Iryna Kinakh is the kind of woman who turns a Tuesday night into an event. The Ukrainian born entrepreneur, model and former Mrs Universe Top 25 finalist has spent the last couple years stacking up a resume that reads like a fever dream in the best possible way. She founded Unique U, the UAE’s first personalized birth chart and gifting platform that blends astrology with real design, and she launched her own activewear label IKON in 2025, giving women in Dubai and beyond a brand built around confidence rather than just aesthetics.
She is also, of course, one of the most magnetic faces to come out of Netflix’s Desi Bling, the show that introduced international audiences to Dubai’s glossy Indian social scene. But reducing Iryna to a reality television credit misses the plot entirely. This is a woman who competed on international pageant stages, launched two businesses from the ground up, and became a genuine voice for women’s empowerment in a city that does not hand out that kind of credibility lightly. And this week, she reminded everyone exactly why she is one to watch heading into 2027.
The Pre-IIFA Gathering That Had Everyone Talking
Picture this. It is only September, IIFA 2027 is still four months away, and yet the energy in Dubai already feels like the red carpet is rolling out tomorrow. That is exactly the vibe Iryna tapped into when she linked up for a glamorous pre-festivities moment alongside Dyuti Parruck, the CEO of Decisive Zone also known as Mr. Golden Visa for his standing in the UAE residency and investment world. The gathering pulled together a genuinely stacked lineup, and the chemistry in the room practically radiated off every photo that came out of it.
Joining them was Dubai Bling standout Farhana Bodi, whose fashion instincts and red carpet fluency have made her one of the most photographed women in the Emirates, plus Gen Z powerhouse sisters Yamuna and Ayesha Hasan, who have somehow managed to become international authors, award winning entrepreneurs and cultural voices before either of them turned twenty. Put all of that together in one room and you get something that genuinely felt like Desi Bling colliding head first with Dubai Bling, except turned up several notches louder.
In a few months, expect Iryna Kinakh to bring her fashion and attitude A-game. Just like all the Bollywood stars, she is sure to captivate everyone with her style. Well, we all know she can bring. We all witnessed it in all of Desi Bling. January 2027 is surely going to be a thrilling month for Yas Island. Best believe, Iryna is going to be there front and center joining in the merriment and fanfare.
Iryna Kinakh Brought The Fashion And The Fire
What made the evening feel so alive was the way Iryna carried herself through it. She showed up dressed like the moment mattered, because to her it clearly did. Between her pageant background and her eye for design through IKON, she has developed a sense of style that reads as effortless even though anyone who has run two businesses knows nothing about her journey has actually been effortless. She moved through the night with the same energy she brings to Unique U, warm, intentional, and completely present with everyone in the room.
There is something fitting about Iryna being one of the first faces tied to IIFA 2027 buzz. Bollywood’s biggest weekend has always rewarded people who understand spectacle, and few people in Dubai’s social circles understand spectacle quite like she does.
Farhana Bodi Added Her Signature Goddess Gorgeousness
Farhana did what Farhana does best, which is show up and own the room. Her journey from makeup artist in London to one of Dubai’s most recognized entrepreneurs has made her something of a blueprint for reinvention in the Gulf, and she carried that same confidence into the pre-IIFA setting. Pair her instincts with Iryna’s and Dyuti’s presence and the night practically wrote its own headline.
Yamuna Hasan And Ayesha Hasan Brought The Gen Z Superstar Power
The teenage sisters closed out the lineup and honestly stole a fair share of the spotlight doing it. Fresh off winning Best Gen Z of the Year from Entrepreneur Middle East and riding the success of their bestselling book The Art of Miracles, Yamuna and Ayesha have become two of the most talked about young voices coming out of the region. Their presence at the gathering signaled something bigger than just a fun night out. It showed that IIFA 2027 is already pulling together generations, industries and personalities that do not usually share a room.
With the 27th edition of IIFA set to land at Etihad Arena on Yas Island this January 22 and 23, featuring names like Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Shahid Kapoor, the excitement building right now feels like just the opening scene. If this is what September looks like, January is going to be an absolute spectacle.
