March 2017

LE30

Insight Magazine

y l l a S Abdelsalam

THE ALPHA

£2.50 US$4.50

March 2017

THE POWER OF PARENTHOOD

ARE YOU A

SUPER MUM?

Volume 22 NO.3

FEMALE (in)sight EXCLUSIVE

HAMAKI

THE MUSIC MAVEN

March 2017

THE FACES OF

feminism SUCCESSFUL WOMEN WHO INSPIRE US ALL!

DARE TO WEAR

FEARLESS SPRING TRENDS WE APPROVE

EDITOR’S LETTER Exclusive interview with Hamaki page 12

I

t’s finally March, the month we completely devote to inspirational women, outstanding mothers and phenomenal women in history! (in)sight invites its readers to embark on a journey of enlightenment, and join our faction of women empowerment, with our fists in the air and our minds set to excel. There’s no Yin-Yang without a Yin, In the utopian universe we seek to reify, men and women are equally commemorated and empowered, where no one is marginalized and every voice is heard.

This issue, we will introduce you to women who changed the world, defied stereotypes, and helped balance society to its ideal form. You will get to know female pioneers in every field, from science and astronomy, to politics and business. Furthermore, in the light of celebrating mothers, we will have the power of motherhood and pregnancy under our spotlight as well; you’ll find a useful guide for women who newly joined the mother’s club as well as tips and tricks for longtime mothers who want to regenerate their youth inside and out.

As for our interview features, get ready to be inspired by extraordinary women who prove that women are unstoppable, including: Ally Salem, Hadeer Shalaby, Juditta Salem, Radwa El Sherbiny, and Nadia Wassef. And here to complete our yin-yang is Mohamed Hamaki, who will tell you all about his musical philosophies. Our cover girl this month is the promising alpha female, Sally Abdelsalam. The socially intelligent mogul has opened up to us about her secrets to success and how she made it big over such a short period.

Don’t forget to treat your mother to something nice this month, remind her how much she means to you, and make sure you send much of that irreplaceable love to all your family members as well.

TEAM The Editor: Nina G Yowakim (n.george@insight-egypt.com / 010-0102-3105) Managing Director: Nancy G Yowakim (ngyowakim@gmail.com) Editor-in-chief : Maged Atteya (mag.insight@gmail.com)

N. G. YOWAkIM

EDiTorial DEparTMEnT (magz.insight@gmail.com / 010-6587-1116) Editorial Manager: Rania Ihab/ r.ihab@insight-egypt.com Editors / Sub Editors / Staff Writers / Contributors: Mayar El-Shamy, Yasmin Mohammed, Sherif Alkady & Marwan Saad Graphic Designer/ Social Media Specialist: Mohamed M. A. Samad photographers: Nouran Khalifa, Hussein Salman & Sharbel Bou Mansour Event photographers: Atef Naguib & Sayed Ahmed aDvErTiSinG DEparTMEnT (adverts.insight@gmail.com / 010-6007-3537) advertising Executive: Karim Magdy aDMin & DiSTribuTion DEparTMEnT (010-6587-1115) admin assistants: Shery Adel & Paula Magdy Published Monthly By Insight Publishing House Limited, UK P.O. Box 362 Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

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Copyright here and abroad of all editorial content is held by the publishers: (In)sight Publishing House Limited, UK. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden save with the permission in writing of the publishers.

4 insight

BBQ

CONTENTS

COVER STORY * Sally Abdelsalam...The Alpha Female

INSIGHT EXCLUSIVE * Ally Salem * Hadeer Shalaby * Fashionistas * Injy Abou El So’oud * Juditta Salem * Mohamed Hamaki * Nadia Wassef * Radwa El-Sherbiny * Yosra El-Barkouky

HEY IT’S OK Pats on your back 6 insight

LIFE AS WE KNOW IT * Women first around the world

* 8 signs you are not less than a superwoman * Balancing between a successful career and a

personal life * How to keep a spark in a long term relationships

ALL ABOUT THE MOMMIES * Celebrities with their mini mes * 7 ways to be closer to your child * Fun ways to spoil your mother on mother’s day * Pregnant celebrities expecting in 2017 The power of motherhood

BEAUTY BRIEF * 5 hacks to stunning lashes * How to reverse premature hair graying * Women empowerment through the art of make-up

FASHION FORWARD * Get the street style * Empowering vintage * Fuchsia chic * Great mother’s day gifts * Mini bag haven * Like mother like son

YOU TAKE CARE OF THE VOWS. WE’LL HANDLE THE REST.

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Untitled - Page: 1

2017-01-26 11:00:45 +0000

EMPOWERING Vintage By: Mohamed M. A. Samad

Who wouldn’t want to wake up with Audrey Hepburn’s flawless beauty, or Sophia Loren’s sophisticated fashion sense?

It’s a new fashion season and vintage is still in. Nothing says fashion classics like the cinematic golden age. Here’s how to get the look:

Grace Kelly

KENNETH JAY LANE

KENNETH JAY LANE

TOP SHOP REEM ACRA

GUCCI

DesignB London Tassel

MM6 MAISON MARGIELA

Edie Sedgwick

GIANVITO ROSSI FALKE 8 insight

GUCCI

WOLFORD

Audrey Hepburn

JENNIFER BEHR

TOP SHOP

SOPHIE BILLE BRAHE

Luella Longline

Sophia Loren

ROSANTICA

VALENTINO SELF-PORTRAIT

NO. 21

Aisha Alshabrawy On Her Fashion Taste and beauty Favorites

Nothing says success more than looking the part!

Aisha Al shabrawy tells us her favourite beauty pick-me-ups that she absolutely cannot do without.

We love all her choices!

Compelling fragrance Amor Amor Cacharel, and Intense.

…

Beauty fix …

Red lipstick.

Shoe haven

…

Favourite trendsetter …

…

The Sartorialist.

I can’t leave home without …

Earrings and my phone.

Aliaa El Esseily and Evangelie Smyrniotaki.

Alexander McQueen .

Favourite street style

Favourite runway designer …

Gianvito Rossi.

Favourite nightspot …

Favourite accessory …

Beauty tip …

Boca Chica in Barcelona.

Joude Bin Halim ring.

Water and yoga for a youthful look.

10 insight

Get the Comfy Look

You have surely seen Adidas’ signature pair around, spreading like wildfire in this season’s trending street styles. The best thing about them is that you can pretty much pull them off on just about anything you put on, from smart casual, to head turning eccentric. Here are out favourite looks, topped off with an Adidas touch.

By: Sherif Alkady

Spring Soirée

Casual Chic OFF-WHITE KENDALL + KYLIE

EDDIE BORGO EDIE PARKER

SJYP STEVE J& YONI P

ADIDAS SUPERSTAR ELIZABETH AND JAMES FALKE

Glam Sport

MAX MARA

MAX MARA

Suit UP

ANYA HINDMARCH

FRENDS

CHLOÉ

FENDI

ADIDAS

BY STELLA MCCARTNEY

KENDALL + KYLIE

CHLOÉ FENDI LARSSON & JENNINGS

KENDALL + KYLIE

Like Mother Like Son By: Mohamed M. A. Samad

Ever since we’ve laid our eyes on Miranda Kerr carrying two-year-old cutie Flynn Bloom—wearing a sheer printed maxi, gray tank and fedora—while running errands in New York City, we’ve been completely in love with mother-son fashion duo looks. Here’s how to get the style.

SENSI STUDIO

RAY-BAN

47 Brand

Isabel Marant

H&M

H&M

CURRENT/ELLIOTT

12 insight

CONVERSE

DR. MARTENS

Sandra Bullock heads out for lunch in New York City with her son Louis Bardo in leather pants, a red-printed top and coral pumps.

Nars blush

STELLA MCCARTNEY

ZARA

GUCCI

H&M

FRAME

IWC SCHAFFHAUSEN

ADIDAS SUPERSTAR

CHARLOTTE TILBURY

JIMMY CHOO

SARAH & SEBASTIAN

“

The role of a musician is to give back to the community by offering sound judgment and advice in their field.�

Mohamed Hamaki The Music Maven 14 insight

rom edge pop to world music, the award winning musician, Mohamed Hamaki, has written and beautifully performed it all.

