The photos from Paris Fashion Week say more than a press release ever could—Dubai’s Princess Sheikha Mahra and rapper French Montana walking hand-in-hand through the streets of Paris, sipping champagne at private afterparties, and making synchronized appearances at fashion’s most exclusive events. The images lit up Instagram and reignited dating rumors that have been smoldering since last year. This time, they feel harder to deny.
What makes this pairing so fascinating isn’t just the East-meets-West tabloid fantasy. It’s the fact that Sheikha Mahra, once known for her royal lineage and public restraint, is openly navigating life on her terms. After finalizing her divorce from Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed Al Maktoum—just two months after giving birth to their daughter—Mahra has emerged with striking clarity. She launched a perfume brand named Divorce, posted bold statements on Instagram, and continues to reference her Greek roots through her handle, @xtianna.
French Montana, for his part, doesn’t feel like an obvious match. The Moroccan-American rapper is more known for chart-topping collaborations than royal entanglements. But there’s a certain alignment between them. Both are high-profile outsiders in their respective circles. Both have turned public scrutiny into performance art. And if the whispers are true, they’ve been romantically linked since late 2024.
There’s still no official confirmation, and perhaps there won’t be. But the romance, whether defined or undefined, symbolizes something bigger. It marks a shift in how women like Mahra are telling their stories—less curated, more human, and unapologetically layered. Her next act, whether on the arm of a rapper or steering her own brand empire, promises to be one worth watching.
