Vogue Arabia just hired a European man to represent Arab women

A European man will become the new editor-in-chief of Vogue Arabia, replacing Saudi Princess Deena Aljuhani Abdulaziz.

Portuguese journalist Manual Arnaut is currently the editor-in-chief of Architectural Digest Middle East. He started his career with Vogue Portugal, and went on to become the editor of GQ Portugal as well as to contribute to Vogue and GQ's Brazilian editions.

Arnaut will take over Vogue Arabia on May 7.

"With the rich heritage of the Middle East as a starting point — and its eyes on the future — Vogue Arabia celebrates the region’s fashion and cultural identity," Arnaut said, according to Vogue Arabia's website. He went on to say that the magazine is "the proud voice of the region, representing the strength and allure of the Arab woman."

But many are wondering why exactly a European man is now going to be calling the shots of a publication intended to represent the "proud voice" of the Arab world ... and particularly its women.

The launch of Vogue Arabia and the appointment of Abdulaziz was highly publicized last year. But after just two issues, the founding editor-in-chief announced this week that she had been fired from her role.

"I shall be releasing a statement about what happened later today. They are in breach of contract and they shall be hearing from my lawyers," she said initially.

She later expounded on the situation saying: "I refused to compromise when I felt the publisher's approach conflicted with the values which underpin our readers and the role of the editor-in-chief in meeting those values in a truly authentic way," said Abdulaziz in an exclusive statement to BOF. 

Despite this, Abdulaziz emphasized that she is proud of what she's accomplished in such a short time frame. 

"I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish in such a short space of time ... it had initially been my intention to build this important and groundbreaking edition of Vogue from inception to a mature magazine in line with others in the Vogue stable," she added.

Arnaut is the second man in a week chosen to head a Vogue publication. A man has also been chosen as the new editor-in-chief of British Vogue as well.