Insight’s Rania Badr had a chat with the Khalina Neish (Let’s Live) hitmaker, and he has surprised us with his modesty and mission statement in his world of music. Check out what Hamaki told us on how he writes his music, his philosophies, and some insights on the Egyptian music scene and what it’s missing.

If you were part of your audience, how would you view yourself?

I would mainly see myself as one who’s concerned with what I do.

Perhaps I do not take that many steps, or have many albums, but that only shows how much I like to take my time with my music because I focus so much on the details. I’m less concerned about how many albums or films I produce or star in, and more so about their quality.

If there was one thing you could change in your journey to the top, what would it be?

If I could somehow preserve the quality of my works, but produce more of them, that’s exactly what I’d try to do. However, I think that’s impossible in my case. To each their way and pace, and I find my current rhythm the most ideal for me.

How would you react if you were asked to become a judge in a renowned talent show?

I love the concept because the role of a musician is to give back to the community by offering sound judgment and advice in their field.

In fact, if I ever had the chance to do just that, it would be my duty to accept the offer. The issue might remain in what show is in question, and whether or not I have the time to do what is asked of me; it is a huge responsibility to decide a contestant’s fate in the competition, which makes it a very challenging job that needs my undivided attention. I would hate to be overwhelmed by my schedule and end up misjudging a contestant just because I’m in a bad mood. I would also like it if that show would include original music. When competitors sing a known song, they don’t become famous for their own identity and so even if they do win, people are never really introduced to their style, which makes it very difficult for them to find a record deal.

Is there any music genre you never explored, that you would be interested in working on in the future?

(in)sight’s Rania Badr with the Superstar Mohamed Hamaki

I would not personally explore something different from what I usually do, but I am open to being featured in a variety of music genres, including rap. Simply because I am not a professional rapper. I listen to different genres of music, but I certainly wouldn’t perform that kind of variety. You can love every genre, but you must also stick to the identity you built for yourself.

ow do you view the music scene in the Arab world?

Talent wise, we have absolutely no problem.

The issue lies in production. Egypt has never had a dearth in musical talent, whether in writing or performing, but we suffer crucial production problems that threaten to deteriorate the entire music scene. For a musician to succeed, they need talent and a good producer. Lately, you’ll find that as a musician gets more popular here and garners a bigger audience, that’s somehow met by less profit, which all goes back to incompetent producing. I think this is something we need to focus on in Egypt.

and develop what their customers do not like. As a musician, I’m all about audio and display quality. Their new model has four microphones, which is capable of stereo recording and can be used professionally.

The macro lens in their camera also captures great detail, and it all just fits perfectly with my mission statement and philosophy.

It depends on what you’re doing. It’s helpful when you’re looking for feedback from your audience on your work, but it could also be a source of trouble if you’re going through rough patches in your personal life that get exposed.

You just have to be able to separate between your career and your personal life. Hamaki, the singer, is the one who connects with the audience. My personal life remains private and is never deliberately exposed to the public.

There’s nothing to hide, but I value privacy, so I only share with my audience what concerns my work, and I share my personal side with my small circle of family and few friends.

This is something I’ve always thought about, ever since I started writing and performing music. I’m always concerned with the content of what I offer to the audience. I will retire one way or another, and when I do, I want to leave behind a legacy of high quality music. You can make music that dies with you, or music that outlives you, and I hope, for me, it would be the latter.

What is one obstacle that remains your biggest challenge?

Inconsistence. In my field, you must be ready for surprises and sudden changes of plans. It’s very difficult for me to make personal plans because at any time, something could get postponed or cancelled. However, I love my career and I always enjoy my work and even thinking about it.

Tell us about your collaboration with HTC.

16 insight

Do you think social media helps celebrities or acts against them?

How do you preserve your privacy?

How would you like people to remember you 200 years from now?

I’m very proud to be an ambassador for such a respectable and renowned company. We’ve been on wonderful terms for over a year now, and I cherish how they never ask me to do or say anything that I’m not convinced with. Every word I say about HTC is stemmed from truth. They’re very hard working and they have an eye for detail, which is something we both have in common. They pay attention to people’s feedback and they fix

in socializing or talking. I do, however, have a great social media team who keep me up-todate and connect with my audience.

What’s next for Hamaki?

I have an upcoming album next summer, and I’m finally working on a film! I know the album should be out first, but I’m a bit unsure about the timing of the movie.

How do you stay connected with your audience?

A word for your fans…

Only lately, I’ve been trying to employ social media for that purpose. But overall, I’m not very social media savvy, and I’m not a very talkative person in general. I believe humans are just balls of energy, and doing so much talking would affect the quality of my work.

So I don’t like using up most of my energy

I’d just like to say that I’m very grateful to have such wonderful people support me without even knowing me personally; it’s a beautiful gift! I appreciate their nearly unconditional love, and all the positive energy they give me. I think about them a lot and how I could offer them the music they so deserve.

Injy Abou El So’oud The Satirist We All Love

W

When you think of contemporary comedians, you think of ‘Salizon’ and the clever satire wrapped in exquisite humour it offers.. There is no one else who says exactly what’s on our minds, in humour we adore, like Innjy Abou El So’oud. We had a lovely talk with her on how she evolved into the professional critic she is today, and this is what she told us: hat can you tell us about yourself?

I’m a person who loves films along with that feeling I get whenever I detach from the whole world for 2 hours or so. To witness someone else’s story is just a beautiful thing. Unless it’s one of my least favourite films like Dawn of Justice or something. I have the same feeling towards music. You just put on your headphones and let the instruments and vocals flow from heaven and into your body to soothe your soul. I’m a girl who hopes to change the world to become a better place by any means, so even if I fail, I know I’ll die trying.

How did you manage to join ‘Elbernameg’?

Bassem Youssef tweeted that he’s working on a new show and asked whoever wants to join to send their CVs and answer a couple of questions. I did, they called,I went for an interview and BAM! I

joined one of the greatest TV shows ever.

What did you learn from Bassem Youssef?

I learned dedication, honesty, patience and above all, how to have fun while working hard!

Where did the idea of ‘Vignette’ come from? Did you expect this huge success?

‘The Planet’ is a digital creative agency that produces its own, homegrown content along with content for clients. As a video team, we previously brainstormed and piloted several shows, which had limited success, before hitting the jackpot with ‘Vignette’ and other shows later on. I knew ‘Vignette’ would have a fair chance of success, but never expected the huge popularity we are lucky to have achieved.

Do you dream about having your own TV show or does so-

cial media provide you with a wider viewership?

My ambition is to have my very own show that would hopefully achieve great popularity and success, whether it’s digital or on TV. Although I’m a bit skeptical of current TV show formats.

What about ‘Salizon’?

We are now working on our second season, and Hesham Afifi is on board.

This season is different, as we’re not commenting on Ramadan TV series, but on TV talk shows that air on various channels and networks. ‘Salizon’ is well known for its iconic window, right? That’s exactly what we want to convey; a window where we can all joke about the absurdity each of us experiences on TV. In other words, it’s a window where you can get some “fresh” air.

Tell us about the feedback you receive. Any funny stories you can share with us?

Some of the celebrities are accepting of the criticism but most are not because we don’t really have the culture of critique and satire yet. As for the audience, it’s been mostly positive, thankfully.

How did you manage to cover DIFF? ‘The Planet’ had a partnership with DIFF and we were able to leverage Vignette’s platform while we were there. It was a great experience and we look forward to more collaborations in the near future.

What’s your advice to those who look up to you as a role model?

Honestly, I don’t aspire to be a role model. We are all trying to find our way.

“We don’t really have the culture of critique and satire yet”

“I’m a girl who hopes to change the world to become a better place by any means”

What’s next?

I have a small upcoming role on TV that I’m excited about, a new season of Vignette as well as a couple of other digital projects currently in the works.

Radwa El Sherbiny The Voice of Women

We absolutely love her show ‘Heya Wa Bass’ (All about Her) and how it stands out in the crowd with its unusual tips and tricks on relationships, etiquette, diet and most importantly, how to be entirely independent and embrace it. The segment ‘Te’dary’ (You Can Do It) has particularly proven the most popular, which gives women a step-by-step guide on how to run typically “male” errands like plumping and changing tires. The host, Radwa El Sherbiny, is known to empower women through her TV programs as well as her upcoming fashion line, Tamarind, of which she’ll tell you all about. We’ve spoken to the stunning working mum and TV presenter about how she managed to make it to the top and how it all started.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

“Tamarind tries to take its wearers to the era where women were fashionably simple”.

