Some pedestrians immediately take out their mobile phones to take a photo of
Ziad al Mesfer
, a 25-year-old man, accompanied by his designer and his photographer, who has just gotten out of a white Mercedes Benz in a distinguished neighborhood of the city.
A man accuses him of being gay, a crime that can be sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia
.
Despite criticism, both on the street and on the internet, the mannequin does not intend to leave the country or change its appearance.
"I'd rather stay here, wearing these clothes, than wait until I'm abroad to dress properly," he explains.
With 200,000 followers on Instagram and more than two million on Snapchat, Ziad al Mesfer
has paved the way for a generation of models
who wear outfits considered too feminine, in a country that until recently observed strict segregation of the sexes in public places.
Since the arrival of the young crown prince Mohamed bin Salman, who has de facto led the kingdom since 2017,
Saudi Arabia has experienced a relative social openness
, after women were allowed to drive or the promotion of mixed leisure.
But social conservatism and political restrictions remain in the country, which is home to Islam's holiest sites.
"They all look at it"
Although he counts several teenagers among his followers, Ziad al Mesfer receives a lot
of criticism from a largely conservative population
.
The Gulf kingdom forbids men to "imitate" the other sex in their attire.
The model does not identify as homosexual and wishes, according to what he says, to marry a woman.
To his understanding, he is merely reflecting the enthusiasm of international brands for androgynous fashion.
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Born in Riyadh, in a family that had a total of six children, Ziad al Mesfer
began to develop his sense of design at a very young age
: "I told my mother and my aunts how to dress. I loved that," he recalls.
"My mother asked me for my opinion on these things, and that is why I became more and more interested in women's fashion."
With its growing influence on the internet,
this model attracts big brands like Prada and Dior
.
When Gucci opened a new store in Riyadh last month, the managers wanted Ziad al Mesfer to come, sales manager Lulua Mohamed told AFP.
"It is very important to invite him because he sells immediately when a video is made of him or a photo is taken,"
she explains.
"All Saudi women, old or young, look at it."
Although other models and influencers have followed in his footsteps, Ziad al Mesfer
is still "number one"
, says a Prada salesman who, like the rest of those interviewed, prefers anonymity due to the sensitivity of the subject in Saudi Arabia.
Ziad al Mesfer, who makes money in part from online advertising, benefits from a kind of protection thanks to his
alliances with big luxury brands
and his relationships with local celebrities.
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On Instagram,
Ziad al Mesfer's photos often elicit scathing comments
.
"May God forgive us" reacted a netizen under a photo of the mannequin in which he poses with a red coat over a violet turtleneck sweater.
"Deleting Instagram after seeing this" adds another.
But, of course, there are those who encourage him:
"Ziad, keep it up (...) don't pay attention to what they tell you"
.
And indeed, there it continues.
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