Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF is a reality television series focusing on Paris Hilton as she searches for her new best friend in Dubai. It is the second and last spin-off of Paris Hilton's My New BFF (2008–2009). After a number of delays, the series aired on several MTV stations worldwide in 2011.
Series overview
Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF, filmed in the United Arab Emirates, follows Hilton as she puts a group of twenty-three young women from all throughout the world, but currently living in Dubai, through a series of tests to see who would best complement her lifestyle. Hilton had also never been to Dubai before, so part of the show includes her initial reactions to her first trip to the United Arab Emirates. This is the first format of the series not to include any male contestants.
In a fashion similar to Onch during the American version's second season, the show features a co-host. Nayla Al Khaja, a Dubai filmmaker and friend of Hilton's, filled this role. While being an integral part of the show, including during eliminations and providing updates to the contestants, Al Khaja also assisted Hilton as a guide while in the Middle East and also features Mirna Khayat. The series is reported to feature a social event in The BED Lounge, a club in Dubai. Tickets to attend the event were sold freely. On June 12, 2011, it was revealed in the finale that Reem Al Alnezi became Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF.
Contestants
RankCountryNameEpisode eliminated1Reem Al AlneziWinner2–3Dana ElemaraEpisode 8Dina Altaji4Amy Marie Parker Episode 85Mandy DabiriEpisode 76Galareh MonajemiEpisode 77Branka CondaEpisode 68Farhana BodiEpisode 59Christiane "Christy" ZeitounyEpisode 410Marta Vezzaro11Bassant ShamsEpisode 3 12Dalila LaaribiEpisode 2 13–24Alaa "Ally" AlkhalilEpisode 1 Angel ArbidNagris KhamraevaKatra AbdinurMonicaMegan BrooksNatalia KapchukLiliya AfridiCelina BatistaTarin SavageKelly HaechlerYasmin Haring They were eliminated outside of panel.
Elimination progress Table will be filled in as the season progresses and the announced contestants are eliminated. CountryContestantsRankEpisodes12345679Reem Al Alnezi1stSAFESAFESAFELOWSAFESAFEWINBFFDana Elemara 2ndSAFESAFESTARWINWINSAFESAFETTYSDina Altaji 2ndSAFELOWWINSTARWINSAFEWINTTYSAmy Marie Parker4thSAFESAFESAFESAFELOWLOWLOWTTYSMandy Dabiri 5thSAFESAFESAFESAFESAFESAFETTYSGelareh Monajemi 6thSAFESAFESAFESAFESTARLOWTTYSBranka Conda 7thSAFEWINLOWWINSAFETTYNFarhana Bodi8thSAFESAFESAFELOWTTYSChristiane Zeitouny 9thSAFEWINSAFETTYSMarta Vezzaro 10thSAFEWINSAFETTYSBassant Shams 11thSAFESTARTTYNDalila Laaribi 12thSAFETTYN Alaa Alkhalil 13thTTYNAngel Arbid13thTTYNNagris Khamraeva 13thTTYNKatra Abdinur 13thTTYNMonica 13thTTYNMegan Brooks18th TTYNNatalia Kapchuk19thTTYNBACKLiliya Afridi19thTTYNCelina Batista19thTTYNTarin Savage19thTTYNKelly Haechler19thTTYNYasmin Haring24thTTYN
Key The contestant are the Little Star and won the challenge. The contestant was originally put up for discussion, but the decision was reversed, because won the challenge. The contestant was up for discussion, but was safe. The contestant is a female and not an Arabic citizen but currently living in Dubai. The contestant was eliminated. The contestant was eliminated by Nayla. The contestant was eliminated outside of panel. The contestant won the episode's challenge and was safe from elimination. The contestant was named Paris Hilton's Little Star. The contestant is guest. The contestant became Paris' new BFF. The contestant won the challenge but was put up for discussion The contestant was the Little Star and was eliminated. TTYN – Talk To You Never, the goodbye message for eliminated contestants. TTYS – Talk To You Soon, the goodbye message for eliminated contestants that Paris wants to keep in touch but not be best friends, Just Friends.
Note Yasmin, Tarin, Kelly, Liliya, Natalia & Celina was eliminated outside of panel, and was eliminated by Nayla (co-host). In Episode 4 has a double elimination first part the bottom 2 was Farhana and Marta; the second part the bottom 2 was Reem and Christy. Dana is the second contestant that was in the final without any time in the bottom. Amy was the first contestant that was in the bottom most consecutive times (three times). Mandy is the first contestant with most "SAFE" status (six times). Marta was the first TTYS elimination on this season.
Production Filming Production lasted for seventeen days, beginning in June 2009, and the finale then concluded with a final shoot in Los Angeles. In December 2009, Hilton updated her Twitter saying that she was recording voice-over and interview scenes for the series, and in April 2010, it was reported that she had just her finished work on the series.
Cultural difficulties Ziad Batal, Dubai One executive, explained that this version "would have to be compatible with cultural sensitivities as Hilton is known for her wild partying." Ish Entertainment co-founder Michael Hirschhorn expanded on this, explaining that the Dubai production would not be as racy as the American or English editions. Alcohol, normally a reality television staple, did not play a role on this version. Swearing, sexually explicit conversation or risqué clothing were kept to a minimum. The production had to receive several layers of approval before moving forward, and even Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, had to give his blessing.
Delays Legal issues delayed the airing of this version for over a year. While it was originally expected to air in 2010, Lionsgate Television executives claim producers at Uniqon Emirates, LLC signed a written agreement, worth US$8 million, to co-produce and distribute Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF in the Middle East. Uniqon Emirates failed to pay more than US$4.7 million to cover the production and distribution costs and Lionsgate filed a federal suit for breach of contract in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on February 2, 2010. No official outcome for the suit was announced, but the series failed to air on Dubai One, the announced original network for this version.
Broadcast After MTV, the original stakeholders for the franchise, assumed worldwide airing rights for Dubai BFF, the series debuted on various MTV networks globally throughout 2011. It aired on MTV Latin America, MTV Australia, MTV UK and Ireland and mainland European MTV stations. However, it did not air in North America.
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