18 insight

“We’re showing men we can do everything they do and more.”

“[‘All about Her’] targets everyone from working mothers to stay-at-home house wives”.

T

ell us about yourself and your work history.

I’m a single mother of two girls. I’ve started working for the ART network about eleven years ago. I hosted a TV program called propaganda TV, where I would interview popular stars. I was working for Mehwar TV channel simultaneously at the time, before moving to Al Hayat TV to do ‘Drama Show’ as well as ‘Masr Al Beit Al Kabeer’ (Egypt, the Big Home).

That was all before I moved on to ‘Ana Masr’ (I am Egypt) on national Egyptian television with Sherif Amer and Amany Al-Khayat as well as other big names. I finally joined the CBC while I was offered to join other channels, but I just chose to work for CBC Sofra specifically as it’s probably the most watched in the CBC network.

Tell us about your show ‘All About Her’. Do you participate in writing the script?

The program is all about women, their health, how to act when they encounter difficulties, and fashion. We talk about hijab fashion as well as more generic fashionable styles. It targets everyone from working mothers to stay-at-home house wives, and women of all ages. I do participate in co-authoring the script for the show.

Tell us about your new fashion line, Tamarind.

Tamarind is a new fashion line for women’s wear; perhaps we will extend it to male fashion one day. It will be a chic casual wear line. Thirty or forty years ago, we have always been known as the most fashionable country. Tamarind tries to take its wearers to the era where women were fashionably simple and elegant. Nothing provoking –just graceful grandeur.

What are some of the everyday challenges you face?

The challenge is that you have to be different and unique among this huge number of TV presenters and programs, whereas there are countless beauty programs and websites that target women and give them beauty advice. So I think the obstacle is managing to stand out when you choose this field among the numerous other programs and TV hosts that work in the same genre. Especially that the high quality of those programs as well the self-improving TV hosts would pose a great challenge. It’s also quite difficult in the sense that the media itself is aware of the power women possess.

The media is aware that if we succeeded in offering them content that pleases

and helps them; women will be successful.

How do you balance between professional and personal life?

The balance of being a mum and a working woman is very hard to achieve. It’s not easy be successful as a working woman and as a mother. You have to pay attention to the details when you’re socializing with your kids, you have to take care of them, drive them to school, make them food, keep up with their interests and where they want to go. In my case, I also have to pay attention to their classes, which are ballet and gymnastics. To be a good mother, you have to know all the details, but at the same time, you have to focus on your career. You have to study and work a lot. You have to write and be updated, watch videos, and perhaps even go to classes. So it’s so difficult to be a good mother as well as a good TV presenter. I hope that my girls see me as a good mother to them.

“ I refused to let [my girls] be brought up by nannies.”

How do you empower women through your shows?

I don’t consider my programs as a mere means of entertainment. I consider them a medium that offers some sort of service to women. In ‘All about Her‘ we’re hosting a lot of competitions. In the past five episodes, we have offered three dresses from the well-known fashion designer, Bahig Hussein.We selected top five women from our page who were offered 50% vouchers for Kriss Beauty Salons and five free Hossam El Maraghy facial products.

Farida Temraz also selected five women to work with her. I think we offer services, entertainment, problem solutions, along with direct interaction with the audience.

It’s a program for them and about them.

What does your audience love the most about your shows?

Women are very pleased with a segment we do called ‘You Can Do It’. We paint walls, drive scooters and bikes; we show them how to change car wheels, how to deal with electric tools…We still have plenty of ideas coming in to show women that they can do things they were taught they couldn’t. We’re showing men we can do everything they do and more.

If you could change anything in your career plans from day one, what would it be?

I don’t think I’d change anything in my past, whether in my career or in my personal life. I’m quite happy with how everything turned out. I am satisfied with my life. I gave my girls ample time to raise them right; I was more focused with them than I was on my career at the time because I refused to let them be brought up by nannies. So no, I have nothing I want to change.

What advice would you give to young women reading this?

Don’t marry someone for the sake of marriage alone. Only marry someone when you’re ready and sure that he’s the one. You have to be 100% sure you’re going to be happy with that person. You also have to make sure that his family suits you as much as he does. And don’t let anything stop you from being successful and pursuing your career.

A word for our readers…

Don’t give up. Whatever the time it takes, don’t ever give up on whatever you want to achieve. Live your life; be happy, and do whatever it takes to pursue success. Every tunnel has light at its end.

“I hope one day I’ll be the first Arab woman to host the Oscars.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY: NOURAN KHALIFA / MAKE-UP BY: REHAM KHALIFA / HAIR BY: FLY BEAUTY SALON / OUTFIT BY: NEHAL KHALIFA / LOCATION: BADIE ARCHITECTS

20 insight

Sally

Abdelsalam The Alpha Female She’s the definition of bold and beautiful. After many successful episodes on her radio and TV shows, she has touched on every Egyptian problem that needs attention, from controversial topics, to more familial issues; she’s covered it all. After all, it only takes a woman with an overwhelming eloquence to make Inas Al-Degheidy cry. Insight’s Rania Badr talked to the stunning and socially intelligent Sally Abdelsalam about how she has come up with her show ideas, her plans, and her views on contemporary feminism.

Check out what she said! hich do you prefer, radio or TV and why?

Radio. People can only hear you, so they don’t have the capacity to judge you for the way you look or dress or express your gestures. They only care about the fact that you entertain them, so it’s a much more fluffy relationship than TV. I like being a television host, but it’s more difficult because you receive more criticism that is not always constructive. You inevitably get judged for the way you look no matter how nice you seem on TV. If you say something provocative or controversial, you’ll get some negative feedback you might not like.

How did the idea of your show “Al Motawahesha” (The Wild Woman) come to life?

I had a segment on the radio show “Tal’ah ‘ala Al Tareeq” (Bullet on the Road) called “Gameayet Al Mar’ah Al Motawahesha” (The Wild Woman Union), which was quite contested of its own, but it had to be done because I wanted to discuss women issues along with how to solve them. “Wild” shouldn’t connote being aggressive or violent, but it means that a woman can tame herself. The idea is for a woman to know her rights and seek justice. Instead of raging and coming to no conclusion, we can try to find the problem and think of a solution peacefully.

Which episode was the most difficult?

The one about sexual harassment. It pained me how we couldn’t find anyone who consented to be a guest on the show; they were all too scared. I eventually found one guest who claimed she was only felt up and how it wasn’t taken seriously. Sexual harassment remains a problem. It’s always “She was wearing something provocative, so she was asking for it” but that’s just absurd. Just leave her in peace!

Why are all the program’s seasons brief?

The first season was so because our time was limited due to Ramadan. The second season wasn’t actually short, but they might seem so because we tend to change the format of the show. It shouldn’t be viewed as a talk show. Each season has a different format, so they cannot go for too long, else they might be over the top.

hat are you working on right now?

There’s a surprise, but I cannot spoil it for you. Other than that, I’ll be on the radio twice a week for “Etmasu” (Have a Great Evening), perhaps thrice.

doing good. A powerful woman is one who says words that could influence the world, not one who misuses her power to prove herself.

As a woman, what are your special powers?

I’m always told that I can open sealed shut doors for myself. I’m outgoing and social. I love to listen to people and what

ciful on everyone around you. When you know how to make use of your power for 22 insight

Not at all. However, when people are shallow enough to judge you by your appearance, this helps open doors of opportunities for you.

cares so much about good looks. But as a person, it has no effect on my self-esteem.

What is the role of man in your life?

The biggest role ever. More important than mine. I need someone who can lead me, one whose power lies in his influence, not his dominance.

What is the most challenging aspect of your personality that a man could face?

What do you rebel against?

It’s when you have power, but remain mer-

Is your beauty a source for your powers?

Sometimes, in a society that

I have yet to reach the summit; this is just the beginning.

If one of my dreams come true, I always set another benchmark for myself. I have so many goals, and I hope one day I’ll be the first Arab woman to host the Oscars, right up there with Ellen DeGeneres who is one of my idols. She hosted the Oscars and served pizza, so I want to do the same but serve ashoura or something [laughs].

