Aaliyah Cruz By Azaide, Dubai, 2024 (42 X 30)

Aaliyah Cruz is a bold, modern skater with a daring gaze that reflects her defiant spirit. Beneath her hijab, she’s ready to break free from past constraints. Ornate “evil eye” motifs are embroidered on her attire, symbolizing her resilience and protection against adversity. Azaïdé—a versatile artist with roots in France, Algeria, and Spain and raised in Madagascar—has called Dubai home for the past eight years. Her artistic journey began in childhood and led her to explore the fashion scene in China before she finally settled in Dubai in 2015. Azaïdé’s love for dynamic patterns and colors blends into a distinctive retro-pop-art style, reflecting her artistic vision across photography, fashion, and pop culture.