Legendary French fashion house Nina Ricci appoints UAE based socialite Lina Samman as the face of Nina Ricci in the Middle East for 2010. Lina was selected from a prospective list of candidates for her social prominence, popularity and exceptional sense of style.

“I have been always a fan of Nina Ricci and recently have grown to love it even more after Peter Copping took over as the brand’s new creative director. I was therefore extremely flattered when the Nina Ricci team in Dubai approached me to be their face. It is quite an honour.” enthused Lina.

A well-known trendsetter, Syrian-born Lina Samman is famous for her classic yet sensational sense of style and warm personality. Consistently voted amongst the Hot 100 by Ahlan since 2006 and more recently ascribed as “Dubai’s premiere socialite and style icon” by Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, Lina continues to evolve her own personal style, sporting a wardrobe that is a treasure trove of the most coveted fashion pieces in the region.

Talking about her selection, Riccardo Karamat, representative of Nina Ricci Middle East added “The new Nina Ricci girl is feminine and romantic. Her beauty comes through the charm of her personality, which can be enhanced by physical beauty and style. Lina is a dynamic woman, a mother, a wife and a style icon in the region - a true representation of today’s Nina Ricci woman”

As the face of Nina Ricci, her key role will be to represent the stylistic values of the brand through her presence in significant social events. In preparation for this role, Lina was flown to Paris early last month to attend the Fall-Winter 2010 catwalk show where she rubbed shoulders with the likes of US Vogue’s Anna Wintour and actress Dolores Chaplain on the front row. To enrich her understanding of the brand’s design codes, she visited the flagship store in Avenue Montaigne and had her season’s wardrobe handpicked by the Nina Ricci team.

During her tenure as the face of Nina Ricci in the Middle East, Lina hopes to add value to the brand by endorsing the collection. “When you are already passionate about a brand, this is something that comes very naturally to you.” she concluded.