In your opinion, what does it mean to be a woman of power?

When do you feel the most powerful?

When I change someone’s life to the better.

Does your appearance help in boosting your self-confidence?

Do you think you finally achieved all your goals?

I’m against anything that seeks to undermine and dominate women (as well as men). Supporting woman empowerment shouldn’t make you hate men. Heck, most of my friends are men; I don’t even like making friends with women because of how a lot of them let jealousy get in the way of good friendship.

It is, however, women who raise men, so if a man turned out to be a misogynist, that was probably his mother’s fault. Men always seek to be more powerful. Take the new custody law for example; how if a woman gets divorced, the kids automatically go to the father. It makes no sense! These are the things that bother me about today’s society.

destiny. I’m too realistic to cry over spilt milk.

When they make the wrong approach with a domineering attitude, it is often met by an even worse reaction from me. I like civil manners.

Anyone who tries to impress me by acting dominant will meet a dead end.

How has fame affected your life?

It hasn’t, really. I was quite popular at school, so I’m sort of used to all of this.

What’s different is how they have to say; I do care. I always have the time and energy to be there for others when I’m in a good mood.

How do you pull yourself together when you’re feeling down?

I remind myself that no matter how long I complain no one will be able to solve my problem. You have to believe that whatever happened, it did for a reason that you still don’t know. You cannot change your

people now recognize me on the streets, but I’ve always been well-known within my community.

What do you think are the obstacles a woman faces in Arab communities?

I’ve never faced an obstacle as a woman and I don’t agree with most feminists. In this community, if I weren’t a woman, I’d would have loved to be one.

“A POWERFUL WOMAN is one who says words that could INFLUENCE THE WORLD, not one who misuses her power to prove herself.”

24 insight

hat challenges did you have to face to prosper in your career?

The usual challenges one faces at the beginning. I wanted to be a TV presenter and had to start from scratch on my own. Right now, my obstacle is how everyone still sees me too young, no matter how much experience I have, so it’s difficult to have my own renowned TV show.

Should women live their lives struggling to win the battle of the sexes?

No, you should just accept yourself the way you were born and learn to love yourself the way you are. A masculine woman is undignified in society; she’s neither here nor there. Accept yourself as you are and work on it.

Are you ever misunderstood?

Yes, and I dig it. I enjoy being mysterious and not an open book. Once you know me, you’ll realize how kind I am.

But I superficially might seem intimidating or unlikable, which usually works in my favour.

What’s your message to those who look up to you?

Be yourselves. If you will consider me a role model, then that shouldn’t apply to my personal life; we all make mistakes; we all have our unique ways of expression and lifestyles, but you can look up to how I worked on my dream, believed in myself, and made that dream come true. If there was a limit beyond the sky, I would have sought to overcome it. That should be what you look up to, not me as a person.

If you had been a man, would you have done something different?

I probably would have attempted to become that one man every woman seeks to find. I’d try to be a mix of Gerard Butler and Kathem Al-Saher. I’d be supportive, gentle, and comforting. Someone whose partner is envied by every woman.

A message to your fans…

I ask them to stick with me through thick and thin. If I make a mistake, or if one of my episodes isn’t what you expected, I hope you will still support and love me. I do love my fans, and I need their support, prayers and constructive criticism.

25 insight

Ally Salem Holding Her Own in Male Dominated Professions

As she overshadows the theatrical fog, a thrill of excitement is sent through the air. She starts striking through the reflective chords of her glistening electric guitar, and the clean and crisp sound waves of her tunes emanate rushes of adrenaline throughout the arena, similar to the blitz of ecstasy she feels in each and every car race she has partaken in. She’s a gleaming ball of ardour that exudes inspiration wherever she goes; she’s Ally Salem.

We’ve had a chat with the inspirational guitarist and professional racing driver on how she’s broken all the stereotypes and flourished in typically male-dominated fields, here’s what she told us!

By: Mayar El-Shamy

“[M]y gender was never an obstacle but a motive! Women are often stereotyped when it comes to male-dominated activities like electric guitar playing or car driving, but with my persistence to success, I was able to shatter all taboos.”

“I built my race machine, the Mitsubishi Colt 1992 with the 1.6cc MIVEC engine from scratch.

Then my “Candy” was born and she was hungry for racing!”

26 insight

“I am now competing against men, and performing just like them.”

“A turning point in my musical career was with the Egyptian superstar Tamer Hosny”

T

ell us about yourself and your journey as a musician.

It all started when I was a little girl; I found myself a rock and metal mania, and fell head over heels for electric guitars.

It didn’t take me long to realize that’s what I wanted to do. I started saving money since I was 10, and got my first guitar at 13, and ever since, I decided that I was going to be a rock star!

What is your background in music, and how were you inspired to pursue a career in that field?

I have no academic background, I just loved music so sincerely, and I believed in my talent. I first got inspired to play some Metallica and Iron Maiden, and then moved towards blues. My ultimate milestone was playing the music of the late, legendary Gary Moore; he taught me a lot about my instrument, from basic techniques, all the way to musical competence. Around five years ago, I landed at Pink Floyd; they have a school of their own. If I were to describe my musical background, then I’d say I come from the school of emotions. I am so confident in my guitar feelings; nevertheless, I am revamping my education by learning from the jazz pianist virtuoso, Mr. Rashad Fahim, because no one grows old for learning.

Tell us about ‘Andromida’ and how the band members have come together.

‘Andromida’ is the oldest rock band across Egypt, founded in 1987, basically before I was born! Amr Hassan, one of the founders and the keyboards player for the band, met the first guitarist of the band Ehab Al-Qalie in Alexandria and then Sherif El-Sharqawi, the drummer, joined. The band had prominent members throughout history with Amjad Al-Badri on bass guitar, who is now replaced with our current bass player Ahmed Anwar. The current lineup is Amr, Sherif, Ahmed and I. When the guitarist before me, Sherif Watson, had to leave the band, I got the invitation to join after winning the first prize with my other band ‘Headstock’ in Sawy’s Culture Wheel’s Rock Festival seven years ago, where ‘Andromida’ were the judges! A year after, we had our first concert and I took the responsibility of playing all guitars for the band! It’s been five years since I joined and according to the members, they are the best five years in their history!

You’ve played guitar with many renowned musicians, will you name some?

I had two bands before ‘Andromida’; ‘Bluenotes’, the best blues band in town; and ‘Headstock’, the first award winner in Sawy’s Rock Festival, founded by the hard rock vocalist Hesham Zaky who also sang with ‘Andromida’ previously. A turn-

ing point in my musical career was with the Egyptian superstar Tamer Hosny with whom I was honored to join the stage and represent my rock culture to his huge fan base; it was indeed a great success!

“If I were to describe my musical background, then I’d say I come from the school of emotions.”

Has your gender ever been an obstacle for you to rise as a star? If so, how did you break through?

Honestly, my gender was never an obstacle but a motive!

Women are often stereotyped when it comes to male-dominated activities like electric guitar playing or car driving, but with my persistence to success, I was able to shatter all taboos. You come to my concert, and you hear a professional guitar player! Good art knows no gender.

So far, what do you consider your biggest achievement as a musician?

Joining ‘Andromida’ was a great achievement since they are all much older and a lot more experienced than I am, typically my idols as I used to attend their concerts before I joined. Tamer Hosny’s invitation is an insignia I wear all the time. Playing live with ‘Andromida’ in Dubai was another milestone for me and the band.

When did you discover your passion for car racing?

That moment I held the steering wheel and had my foot on the gas pedal, at 18. Just like guitars, I realized my driving was not going to be limited to the roads.

I wanted more; I wanted to race.

How did your journey as a professional racing driver begin?

Since I established my love for motors, I started to learn about car details, mechanics and car modifications. I knew there must be another world for that. I went to a bunch of Egyptian speed test tournaments called “Autocross” eight years back, got introduced to the drivers and delved into the field. I started racing a year after with my daily car, then I instantly knew what my next challenge would be: building my own race car and becoming a real racing car driver.

This came to life two years ago when I joined one of the most affluent racing teams “Oilibya”, along with the champs of Egyptian motorsport. I built my race machine, the Mitsubishi Colt 1992 with the 1.6cc MIVEC engine from scratch.

