Why Dubai Princess Sheikha Mahra changed her Instagram name to “Xtianna” after divorce
Of course, you can’t talk about Mahra’s reinvention without mentioning the man currently holding her hand. Her engagement to Moroccan-American rapper French Montana (Karim Kharbouch) in late 2025 surprised everyone. It was a union which was much talked about for long, but was now confirmed now bringing both the music and royal worlds together.
On paper, a hip-hop star from the Bronx and a princess from Dubai seem like a script from a Hollywood rom-com. But when French Montana opened up about his relationship with Sheikha Mahra on the Joe and Jada podcast earlier this year, he revealed exactly what hooked him: It was her viral divorce post! He saw that viral divorce post—the raw, unfiltered honesty of a woman refusing to be cheated on in silence—and thought, “I like her.” Their relationship, which culminated in a $1.1 million emerald-cut diamond ring and a romantic Paris proposal, represents a fusion of two people who have both had to fight for their narratives. For Mahra, French Montana isn’t just a partner; he’s a witness to her resilience.
