Cosmo ME’s winter cover star, Yusur Al-Khalidi has soared to mega-viral status with her cosplay ensembles, unwavering relatability, and a distinct fusion of high-end and anime-inspired fashion in her content. For the 22-year-old influencer, anime holds a central position in shaping her online presence.
In an exclusive interview with Cosmo ME, Yusur Al-Khalidi delves into the profound impact of anime on her career. Expressing her affection for Asian beauty products, her passion for cosplaying, and the deep connections she forms with anime characters, Yusur is here to say that anime has a home in the influencer space, and in the Middle East, for that matter.
Sunglasses: Gucci
Makeup: Rimmel
Yusur Al-Khalidi reveals how anime has influenced her beauty and style
Perhaps one of the key pillars of Yusur’s success is her unwavering ability to weave the vibrant tapestry of her personal style through the lens of anime. With a collection of 50 wigs in her home for cosplaying, Yusur is known for transcending conventional style boundaries, experimenting with various hair lengths and colors inspired by her favorite anime characters.
She reveals that anime serves not only as a source of inspiration but as a catalyst to redefine her fashion narrative, “Anime has allowed me to be bold in my choices when it comes to fashion and beauty, and gives me the confidence to try a new look and vibe”.
Her rise to mega-influencer status could be defined by her integration of the imaginative and eclectic world of anime into her wardrobe choices in a way that’s nothing short of, well, influential!
Shirt: Stylist’s own
Left: Earrings by PDPAOLA
Right from top: Earrings, PDPAOLA; Earrings, Tiffany & Co.
Makeup: Rimmel
Yusur Al-Khalidi one day hopes to see an anime makeup collaboration in the influencer space
Anime’s role in Yusur’s personal identity extends to beauty, too. She says, “I love, love, love Asian makeup brands, they are so nice. Everything from the formulas to the design of the products is done so well and so authentically to their culture”.
As an influencer, she hopes to see anime take up more space in the beauty influencing world, stating, “I’ve never seen an anime makeup collaboration, though, so hopefully one day”.
Yusur’s show-stopping Cosmo ME cover makeup looks were created using Rimmel products, to reflect the colours and boldness of her Anime passion.
Yusur Al-Khalidi on representing anime culture in the Middle East
In finding her personal identity through anime, Yusur has also carved out a space online for a community of other anime lovers in the Middle East. She reflects on the importance of providing this space, saying, “My followers who are into anime want someone who can represent the community, so I’m here to do that for the Middle East”.
Jacket: Valentin Yudashkin
Shirt: Hugo Boss
Trousers: Mango
Rings & Small Hoop Earrings: PDPAOLA
Large Hoop Earrings: Tiffany & Co.
Makeup: Rimmel
For Yusur, the influence of anime culture in the Middle East is only just getting started, claiming, “There’s space for it to expand and it’ll be the next big thing in Saudi. They’re shining a big spotlight on the anime community in the Kingdom; they’re really celebrating it. When I last visited, there were people cosplaying—and it was so nice to see. Those people are my people”.
Read Yusur’s full Cosmo cover story here