Meet our spring 2023 cover stars: the holy trifecta, Rania, Dania, and Talia Fawaz.

These content creators, fashion connoisseurs, and Dubai-based siblings have been immersed in the world of social media since way back when. Rania Fawaz, the eldest, has accumulated almost one million followers on Instagram, attended plenty of fashion weeks, and has even begun her own fashion label Morpho. That’s not too surprising since her mother is none other than Iraqi fashion designer Zeena Zaki. You’ve definitely come across the viral and beautiful gowns that she’s created, and it’s safe to say that her daughters have followed in her footsteps, in more ways than one.

While we sit down and chat with the well-known trio for Cosmo ME‘s cover story, we find out that Talia (the youngest, and most Gen Z of the three), is like her eldest sister Rania, hoping to follow in her fashion footsteps. Dania, however, prefers sweats over stilettos as a prominent personal trainer and would be seen in the gym rather than the front row at fashion week.

Scroll down to read our Q&A with the Fawaz sisters to find out how they handle pressures on social media, their sisterly bond, and which Friends characters they are.

Read our Q&A cover story with the Fawaz sisters below…

Top and pants: The Giving Movement
Shoes: Amina Muaddi

Cosmo Middle East: What was it like to grow up together under one roof?


Dania Fawaz: Honestly, it was the most fun thing in the world. My sisters and I have such an insane bond, we care for each other so much and also have the same interests and humour. Living together was the best thing until Rania decided to get married and move out, so it’s just me and Talia now.
Talia Fawaz: It’s still the best thing ever. We’re like buddies.
Dania Fawaz: Yeah, we’re best friends, it’s no exaggeration how close we are. Hamdulillah my parents raised us in a way where we care for one another so much; if Rania is going
through something, the whole house goes through it, and the same goes for everyone.
Rania Fawaz: Dania and I had around ten years together before Talia was in the picture, and I would say that we were really close, we would always come up with imaginary stories. We would just do the weirdest things ever.

Cosmo: Can you share one of the imaginary stories you’d make up?


DF: One day, when Rania and I were really young, we were in our room, and our mum was sleeping in hers alone, and we just made up this whole story that she was getting attacked by a group of cockroaches. We made up the story but fell so hard for it, and we started crying because we thought she was dying when she was just sleeping in the room next to us.

Cosmo: So Rania is the eldest, then comes Dania and finally Talia. Do people ever get mistaken about who’s the eldest and youngest?

RF: Yeah. Everyone tells me I don’t look like the eldest.

Cosmo: And who acts like the eldest?


DF and TF: Rania 100%. She’s the snitch, so she definitely acts like the eldest!

Tops, pants, and sweaters: The Giving Movement
Shoes: Asics
Rings: Repossi

Cosmo: We know you’re all very close to your mum. How has she influenced you since you were younger and did you always want to be like her?


RF: Our mum really gave us the freedom to make our own choices, which is something I appreciate at an older age, because somehow when you’re not under the pressure to do the right thing, you end up doing it intuitively. And that’s one of the big things that I always thank our mum for.
DF: For me, obviously our mum is so into fashion and she would take us with her to her workshops. But when she felt like I wasn’t passionate about that, she gave me the freedom to figure out what I liked. That’s when I started going to the gym, and I loved it so much that I decided to be a personal trainer. My parents were so supportive of that and gave us the freedom to be passionate about what we loved.

Cosmo: Rania, you started your own fashion label. Do you feel like your mum is the person that influenced you to do that?


RF: Yeah, 100%. It was something that was bound to happen. I always knew that fashion was something that I was going to pursue at some point in my life. My mum knew without a doubt as well. I was that child that was always with my mum, escorting her to all the fashion and fabric textile stores, and her workshops, and I really enjoyed staying there.

Via @zeenazaki on Instagram

Cosmo: Talia, you’re also really into fashion. Do you see yourself following in those footsteps one day and opening your own brand?


TF: Yeah, for sure. I feel like one day I’ll definitely have my own thing, but for now, I’m still figuring it out. But yeah, I love fashion because of Rania. She always has the best style and I look up to her.
DF: Talia, I can’t believe Rania is your inspo and not me.
RF: But Talia is also best friends with Dania, and she always says that she likes Dania more than me. So I think that’s a good balance if she looks up to me, that’s what I wanted anyway.

