Oscars 2026: How 'The Voice of Hind Rajab' Star Clara Khoury Got Ready for Her Big Night

Preparing for your first Oscar is never easy, but for Palestinian actress Clara Khoury, who plays psychologist Nisreen Jeries Qawas in Kaouther Ben Hania’s 2025 documentary Voice of India Rajabthe film was nominated for Best International Feature Film in Tunisia, which adds another layer of complexity: How do you prepare to celebrate the impact of a film about a completely avoidable tragedy when one of your costars is barred from the industry’s biggest night due to a U.S. travel ban?

“For me, it’s not the red carpet that’s important, it’s what the movie represents,” Khoury said Fashion. “Being there means that this story and Hind’s voice has reached people all over the world. That’s what it’s about. I’m grateful but also very aware of the responsibility of bringing a story like this to a room like the Oscars.”

Every part of Khoury’s 2026 Oscars look (which took the star more than a year to create with the help of stylist Hind Matar) was inspired by her work on Voice of India Rajab. The final look was a fitted black strapless Lanvin dress with gorgeous embroidery that perfectly complemented her silver DYNE statement earrings, turquoise ring and bejeweled black Lanvin pumps.

Speaking of glam, Khoury hired makeup artist Katey Denno. “I really identify with the character Clara plays in the movie,” said Danno, a former mental health social worker. Fashion. “I often received desperate calls, sometimes to help women and children escape dangerous situations. Whenever Clara appeared on the screen, I felt like I was locked into her eyes, which later led my makeup artist to think: I would love to paint her beautiful face one day.”

Today is that day. “I wanted to use this moment to highlight a brand that is important to me and is all about glitter and color,” Denno continues. “Aora Makeup is a brand founded by a queer Arab man living in Mexico, which is so inspiring to me. The values behind the brand align with my own: they challenge norms, are 100% plastic-free (plastic is rampant in the industry!), and celebrate bold colors, which is super inspiring and something we all need right now.”