Attending the Oscars for the first time poses a significant challenge, especially for Palestinian actress Clara Khoury. Known for her role as psychologist Nisreen Jeries Qawas in Kaouther Ben Hania’s 2025 docudrama The Voice of Hind Rajab, nominated as Tunisia’s entry for Best International Feature, Khoury faces additional hurdles. The film centers on a preventable tragedy, and one of her co-stars is barred from attending due to a US travel ban.
Khoury explained to Vogue, “For me, it’s less about the red carpet and more about what the film represents. Being there means this story and Hind’s voice have reached people around the world. That’s what makes it meaningful. I feel grateful but also very aware of the responsibility of carrying a story like this into a room like the Oscars.”
Her appearance at the 2026 Oscars was carefully crafted over a year with stylist Hind Matar, drawing inspiration from her performance in The Voice of Hind Rajab. She wore a black strapless Lanvin dress adorned with embroidery, complemented by silver Dyne earrings, a turquoise ring, and bejeweled black Lanvin heels.
For her makeup, Khoury enlisted artist Katey Denno. Denno, who has a background in mental health social work, expressed a deep connection with Khoury’s role, stating, “I identified so much with the role Clara played in the film. I was often on the receiving end of desperate calls—sometimes to aid women and children fleeing dangerous situations. Whenever Clara was onscreen, I felt locked into her eyes, which later made my makeup artist’s mind think: I would love to paint on her beautiful face someday.”
The Oscars provided Denno the opportunity to use Aora Makeup, a brand she admires for its commitment to sparkle and color. She noted, “Aora Makeup, a brand founded by a queer Arab man who lives in Mexico, is very inspiring to me. The values behind the brand align with mine. They challenge the norms, they’re 100% plastic-free (plastic is rampant in the industry!), and they celebrate bold color, which is very uplifting to the spirit—something we all need right now.”
Maya Abdallah