Then my “Candy” was born and she was hungry for racing!

Tell us about your successful tournaments and the prizes you won.

I won the overall 2016 Egyptian Speed Test Championship for ladies, the first five consecutive podiums against ladies that year. But I am now competing against men, and performing just like

them. Parallel to competing against women, I compete against men in the 1.6 liter category. Early last year, in the Bin Zayed Speed Challenge, I won first place against men, and I have been on intense training lately with Egypt’s motorsport icon, Shady Ossama. This rendered me in the last three races, in 2016/2017, a consistent threatening rival to men, seizing my spot on the podium. Towards the end of last year, I have made a racing advertisement to Huawei.

Which race was the toughest and why?

STT Time Trials Round 1, 2016, was one of the hardest races I ever joined, since the race included many maneuvers and handbrake orders. But I always believe in myself and in my abilities. If people are able to do it, then I can do it, and do it better! I won the ladies’ first place that race and with that belief, the chain of wins had begun.

What’s next for Ally Salem?

My plans for 2017 is to expand regionally.

I look forward to more regional concerts and perhaps regional races too!

What advice would you give to aspiring young women who idolize you?

My journey was never easy, but it’s worthwhile; it took me years to reach my goals, and it will continue take blood, sweat and tears to break my own records and set new benchmarks. Success is abstract, you shape it.

Photography by: Dany Eid Photography

Nadia Wassef An Advocate for the Arts The co-founder of Diwan bookstores, Nadia Wassef, isn’t just one of Egypt’s most loved entrepreneurs, who provided Egyptian citizens the chance to delve into the renowned bookstore’s culturally vast collection of books as well as best-selling novels from around the world; she’s a voracious reader herself. We got to speak to this entrepreneur, and she’s told us about her journey to cultural competence and empowerment.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

T

“I envision the future of Arab women to be similar to that of Arab men, and the Arab world: pretty dismal unless we stop, think, and do something about it.” ell us about yourself and how Diwan happened.

Diwan was simply a case of positive coincidences overlapping in different spheres.

More simply put: the right people at the right time in the right place! It was in Cairo 16 years ago that Hind, my sister and partner, and I met with a group of friends.

We were all at a crossroads in our lives, questioning careers, and rethinking hopes and dreams. Cairo was ready for the change we wanted. There was growing interest in culture, its production and consumption, and we capitalized on what we saw happening around us, and became a part of it. We were avid readers who had come to realize that we couldn’t find a space that celebrated books, their writers, and their readers. So we decided to create the space 28 insight

that would break down the boundaries of east and west and showcase forms of cultural output: music, film, and the written word. For te past 16 years, Hind Wassef, Nihal Schawky, and I, have tried to give our country our best. We worked hard, fought, laughed, and struggled to give birth to Diwan, grow it, and protect it through some very challenging times.

What sparked your passion for reading?

As a child, I had difficulty fitting in with the world around me. Books were a welcome escape: they took me into other worlds, they freed my imagination, and they taught me to love this world with all its goodness and disappointments.

Reading showed me how to challenge everything I know, and instilled in me the belief that we create the realities we want to live. Fiction is just as valuable as fact, if not more so. Ultimately, reading is how you liberate your mind and yourself.

Your words are the most powerful thing you will ever possess in your life. Use them wisely.

Tell us about Daughters of the Nile.

Daughters of the Nile: Egyptian Women’s Movements, 1900-1960, is a labour of love that my sister, Hind, and I, worked on for many years and was finally published 16 years ago by the American University in Cairo Press. It is a photographic collection of women in Egypt trying to change their world by pioneering in different fields, lobbying for their rights and the rights of others, and being role models for future generations. It is also a tribute to the past, a record of this country’s rich culture, and a nudge to the future. What I find especially powerful in this book is that all the pictures collected for it either came through word of mouth, or from old magazines that littered the pavements, or hidden

in warehouses of the old ezbekiya used book market. This endeavour was an attempt at saving a visual history that may well have gotten lost because no one stopped to record it.

Your work history shows great interest in women’s empowerment.

How do you envision the future of Arab women?

I envision the future of Arab women to be similar to that of Arab men, and the Arab world: pretty dismal unless we stop, think, and do something about it. We need to become familiar with our past, where we have been, to actually have a plan for where we hope to be. One of our main problems as a region and as individuals is that we are in a constant disconnect with that past. People who don’t know their past will never be able to understand their present, and will always be at the mercy of whatever the future brings. This applies to us each as individuals, made up of layers of experiences and dreams, facts and fictions— we need to reconcile them and move forward. Efforts to improve women—and men’s—lot in life have always existed.

Today we need to harness the past in service to the future. We need to be consistent and small goal-oriented.

We have to forge alliances, set small, achievable goals, and take responsibility for our triumphs and failures.

How have Women’s Studies changed your perspective?

Gender is one of the many lenses I see the world through. It is not the only one, because that would cause a kind of myopia to how I choose to understand that world. We should also look at the world around us through the lenses of class, power, ethnicity, and sexuality. I read Simone De Beauvoir in my teens and she had a profound impact on my way of thinking. And her words, more than fifty years later, never cease to amaze me in how relevant they are: “one is not born, but rather, becomes a woman.” The same applies to men.

We put different forms of constraints and pressures on men and women in an effort to mold them into something that patriarchal power structures can accept and manipulate. The basic awareness of this is the first step to changing it.

What kind of obstacles did you have to face in the process of founding Diwan?

When Time Magazine called Hind and I “unlikely entrepreneurs” in an article on Diwan six years ago, they summed it up beautifully. We had no business background, no awareness of the need for budgets, warehousing, finances… we were just armed with a passion and a commitment towards what we wanted to do. We were also happy to try, make mistakes, and try again. The main obstacles we faced had to do with the fact that there was no blue print for what we were trying to do. On the level of IT: at the time there was no software that could accept both Arabic and

English titles of books.

Without it we would be unable to track sales and stock levels. Most importantly, we would be denied the privilege of learning from our customers. We had to try and create something that would work for us. We went through three types of software until we found one that suited our needs. In terms of staffing the bookstore, it was always a difficult balance to strike. People who had degrees in literature, or knew how to manage a library often had a very different set of expectation of how a commercial bookstore should be run. In the end, we settled on people with a positive outlook and “ I refuse to be cast in the role of a victim a pleasant disposition in any aspect of my life. I create my own that we could train.

The other obstacles lay reality and I choose to empower myself in the fact that laws and those around me.” and regulations are not always very clear, so you spend a lot of time allocate resources, the needs of the boy trying to navigate through the chaos, always trump those of the girl. Illiteracy rather than focus on your business. levels are higher among women. I could go on and on. How do we change it?

Has your gender ever been an obstacle for you in Egypt (or else- We work on all levels consistently: Health, education, the law, and above all, we where)? have to work with men.

Never. That is my choice. I refuse to be cast in the role of a victim in any aspect Do you have any goals you have of my life. I create my own reality and yet to achieve?

I choose to empower myself and those I always have goals, and once I am around me. Books are integral to that close to achieving one of them, I move empowerment. Words are the best on to the next. Humans are the sum weapons we can ever have. of their aspirations: if we stop dreaming, we die. I am always mindful of not What makes Diwan different? feeling that I have reached my goal.

Diwan is a labour of love that came from Once you feel you have arrived at your the heart. It had a sincerity about it that destination you tend to get lazy and spoke to our clients very clearly and that that is when failure and lethargy set in. I would explain the loyalty and attachalways feel the need to be outside of my ment that people feel for Diwan to this comfort zone, to always be struggling, day. and striving for something. That is how our best selves are born and continue to What kind of sexism do you see reincarnate. Today, I am in the proin Egypt, and how can we elimicess of doing my third Masters Degree. nate it?

My first was in English & Comparative I think a more precise question is “what Literature (American University in Cairo), form of sexism DO YOU NOT see in my second was in Social Anthropology Egypt?” My answer: none. All forms of (School of Oriental and African Studies, sexism are rampant and unacceptable.

