Jessica Kahawaty, the Dubai-based Australian-Lebanese model and former international pageant contestant, returned to Sydney this week appearing markedly different from her earlier public image as she promotes her family cookbook, Mama Rita.
Photographs and on-the-ground sightings show Kahawaty, 36, with lighter chestnut-brown hair and a deepened tan after years based in the Middle East. She was seen leaving a book signing at Dymocks and later walking through Sydney’s central business district with her mother, Rita. Observers noted several changes to her look, including fuller lips, more pronounced eyelids and a generally more sculpted styling that has left some longtime followers saying she is nearly unrecognisable from her pageant-era appearance.
Kahawaty rose to public attention in the early 2010s on the international pageant circuit and placed second runner-up at Miss World 2012. The model and television host has been based in Dubai for several years, hosting Project Runway Middle East and working across fashion and charity initiatives. Media outlets and social commentators have repeatedly likened her to Amal Clooney, citing her background in law, philanthropic work and a refined public image.
During her recent Sydney appearances Kahawaty wore several distinct looks: a white button-down blouse paired with a black mini skirt and striking black heels during one outing, and a pink mini dress with orange lace stockings and white heels on another. She also promoted Mama Rita in-store at Dymocks, where she engaged with fans and signed copies of the family cookbook.
Kahawaty has not publicly confirmed undergoing cosmetic procedures. She has discussed beauty routines in past interviews, and in a 2017 conversation with Daily Mail Australia she described a strict skincare regimen that includes never sleeping in makeup, washing her face twice daily with activated charcoal cleansers and using natural treatments such as jojoba oil, Dead Sea masks and DIY sugar-and-cinnamon lip scrubs. She has also said she begins each day with warm water and Manuka honey, which she credits with improving her skin and immunity, and that she avoids coffee.
The changes in her appearance have been gradual and visible across photographs spanning more than a decade. In addition to hair and skin tone shifts, she has been known to alter her eye color with contact lenses for different appearances. Fashion and beauty professionals note that hair color, tanning, makeup techniques and wardrobe can all contribute to a markedly different public image over time.
Kahawaty has framed her public life around multiple interests: modelling, television presenting, law and culinary projects connected to her Lebanese heritage. She has spoken previously about her love of food and family cooking, describing moderation and small portions as part of her approach while also celebrating large family feasts common in Lebanese households.
As she continues to promote Mama Rita in Australia and abroad, Kahawaty’s renewed public profile underlines how changes in styling, location and lifestyle can reshape a public figure’s image. She remains active in fashion and media projects in the Middle East and internationally, while maintaining a public role that combines entertainment, philanthropy and business interests.