Cosmo: What would happen if one day Talia were to start her own brand? Would you be competitors or would you collaborate together?


RF, DF, and TF: Oh my God no, of course not.
TF: We’re a family, we never compete with each other.
RF: We all support each other. There’s no competition, there’s nothing like that. Sometimes I hear stories from other people of how sisters can be competitive with one another, or how they take one thing so seriously and have a fallout and it’s something that we can’t even imagine because of how our parents raised us. If my sister is doing something, I would support her 150% more than I would support myself. I would do that for my sisters and it’s the same with them.

All tops and pants: The Giving Movement
Earrings on Rania: Repossi

Cosmo: What do each of you feel is the biggest lesson that you’ve learned from each one of your sisters?


DF: Something I learned from Rania is how important it is to be hard-working. I really look up to that, I respect that so much and I try my best to be like her in that aspect. And then for Talia, saraha nothing. No, I’m joking. I just look up to how if she wants something, she’ll get up and do it right away. Whereas when it comes to me, I’ll postpone things or it’ll take me ages to get one thing done. But with Talia, she’s always on her feet. Also how balanced she is with her fun life, work, and family.
TF: I think Rania is definitely the most hard-working one and I look up to her. She’s very consistent and gets everything done. But Dania is just my buddy, you know? She doesn’t take life too seriously. She’s very outgoing and she’s just giving.
RF: To me, both my sisters are equally amazing. Dania has taught me to be compassionate because she always looks at a situation or a person from a different angle. If a person acts a certain way, she doesn’t look at it from a negative perspective, but more from a positive one. And for my sister Talia, I love the fact that if she wants to put her mind to something, she’s the one out of all of us that can definitely achieve it. She’s had her transformation with her body, she’s had a lot of things where she has been so determined, and it’s so inspiring for us.

Cosmo: Each one of you has blown up on social media. Did you always know that you wanted to be content creators and use social media as a platform to grow your following and gain fame?


RF: No it wasn’t planned, because it wasn’t even in the picture for me growing up, we didn’t know what Instagram was, or any of that. However, personally, I love the fact that social media platforms now allow us to express ourselves in our own ways. We all have our own approach, and this is what I appreciate the most, that everyone has their own voice and their own tone.

Cosmo: Rania, you were the first of your sisters to gain a big following. And now seeing your younger sister Talia and her presence on TikTok, do you think that the industry has changed since when you first started?


RF: For sure, I think that the industry has become more inclusive and has allowed every person to have their own voice. I’m thankful for that for my sisters because I don’t want people to be judgmental online, I definitely don’t want that toxicity for them.

Cosmo: Talia, obviously you’re growing quickly on TikTok. Do you ever give advice or tips to your sisters about it?


DF: No, we just got it.
TF: My sisters just know how to use TikTok. They’re also a bit Gen Z, Dania specifically. I don’t really need to give advice.

Cosmo: Do you guys ever exchange advice on pictures and captions?


RF, DF, and TF: All the time.

Cosmo: So, would you say Rania is the mama bear? Is she the most
protective?


RF, DF, and TF: Yeah for sure.

Cosmo: And who would you say is the bossiest one?


RF, DF, and TF: Talia, probably.

Cosmo: And who would you say is the most rebellious?


RF, DF, and TF: Dania.

Blazer: Michael Kors
Top & pants: Mango
Shoes: Kenzo
Sunglasses: Karen Wazen
Necklace: Dania’s own

Cosmo: Dania, you became one of the most prominent female fitness trainers in the region. Do you often train your sisters as well?


DF: Yeah, of course, I do. With Talia, I feel like the reason she got into working out is because of me. I would teach her the basics, or we’d go to the gym together, and she’d ask me what to do and I’d help her with that. I did it so consistently for so many years that I encouraged my entire family to start working out, even my brother, who’s not on social media. I’m not flexing, but I helped them a lot and had a long phase where I was training Rania for around a year. So yeah, I’ve had an impact on my sisters when it comes to working out and I say it with pride.

Cosmo: Talia, you’re still, 18 but you come across much more mature. Do you ever feel like you’re growing up fast because you’re surrounded by your older sisters?