University of London), and this one is in Women today head approximately Creative Writing (Birkbeck, University of 40% of households in Egypt—and that’s London). I have to confess that I find government statistics, so we are not this one the hardest. Writing fiction and exaggerating the figures. Yet, they are nonfiction is a very revealing art and it is not adequately represented in politics, one that forces you to rethink your life, in unions, nor are they treated as equal and your world, to better understand it, citizens in the wages they earn, or before reformulate it, and share it with others. It the law. The personal status laws in also doesn’t help that I am 43 years old, Egypt are offensive to women and are struggle with my ability to focus, and I ridiculously unfair on all fronts. Women am a mother of two very challenging do not feel comfortable walking in the young women: Zein (twelve) and Layla street in their own country, let alone tak(eleven). They keep me on my toes and ing public transportation. When families force me to always try to do better and have multiple children and need to be better.

Photo Credit Islam Hassan

Juditta Salem The Promising Founder of Involution Films and Productions The highly anticipated author of ‘‘The pathology of Innocence: An Involution’, Juditta Salem, is simultaneously a producer, acting coach, writer, and the founder of Involution Films and Productions, raising generations of talented actors, screenwriters and Zen gurus. We’ve spoken to the talented entrepreneur and she’s opened up to us about her feature films, and gave us some insights into the human psyche.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

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“I used hypnotherapy and plant medicine to reach that kind of depth I needed for a character’s authenticity. Constantly experimenting with my own consciousness helps me connect and empathize with all kinds of people and their behaviour without judgment throughout the process.” hat sparked your passion for cinema?

My parents put a great emphasis on culture and they wanted us, their children, to travel a lot, do a lot of reading, learn languages, visit museums and watch films. My whole family writes poetry and creative pieces, including songs, so I picked it up from them, especially my older siblings. My father loved the theatre and my mother used acting as a tour guide to make the history story telling more entertaining to her groups.

Tell us the story of how you founded Flying Masks Agency (FMA).

When I lived in New York, several of my friends were talented actors and musi30 insight

cians, and I took it upon myself to get them out there by finding agents and producers to create an album or to help them through their acting career. During that time, I was already writing articles about fine artists and working as an assistant to Mr. & Mrs. Bregman, who taught me much about the film industry and its etiquette. When I visited Egypt after I graduated from Film School abroad, I met several friends, who were struggling actors and musicians. So I used my existing network to help them on the path, until they suggested I do professionally.

Flying Masks was an international talent representation agency that lasted about six years. I represented many actors, writers and musicians at the time, whom I will continue to help and include in my future projects. Some of the established artists I represented included Vincent Vieluf (Rat Race and Order of Chaos), Khaled Elsawy, Eyad Nassar, Omar Kamel

and Samy EL Sheikh. However, two years ago, my own passion for screenwriting and filmmaking overpowered the agency, so I decided to move on, and continue to help actors by creating projects that would include them as an ensemble. Now I have Involution Films and Productions, which offers several workshops: Acting, Screenwriting and Meditation, as well as various artists services: Headshots, Showreels, Independent Film Production, Script Doctoring as well as Character and Story Analysis. Other than the workshops, I also privately coach actors, who are preparing for a project.

In the past, I have coached Mr. Khaled Elsawy for Blue Elephant, Mr. Eyad Nassar for Moga Harra and Afra7 EL Qobba, and this year I have Ms. Jamila Awad for La Totfe2 Elshams.

Could you tell us more about your feature film, Masks of San-

ity?

Masks of Sanity is my first feature film about personality disorders that Vincent Vieluf was going to direct, but then we had to stop its progress during the revolution. I shot a little teaser of it that depicts my main characters, each enjoying a personality disorder. Since then I have written three other features that I feel are stronger and more profound than the first as I matured as a writer since then.

Now I am ready to shoot my first feature, Dance Macabre, followed by Smoke & Mirrors, followed by The Victim. It is my true passion to raise awareness about certain disorders and behavioral problems as well as healing through involution. I also wrote a book, entitled: ‘The pathology of Innocence: An Involution’ that addresses how we can move from extreme darkness into healing through an involution.

We heard you have come up with a psychological experiment.

What can you tell us about it?

Whenever I write Characters, I slip in and out of their consciousness, but I wanted to delve deeper into their subconscious. I used hypnotherapy and plant medicine to reach that kind of depth I needed for a character’s authenticity. Constantly experimenting with my own consciousness helps me connect and empathize with all kinds of people and their behaviour without judgment throughout the process. Hypnotherapy, Transcendental Meditation and Shamanic Plant Medicine are catalysts for much of this experiment.

Which one of your works are you most proud of and why?

I am proud of the journey in its entirety.

Life has its twists and turns and the industry is very layered and requires a lot of inner strength to keep going no matter what.

What kind of everyday challenges do you have to face?

The main every day challenges entail dealing with much time wasted and energy drainage over things that can be solved in a minute. There is so much noise in the city that affects everyone else, which then people start to project on each other. I meditate on a daily basis, and minimize phone calls, social media and arguing so I can better focus on what matters. I also do not believe in competition and many still have a scarcity mentality that they think if they obstruct the progress of someone else, they would succeed. I only compete with my former self and seek to expand my consciousness and to continually learn and develop into a better human every day, while helping others reach their full potential. In a world that is crippled by self-doubt, I seek to act as a reflector that reminds others of their greatness and inner beauty rather than fear it. It is a challenge to deal with energies, while pushing ourselves to move forward.

How can an actor break free from stage fright?

An actor can break free of anything by

shifting their focus on what they want to express and achieve rather on what they do not want. It’s really about what you look at and which thoughts you nourish, and about transforming your energy into one that would be useful to you. Separating your soul from your ego would help achieve that in terms of deciding which voice you pay attention to, while meditation helps us with grounding and expansion so to speak. Stage fright is nothing but fearing how others see you, and falling for the delusion that we are separate from each other. If we were to stay connected to our observer self, and remember that we are all one and the same, our fear would dissipate. Still, it is not easy and needs daily discipline and practice, so it is important not to judge ourselves when we fall every once in a while.

How has studying the human psyche helped you become a better acting coach?

Studying human behavior and gaining deeper understanding of the human psyche has strengthened my intuition that writers and coaches need to connect with their “students”. The more I understand the behavior, the easier it gets to break down the character to make it easier for the actor to become it, as opposed to perform it superficially. I see the process of human development as one of unfolding rather than becoming, and in the process of being the character, we are better able to become it, because as humans we are in a silent and empty state of being ready to be filled by whatever consciousness we need in a given moment. In turn, creating our reality becomes second nature to the actor.

Walk us through a typical day in Juditta Salem’s life.

Once awake, I spend one hour in meditation, surrounded by my pets. Then we have breakfast, and I take my dog for a walk. The following two hours are dedicated to writing, then the day begins with its demands, be it acting workshop, meditation, writing workshop or meetings. Then I spend two hours watching something that teaches me something new, meditation for 30 minutes, writing my intentions, give my gratitude, send good healing wishes to everyone, and I go to sleep. Of course, eating healthy and exercising are daily necessities.

Where do you draw your inspiration from before screenwriting?

Everything can be an inspiration if we are mindful of our surroundings and are

“Stage fright is nothing but fearing how others see you, and falling for the delusion that we are separate from each other. ”

genuinely present. Sometimes I am not quite sure where I get inspired from and receive some idea, as it truly feels like a gift from the universe that writes through me and I am grateful for that.

How can our readers reach you if they want to attend Involution Films & Productions acting classes?

Our page is available on Facebook. They can also reach me via email: involutionfilms@gmail.com We are also preparing for a very unique workshop called Actors Making Film, which will combine a few selected writers and actors who will have the opportunity to learn, while preparing for a feature film to be produced at the end of the workshop.

A word for our readers…

Your most valuable currency is your time and your energy. Time, once wasted, cannot be compensated, and energy drained, takes away from the amazing things you are meant to achieve. Be mindful of those along with your health and keep the faith in yourself to do better.

Surround yourself with good people, and invest your energy in things that would move you forward and up. Your inner world has the solution for all that is external. Forgive yourself and others, which means not allowing what is no longer useful to create unnecessary fears and pain.

Healing is a beautiful process that will make you shine. So, be patient with yourself. All in good time. Happy involution. I wish you love, health, peace, happiness and open paths.

