If you haven’t yet heard of the Museum of the Future, it’s not because you’re living in the past. The new museum opened in Dubai in February 2022, a seven-story, elliptical structure inscribed with Arabic script, outside and in. It’s a striking new part of Dubai’s cityscape.
On Monday night, it was also the scene of the inaugural TIME100 Impact Awards and Gala, which doubled as the museum’s first official event. On the cavernous, pristine white-carpeted seventh floor, 200 guests gathered to celebrate leaders who are building, shaping, and articulating a better future for the world.
That’s all important, but as presenter, TIME100 alumnae, supermodel, and—most recently—ice-cream entrepreneur Tyra Banks noted in an off-the-cuff speech, so is staying down to earth. “I’m gonna keep it real,” she said, first explaining that she had been hearing about the Museum of the Future for months but only just realized that it was in, fact, Dubai’s newest landmark. And there was more: “When I sat down in my chair, my pants busted open. And I was like, I don’t know what to do. But yeah, it’s time to just keep it real tonight,” she said brightly.
Then, she introduced beauty mogul Huda Kattan, the last honoree of the evening, who drove home the whole point of the night: that each of us has the power and influence to make an impact, because we all have access to platforms to share what matters. (Kattan began her career as what some might call an “influencer” and grew a major social media presence, but reinforced the fact that everyone has the opportunity to influence others.)
Tyra Banks poses for a photo with honoree Huda…
Source : time
