Gentlemen Prefer Dolly
Dolly Shahine


By: Daliah Galal
Photographed by Emad Kassem
January 2008

Enigma’s Fashion Director Maissa Azab dolled up luscious Lebanese singer and screen siren Dolly Shahine in dazzling couture pieces that exude old-school Monroesque glitz, glamour and pizzazz. While Daliah Galal talked beauty, brains and show business with this ravishing rising star.

You looked amazing in the clothes for the Enigma shoot. Before your singing career took off, did you ever consider modeling?
No! I might be photogenic but I’m definitely not a natural in front of this type of camera. I need someone behind the camera directing me!

You were wearing lots of Dior today, and some incredible pieces by Zuhair Murad. Who are your own favourite designers?
Well of course I love Dior. Valentino and Gucci are also great. And I adore the Lebanese designers. But generally I don’t pay much attention to who’s hot and who’s not. I like to create my own unique style so I choose what suits me rather than what’s fashionable. Actually my sister is designing a lot of incredible clothes for me right now, so I get to wear what I feel really comfortable in.

You look great in everything you wear, what’s the secret to that famous figure of yours?
Well I’m half Brazilian and half Lebanese so I guess it’s good genes! Everyone in my family is skinny; even my mum who’s in her mid 40’s. So really it’s a gift from God. However I try not to obsess over my figure. I eat whatever I want but I do exercise whenever I get the chance.

I have to ask, is Dolly your real name?!
Yes actually, my father named me after Dolly Parton and I thank God he didn’t name me after someone with a horrible name!

You released your first single Moumou Einy (TRANSLATION) two years ago, what were you up to before that?
Well I’ve always loved singing. As a child I’d sing all the time and I was absolutely determined to become a star. So the moment I was old enough and no longer answerable to my father, I just went for it! My family was totally against it, and my dad used to try and convince me that I had a terrible voice. I ignored them and went to London to study music theory and stayed there for five years! I actually still take piano lessons.

So how does your family feel about your fame now?
Now they’re really supportive!

What happened after your time in London?
First of all I had to find myself a producer, which wasn’t easy. It was also difficult finding songs to suit my voice, which is much deeper than most Arab singers. I really wanted to give audiences something new and very different. I eventually settled on a single with Moroccan and French influences that really grabbed the market’s attention.

So what do you think distinguishes you from the likes of Elissa and Nancy Ajram?
Admittedly with so many singers and so many 24 hour music channels on the market right now its becoming very hard to compete. But I think we each have out own unique characteristics, voices, looks and style. But I’m not the one to judge if I am different, or indeed what makes me different. That’s up to the audience!

Like your fellow Lebanese performers, your videos have been accused of being overtly sexual, how do you respond to that?

Look I don’t mind criticism as long as it’s constructive, but what really angers me is criticism for negativity’s sake.  People should be commenting on the way I sing and act, not the way I dress! But still I think it’s perfectly normal for a performer to show off her figure and make the most of her beauty. After all music videos are designed to be promotional tools so if it was just about the voice, there wouldn’t be any point in producing videos in the first place!

So you’re saying your success has been partially dependent on the way you look?
Well it’s certainly helped, especially in terms of my acting career. I may be talented but I never took any acting courses or anything like that. So I know full well if I wasn’t pretty I would never have achieved success as an actress.

Surely it bothers you being perceived as little more than a pretty face?
Not at all!  I know that many people think I’m empty on the inside, but that impression will change with time and they’ll be shocked to discover all my other facets!

So how exactly did the acting come about?
After I released my first video, director Khaled Youssef offered me a role in his film Ouija (TRANSLATION??) but before that I had never considered acting.

And how have you found it?
Believe it or not it was the easiest thing ever! It was a new adventure and a great chance to explore a new field. I was really excited about it. But I was terrified at the film’s private screening. I was really anxious to see how people would react to me as an actress. But the reviews were fantastic and a lot of people praised Khaled Youssef for uncovering the actress in me. So I’d definitely love to give it another go in the near future.

Now that you’re an all singing, all dancing, all acting star, what would you say has been your proudest achievement?
I genuinely don’t think I’ve achieved anything yet. I’m hugely ambitious and believe me, I’m just getting started!

Enigma Questionnaire:

What three words best describe you?
Stubborn, kind and tough.

What’s the biggest lesson life has taught you?
Trust no one.

Who's the closest person to you?
My mum, I trust her implicitly but I still don’t tell her everything! I don’t like to overload anyone with my problems.

What quality do you most admire in people?
Honesty.

What quality do you hate in others?
Betrayal.

How do you spend your free time?
Traveling, dancing, reading and of course, sleeping!

What keeps you up at night?
The future, I worry about how I can improve my career and how I can help those I care about.

What do you find attractive in a man?
Honesty, kindness and generosity, but unfortunately no man has all those qualities!

What do you love most about the Middle East?
The importance of family.

What do you hate most about the Middle East?
The fact that there’s no unity!

What's your motto?
Love life and enjoy every second of it.

Who are your favourite singers?
I actually love all the oldies…Um Kalthoum, Fayrouz, Warda and Sabah!

Tell us a secret no one knows about you…
I don’t have many secrets, but the one thing that no one knows is that I’m just a big kid! I love amusement parks and candy. Even though on the surface I look like a sexy woman, on the inside I’m just a baby!

Do you have any hidden talents?
I’m a makeup artist. I also give my mum and sister - who are both fashion designers- great ideas. I even design my own dresses sometimes. I have many other talents but I’d prefer they remain a secret.