Hadeer Shalaby The Phenomenal Entrepreneur Hadeer Shalaby, the General Manager of Careem Cairo, has stood in the face of seemingly impossible challenges and made opportunities out of them with her matchless leadership potential and problem-solving genius. We’ve spoken with the founder and president of AIESEC Lebanon about how she managed to become one of Egypt’s most affluent entrepreneurs. Hadeer told us her story of the founding of Careem and how she ended up managing the biggest city in the network.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

“Self-motivation is very important; if you base your motivation on external factors, in my opinion, you will fail. You can’t base it on praise from other people or money.”

“I love my job so much that it somehow became my personal life” 32 insight

“[B]eing a female was never a challenge for me.”

“My current goal is to make transportation in Egypt smoother”

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ell us about yourself and how you ended up GM of Careem Cairo.

I’m Hadeer Shalaby, General Manager of Careem Cairo. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in business administration and marketing from The American University in Cairo (AUC). I’ve always had a love for entrepreneurship which encouraged me to introduce the first car reservation service via phone in the North Coast through “Taxi Al Sahel”. I was then contacted by Careem co-founders to start Careem in Egypt.

What kind of obstacles do you have to challenge everyday as a GM? We work in a very dynamic and competitive market. Of course, there are a lot of challenges, but our approach at Careem is to turn these obstacles into opportunities to expand our business and enhance the standards of services we provide. The great thing about this is that we learn something new every day, and it is never boring as you keep facing different challenges with this huge rate of growth.

What makes Careem unique?

Careem is a home-grown brand; from the region, for the region and the first unicorn in the transportation industry in MENA with value exceeding USD 1 billion.

When I started Careem Egypt, we were just three employees and in a matter of few years, we became 100 employees in Cairo in addition to 300 agents in our call center; we plan to grow even more.

Egypt’s fleet of Captains has expediently grew to reach 50,000 out of 200,000 Captains in the whole region. As we operate in the biggest city in the region, we always change our product based to cater to the needs of our local customers such as introducing variable payment options. Cairo also houses the region’s call center “Careem Care” serving the whole region with a current workforce of 300 agents and firm plans to increase the number to 1,000 agents by end of year.

Tell us about the story of founding AIESEC. In 2011, I became the President and founder of AIESEC in Lebanon; the largest organization managed by youth aiming to develop youth leaders through programs in 125 countries around the world. Lebanon witnessed the fastest expansion rate in the history of AIESEC in the last 68 years. We accomplished a series of achievements with my team proudly winning the Leadership Award sponsored by ING, one of the largest

banks in Europe. It was my first entrepreneurial experience. I went there knowing no one, yet I had to rally people around a vision to create a future they’ve never seen before. This was probably the most adventurous experience of my life; I came back later with hundreds of friends from Lebanon, which ever since became my second home.

Were you expecting such global success for AIESEC? I’ve always believed in the great potentials of youth organizations. Globally, AIESEC has achieved remarkable successes for years, but it started to boom in the last seven years as growth became the key focus for the organization. The impact it had on positively changing people’s lives encouraged more people to join. Following the great success we achieved in Lebanon, I was chosen to hold the position of Entity Development Vice President, AIESEC International where I was responsible for the expansion in new countries and consultancy for more than 21 countries on growth opportunities in various sectors, as well as overseeing the peoples’ development program across the world. It’s a story definitely worth telling!

“Every day, I need to prove that being a woman is not a reason to not be equally treated and it’s great to see the stereotype changing.”

Has being female ever been a challenge to you on your way to the top?

Passion; you have to be passionate about what you do. Don’t just do it for money or to make someone else happy.

Always do things that will help you learn more. Whatever you know is not enough.

Be good to people and good things will keep happening to you.

As part of the Careem network, being a female was never a challenge for me.

The only criteria for evaluating people in Careem is their performance and dedication to what they do. However, it is not that easy in the external world.

Every day, I need to prove that being a woman is not a reason to not be equally treated and it’s great to see the stereotype changing.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

How do you juggle between your career and personal life?

What are your keys to success?

Self-motivation is very important; if you base your motivation on external factors, in my opinion, you will fail. You can’t base it on praise from other people or money. I base my motivation on passion and what I want to accomplish. I need to have a strong reason behind “why I work, where I work and why I do what I do and how will that help me learn more and develop more”. If this reason is strong, then I don’t need anything else to motivate me.

I love my job so much that it somehow became my personal life because I enjoy doing what I do. However, I also try to do other things like travelling in every vacation. I also take Acapella classes just for fun.

Do you have any goals you have yet to achieve?

What would you advise aspiring young women who look up to you?

My current goal is to make transportation in Egypt smoother and to reduce congestion in the streets.

If there was one thing you would have done differently at the beginning of your journey, what would it have been?

I would have done it with what I know now.

Dream big, be different, don’t listen to people who tell you your idea won’t succeed.

Radwa El-Ziki On Her Fashion Taste and beauty Favorites

Nothing says success more than looking the part!

Radwa El-Ziki tells us her favourite beauty pickme-ups that she absolutely cannot do without. We love all her choices!

Compelling fragrance

…

Narciso Rodriguez!

Beauty fix

…

Concealer and high-lighter.

Shoe haven

Favourite trendsetter …

…

Top Shop!

Favourite street style

Zoe Kravitz and Kendall Jenner.

…

Oversized T-shirts with boyfriend jeans and statement shoes.

I can’t leave home without …

My lipstick and my phone!

Favourite runway designer …

Balenciaga and Balmain.

Favourite nightspot

…

Ubistro and the Lemon Tree.

34 insight

Favourite accessory …

Vintage or Raybans sunglasses.

Beauty tip …

Always nourish your facial skin.

Great Mother’s Day Gifts tif

fA

ny

&c

o.

BeSt MoM eVer MuG

We can never successfully repay what our mothers have put themselves through for our sake, but we can do one thing, and that’s buying them a thoughtful present they can actually use for themselves (not kitchen pots!) Here are our favourite picks:

Anuket cAiro

By: Sherif Alkady

JiMMy choo Gift Set

orifLAMe

BAth And Body workS Pink Peony crèMe

BrAun kitchen MAchine LArSSon & JenninGS LuGAno wAtch

BAth And Body work wArM VAniLLA SuGAr

cASLon ScArf

neSPreSSo MAchine

MiSS dior PerfuMe

Suzan Idris On Her Fashion Taste and beauty Favorites

Nothing says success more than looking the part!

Suzan Salah Idris tells us her favourite beauty pick-me-ups that she absolutely cannot do without.

We love all her choices!

Compelling fragrance

…

Victor and Rolf’s Flower Bomb.

Beauty fix

…

MAC Pro long wear waterproof brow set.

Shoe haven

…

Louboutin, Manolo, Blahnik and Sophia Webster.

Favourite trendsetter …

Rihanna.

I can’t leave home without …

Evian mini mineral face spray.

Favourite runway designer …

Gucci and Dsquared.

Favourite nightspot …

Cairo Jazz Club.

36 insight

Favourite accessory …

Beauty tip …

My Swarovski Necklace.

Give yourself a break from makeup every once in a while.

Ines Gohar

On Her Fashion Taste and beauty Favorites Nothing says success more than looking the part!

Ines Gohar tells us her favourite beauty pick-meups that she absolutely cannot do without. We love all her choices!

Compelling fragrance

…

Clean Ultimate.

Beauty fix

…

Kiehl’s everything.

Favourite trendsetter …

Shoe haven

Buyers and fashion editors, mainly. …

Gucci Princetown Slippers.

Favourite street style

…

Sneakers on everything. Socks with heels.

I can’t leave home without …

My phone.

Favourite accessory …

My gold bangles. And more recently the “Vangell-Ines Eye” I codesigned with my friend and fourth generation jeweler, Tony Vangelli.

Favourite nightspot …

Any byGanz party would be my answer. Otherwise cozy dinners at Makino.

Favourite runway designer …

Alessandro Michele for Gucci, Mary Katrantzou, who became a friend, and Mohanad Kojak, my protégé.

Beauty tip …

Leave your hair to Marwan Araby.

Trust him blindly.

Yosra

El-Barkouky Reigning Supreme in the Fashion Industry

We always bring you the best of Egyptian fashion icons, and there’s no better example for rising designers than Yosra El-Barkouky’s eponymous brand, which offers modern fashion lovers a taste of modernistic elegance and idiosyncrasy. Yosra has spoken to us about her line that specializes in evening wear and couture and how she manages to add an avant-garde touch to her collections.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

“I want to give women the chance to look and feel like celebrities walking on the red carpet.”

