Mia Khalifa: From adult star to a fashion icon

Former adult star sat down with Vogue India and talked about fashion, transformation

Mia Khalifa recently sat down with Vogue India to explore the winding, meandering route that led her to her current fashion-forward persona. Her journey traverses a tumultuous path that ricochets between unparalleled fame and relentless controversy. Rising from her roots in Lebanon, her seismic entry into the adult entertainment industry in 2014 catapulted her to unprecedented stardom, becoming an overnight sensation on adult entertainment websites within a mere two months. 

Voted as the top adult actress in 2015 and a beacon of search on various platforms, Khalifa's notoriety in the adult entertainment realm reached unprecedented heights. However, amidst this fervour, the critical juncture arrived when she decided to part ways with the adult film industry. Emerging from that chapter, Khalifa embarked on a metamorphosis, transcending her past by redefining herself as a social media personality, webcam model, and sports commentator.

Transitioning to a life beyond the adult film industry, Khalifa's new odyssey witnessed a dramatic shift. Her foray into the realm of fashion emerged as a striking pivot, affirming her transformation as she graced Paris Fashion Week in 2023, adorned in iconic Jean Paul Gaultier and Schiaparelli ensembles. Amidst the spotlight and the unceasing scrutiny, Khalifa's evolution stands as a testament to her resilience and her unrelenting pursuit of a redefined narrative.

It is this very resilience, in fact, that has allowed her to continuously be a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause, despite pushback from official, verified Israeli X accounts and the general populace. However, her staunch stance against Israeli barbarities stands out against a sea of brownnosing cowardice and vested self-interests. It is evident: Khalifa has abandoned fear and shame in the shadows and has emerged from her cocoon, ready to conquer a new realm altogether. As she sits down in discussion with Vogue India, she opens up about the same.

“Adversity builds character," Khalifa states. “I tell myself I have made it through a lot worse. It’s mostly a mental thing. For the parts that aren’t, they make beta blockers,” she jokes. “I take it in my stride. Life doesn’t get hard when it’s about to get easier, it gets hard when things are changing for the better.”

The influencer's response to the uproar surrounding her appearance on the KNWLS spring/summer 2024 runway was a resounding dismissal of criticism, echoing Chris Brown's lyrics: "Girl, how can you hate from outside of the club, you can’t even get in." Her unapologetic stance aligns her, as per the publication, with a lineage of trailblazing women—Madonna, and Dita Von Teese among them—who've defied convention, rewriting the rules and shattering societal expectations.

When it comes to public opinion, Khalifa's journey has been a tumultuous blend of adoration and reproach. She has navigated the storm of critique with grace but remains less accustomed to receiving validation. “I was waiting for Charlotte [the founder of fashion label KNWLS that gave Khalifa her runway debut] to notice that she booked me and not Mia Goth,” she admits. 

Opening up further about her fashion choices, Khalifa shares, “I have collected fashion over the years and consumed it like stan accounts consume pop stars. I am embedded in the fashion world as a fan. So when the opportunity came for me to be in the same rooms, let alone front-row at shows, it felt surreal.” Her foray into defining her personal style was ignited by the transformative allure of retail therapy, epitomised by her triumphant Off-White haul. Embracing a diverse range of fashion brands from GCDS to Ann Demeulemeester, her style is an eclectic fusion. 

One moment, she dons vibrant acetate sunglasses coupled with goth-infused corset dresses; the next, she effortlessly transitions to the relaxed confidence of cargo paired with oversized button-downs. “Every time I put clothes on, I am cosplaying," she remarks. "I can be whoever I want to be." She furthers, "One day, I’ll want to be dressed in a full yellow JW Anderson look, like a chick out of its egg. The next day, I want to look like Brendahashtag [Brenda Weischer, commonly known by her Instagram handle].”

Admitting that she "used to dress from a place of internalised racism and misogyny, and wanting to be accepted," Khalifa comments, "I’d look like an all-American girl in Brooks Brothers and Sperry—all the things that didn’t align with me.” However, she seems to be coming into her own - whatever that may look like. According to the star, "I like looking like an alien rather than a copy-paste Instagram girl.” 

Embracing her newfound confidence, Khalifa ventured into entrepreneurship with the launch of her jewellery brand, SHEYTAN. “I wanted it to be something tongue-in-cheek and this is what people have been calling me all this time. Those who are offended will be offended by anything at this point,” she explains. 

Undeterred by detractors, she remains steadfast in her pursuit, focusing on her burgeoning fashion endeavours and aspirations, including a heartfelt desire to grace the prestigious Met Gala one day. With unwavering determination, she humorously shares her intent to begin manifesting this aspiration, lighting a candle to symbolise her dreams taking flight.

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