TF: Well, I’m usually around Dania a lot, and I feel like she is definitely mature outdoors, but indoors…
DF: Talia, you can say it it’s fine.
TF: No, no. I mean indoors, she’s not really mature because there’s no need to be mature indoors. So I feel like I’m similar in that sense where I know how to hold myself outside, but at home with Dania I’m not too serious…
RF: But Talia I definitely think you’ve grown. I think you’ve really become so mature compared to the rest of your friends.
TF: Well, yeah, my best friend is Dania and I just travelled to Paris with Rania. They’re both my buddies for life. And I don’t see myself hanging out with people my age because I just feel like there’s a lot of drama. With my sisters it’s just a good time.

Top & pants: Missoni
Sunglasses: Karen Wazen
Shoes: Christian Louboutin

Cosmo: Random question, but if you had to each be a character from Friends, which one would you be and why?


TF: I haven’t watched Friends.

Cosmo: You’ve never watched Friends?


TF: Yeah, babe. I’m Gen Z. We don’t watch Friends.
RF: I think Dania is Joey for sure.
DF: I think Talia would be Phoebe.
RF: Oh my God. I’m Phoebe.

Cosmo: What’s your favourite thing about doing shoots and collaborations and working together?


TF: Whenever I’m on shoots alone, I get really, really, really nervous. And when I’m with my sisters, I don’t even think about the cameras. Usually I get so shy, but whenever I’m surrounded by my sisters, it’s just really fun and I have a really good time.

Cosmo: Talia, what are your plans for the future?


TF: I finished school, but I’m putting uni on hold for now. I’m just going to take a bit of time, and then go back to it because I feel like I’m not really ready now. I know uni is important, but I have other things to look at and then I’ll get back to it. I just don’t want to put so much pressure on myself now.

@taliaafawaz @Dania ♬ original sound – 𝓜𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓬 𝓹𝓪𝓰𝓮💙

Cosmo: How would you all differentiate each one of your styles?


RF: I’m very eclectic. I like diving into different personas and coming out of my comfort zone with my clothes. Sometimes I would look at something and I would like it, but I know it’s not me, and I’ll still take the risk. My style allows me to express myself in different ways. I think for Dania, she’s had a very consistent style and she’s made her own mark. She’s very low-key.
DF: Honestly, I just live in sweats and gym clothes because I’m a trainer. My style is so different from my sisters. I don’t like dressing up. I don’t like doing all those things. But I really like sportswear and I’m really into athleisure in general.
TF: I love colours with my clothes. I love experimenting, especially because I used to wear very specific outfits since I didn’t feel comfortable. But now I do. I live on Pinterest, and I get inspo from here and there, but I haven’t found my niche just yet, I’m getting there though. I also always ask Rania to style me.

Cosmo: If you had to choose one brand to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?


TF: Skims for sure.
RF: Omg I was just going to say Skims.
TF: I literally live and breathe in Skims, I’m wearing it right now. I think they have the comfiest clothes ever. And I’m not just saying that because Miss Kim is behind the brand, but I just feel like I could wear it going out and I can wear it to sleep. So Skims is a brand I would choose forever.
DF: Definitely Nike for me. I even go to sleep in Nike, I wake up in Nike, I leave the shower and wear Nike. I’m into their vintage stuff, which I find online and collect because it’s so hard to find.
RF: Like I said mentioned, I’m very eclectic and experimental with my wardrobe. I think it would definitely change over time, but at the moment, if I could live in anything, it would definitely be full Miu Miu. It’s super sassy. It’s very fun. And I just love their layering pieces
that can be worn in so many different ways. Just having that preppy look at the moment is what I’m going for and what I absolutely adore.

Editor-In-Chief: Milli Midwood @millimidwood

Photographer: Žiga Mihelčič @zigamihelcic

Styling: Laura Jane Brown @laura.jane.brown

Hair Styling: Deena Alawaid @deenaalawaid & Lindie Benade @lindie.styles

Make Up: Ildana Khalitova @ildanakhalitova

Producer: Steff Hawker @steff.producer

Fashion Assistant: Charlotte Marsh-Williams @charlotte.marsh

Interview: Leen Al Saadi @leenalsaadi

Digital Editor: Sara Al Humiri @saraalhumirii

Content Producer: Twinkle Stanly @twinklestanly