Sorry we're late.
-[Safa] Hi! Thanks! -[Fahad] Hi!
-This is from us. -[Safa] Thank you!
So, Hassala, what did you catch?
-[Danya] I feel great-- -[Bliss] What?
-He caught a fish! -What?
No way!
Good job! That's amazing!
He's holding this fish in his hand,
he'd just caught it from the beach in front of their house.
I'm thinking, "This is not real. He got the fish…"
The fish is alive! The fish is alive.
-[Safa] Alina! Come say hello! -[Danya] There she is!
[Bliss] She's so cute!
[Safa] Say hello.
[all] Hi!
What's that in your hand?
-High five? -So pretty.
[Bliss] Can I get a high five?
I'm going to get a high five! I'm gonna get a-- Oi!
Come to Mummy.
[Fahad] Come.
[Safa] Who got you this bag?
-Mama. -Mama? Okay.
You're not thinking of having another one?
-To keep the age close, because-- -He is, daily.
You all have siblings? That bond with them is important.
My daughters, they're like best friends.
It makes it easier when they get older.
Now when we go holidays or we're going anywhere, in the back--
-They entertain themselves. -Yeah.
My sister, there are a lot of things till today,
I can't discuss things with my friends or anyone.
Yeah, I agree.
Fahad just loves it when someone says the same thing he's saying.
It was almost as if he wanted to say "Why don't you move in?"
"You can encourage her."
He doesn't have… [chuckling] I don't know what got into him today.
He was sitting there like…
"Hmm, hmm."
"Four words that can help your marriage."
"Happy wife, happy life."
-I'm like, what does that even mean? -Golden words.
Just remember you said this. Golden words, yeah?
So, the reason I called you guys here today,
-was to… -[mimics drum roll]
[Kris] Oh, God.
-To announce something. -[Bliss] What?
-[Kris] No way! -[Brianna] No!
It's an announcement?
Is this going to be a shocker for me as well?
I'm going ahead with the surrogacy.
-[Bliss] Hey! -[Danya] Congratulations!
-[Bliss] Amazing! -[Kris] You know what that is?
-[Bliss] That's good news, no, Fahad? -You're having a baby, man!
We are?
I made this announcement in such a dramatic way,
because I wanted to put Fahad in it.
Is he really serious about having a child?
Or he wants to blame me for not wanting to do it right now?
Is it a surprise to Fahad?
-We were discussing-- -I have decided.
-You always wanted a bigger family, right? -I do want a bigger family.
But it has to be something we discuss. You don't just break a bomb on my head.
[dramatic music playing]
[Danya] What is going on?
I would never do surrogacy.
I do follow my religion, and it's not in my religion.
If Allah blesses you with a child,
that's the plan for you.
It's annoying me that you're not happy. I thought you'd be much happier.
You're embarrassing me. Everyone is happy, and you're not.
No one is embarrassing anyone, let's get that first thing straight.
[Kris] I think surrogacy is obviously…
If you've decided, you've made it,
I think you should, formally together, you have to make a decision together.
But I think surrogacy is amazing.
I think if we went the route,
and we couldn't have a child, yeah, that would definitely be an option.
Or if I was at that age I just couldn't bear a child, yeah.
Definitely discuss it before?
[Brianna] Of course.
You wanted a bigger family,
said you'll buy this house if we get another child.
-This is the best way. -It wasn't a barter.
It sounds like, and this is the solution.
[Fahad] It was never a barter.
I just wanted to disappear. At this point, I was like, "Oh, I'm out. Bye."
Are you bothered about your family? Call your sister.
She's the one you go to when things happen.
I'm sorry, I'm not calling someone
without having proper information about something myself.
Let's get her initial thing about it.
If I'm going to pick up the phone and call her without knowing myself,
I'll be probably moved into not being convinced.
I can't believe this, really.
I don't understand why you can't call her instead of wasting our time?
I'm sorry. We're wasting our time?
-I didn't-- -[Safa] You want a child.
You're begging me for one. I found a solution,
I'm going to do all the research, then you'll turn around
and tell me, "My family don't agree." And you know you'll take their advice,
then you'll tell me, "Safa, there's no way we can do this."
-Listen-- -So let's just get the first obstacle out.
Why are you reverse engineering the whole situation?
You want to put me on the back burner. You don't really--
No one is doing that.
You're not serious about having another child?
Don't ask me for another child then. Don't.
Whatever.
["Up In Smoke" playing]
♪ We went up in smoke ♪
♪ 'Cause you went rogue ♪
♪ You went away, away, away, away ♪
♪ Just like that ♪
♪ Everything we had ♪
♪ You took it away Away, away, away, away ♪
♪ It went up in smoke ♪