“ I’m obsessed with Dolce & Gabbana.”

38 insight

“The challenge remains in how to create a very unique high-end piece with an affordable price”.

“After realizing my dream, I enrolled in and graduated from the Italian Fashion Academy”.

T

ell us about yourself and what sparked your interest in fashion.

ity, expensive materials and

I began my relation-

tire, made especially for the

ship with fashion at the

wearer’s measurements and

tender age of five. I

body stance. Overall, they’re

used to make dresses with my mum for my Barbie dolls and always had an eye for colour coordination; art was actually my favourite subject at school. When the time came for me to enroll in a university, I chose a major in Business Administration from Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport. I eventually went to achieve a masters in Human Resources at the American university in Cairo (AUC), but after graduating, I realized that I really wanted to pursue my dream

often employs unusual fabric as well. It caters to clients who seek specifically tailored at-

very unique pieces.

What were your biggest obstacles in reaching where you are now?

The biggest obstacle was how hard it was to find a qualified tailor as well as other workers.

They should cater to specific criteria and have certain qualifications in order to do such detailed work.

dream, I enrolled in and graduated from

Do you have a favourite collection so far?

the Italian Fashion Academy, and spe-

I don’t have a specific fa-

cialized in couture/evening wear. My first

vourite. So far, I’m in love with

collection was the AW16’17.

every single dress I have ever

of working in fashion. After realizing my

How did going to the Italian Fashion Academy add to your experience?

made.

When I thought about furthering my

Would you consider yourself inspired by any celebrity fashion designers?

education, I debated going to fashion

Of course! I’m obsessed with Dolce &

powerhouse locations like France and

Gabbana.

Italy, but after much thought I decided to stay in Egypt. Eventually, I discovered that the Italian Fashion Academy was the most established fashion school in Egypt, founded and headed by Dr. Stefania Gulina. I was able to accomplish both goals there! I very much appreciate all what they have done to help me achieve my goals. If it hadn’t been for the support and guidance of Dr. Stefania and her staff of phenomenal instructors, I may not have been able to realize my dream of following my passion for fashion.

What made you specialize in evening wear in particular?

I’m obsessed with evening/couture lines because I love high-end fashion that is intricately handmade from start to finish. It’s always made of high qual-

What materials are most challenging to work with?

There is no certain material, but the challenge usually comes from working with different types and colours of fabrics to create the unique designs we have in mind.

How do you balance between commerce and creativity in your designs?

It’s important to balance your creativity with the commercial appeal to drive sales, but as a designer, you should acknowledge that high quality fabrics or hand-embroidered details require high prices. However, if your customer cannot afford it, no matter how spectacular the design is, your products will not be sold.

The challenge remains in how to create a very unique high-end piece with an affordable price for your target clients.

Tell us about your SS17’ Capsule Collection.

My SS17’ capsule collection is under the name of Back to the Future, which is inspired by the 80’s and David Bowie, with a Modern Twist. This collection is different from my first because it’s all about corsets that you can wear in many ways: from matching them with denim and flare pants to pulling them off on pencil skirts. They’re also hand-embroidered with flowers, stars, butterflies, angel wings, hearts and even spiders.

How do you seek to empower women through your fashion art?

I want to give women the chance to look and feel like celebrities walking on the red carpet.

What’s next for Yosra El-Barkouky?

My next step is to participate in international fashion weeks.

Styling/Art Director: Sarah Abul Ela Photography: Youssra Fawzy MUA: Yasmine Ebeid Jewellery: IRAM Model: Iryna Yanchukovich Hair: Kriss Beauty Salons

Fuchsia CHIC

We’d hate to sound stereotypical, marking fuchsia and pink shades as the single most feminine shades a woman can wear, but you have to admit they pretty much suit everyone in every occasion. From bright neon pink, to subtle rose, you cannot go wrong with these looks.

By: Sherif Alkady

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

MATTHEW WILLIAMSON

GUCCI

LE SPECS

Marc by Marc Jacobs

SOPHIE HULME

MARCELO BURLON

NARCISO RODRIGUEZ 40 insight

BALENCIAGA

MIU MIU

ALEXANDER WANG

FURLA

ISA ARFEN

Mary Katrantzou

MOSCHINO

BARBARA BUI

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN

MICHAEL KORS

GUCCI

BKLYN

BaubleBar

Mini Bag Haven By: Sherif Alkady

An outfit isn’t complete without the right purse. It doesn’t just add the final fashion touch we all seek, but a woman can’t possibly go out without her precious tools.

If you don’t usually carry much with you, these mini bags will be everything you need.

PRADA

SOPHIE HULME

CULT FOLLOWERS

TOM FORD

LANVIN MARK CROSS

OKHTIEN

42 insight

JIMMY CHOO

GUCCI SIMON MILLER

MOSCHINO CHLOÉ

DOLCE & GABBANA

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN FENDI

MANSUR GAVRIEL ZAAM

5 Hacks to Stunning Lashes

Whether you notice it or not, it’s your lashes that accentuate the beauty of your eyes; they emphasize their size and pop out their shape. The trick never lies in smothering your eye lashes in enough mascara to make each of eyes to look like a mutant spider with a thousand legs. It may sound tedious to wake up every morning to a new beauty routine, but it’s simpler than it may seem. Here are natural hacks to getting strong, longer lashes.

Castor Oil

the dirt that’s clogging them.

Clogged pores on your lash line result in hair fall before the hair is long or strong enough to give you the full voluminous look we all dream of. For even more efficacious results, you can add a few drops of vitamin E oil on your brush to help strengthen them as well as give them a natural reflective glow.

Oil in your eyes sounds like a recipe for disaster, but it doesn’t have to be that way if you take the right precautions. All you need to do is have a clean mascara brush as well as castor oil. If you carefully dab the brush in the oil and make sure it isn’t dripping by rubbing the excess off at the edge of the container, you’ll find applying it as easy as applying mascara. In fact, it will give you an instant volume boost without wreaking havoc on the health of your lashes like mascara does.

Supplements Hair supplements aren’t just for the health of the hair on your head.

Products specifically made for hair growth such as biotin and renowned brand names make your hair grow all over. The downside is, you might have to shave or wax the double amount of times you’re used to, which is why it’s recommended to use these pills as a temporary quick fix to a bad haircut or short lashes. Alternatively, you can boost your diet with more lean proteins and biotin-rich foods such as nuts, eggs and leafy greens.

Aloe Vera Gel While it’s not as easy to apply as castor oil, aloe vera doesn’t just help your eye lashes grow, but it will also soften them enough to be

44 insight

more easily styled. The thick organic gel helps thicken your shaft without compromising its sleek and shine. That said, some advise mixing it with thinner oil, like coconut or castor oil, to make its texture less sticky, and thus easier to apply without gluing your eyes together.. If you would like to apply it raw for maximum results, make sure you do so directly before going to bed to avoid having it drool inside your eyes.

Brush Your Lashes Simply brushing your lashes on a daily basis can help immensely. With how dusty and typically polluted the weather of Cairo is, you’re doing your pores a favour by ridding them of

Lemon Peels Before you freak out, let’s be clear that we’re not asking you to squeeze a lemon in each eye. Lemon peels overflow with essential nutrients like folic acid as well as vitamins C and B, making the perfect agent for your thirsty lashes. These nutrients work brilliantly when infused with coconut or olive oil, depending on how thick you like your texture. All you need is a tablespoon of dried lemon peels in a container of any nourishing raw oil of your choice, just enough to get the peels soaked.

The mixture should be left at least a week before you have your own homemade lash booster!

What’s up Egypt ?

Pamper your MUM Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo Offers an Unforgettable Mother’s Day Getaway Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers…

Where Mums Can Eat for Free!

Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers throws a special celebration for all the mums out there! When they are accompanied by three or more persons, they get to eat for free! Not only that, but a surprise gift awaits them. You can book now and help make your mum’s day memorable.

You’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of buffet and a la carte choices that cater to everyone’s tastes and needs.

Soma Bay, for The perfect Mother’s Day

Renaissance Cairo Mirage City Hotel Celebrates Mother’s Day

It is finally time for family gettogethers, and there is no one more special than Mum on Mother’s Day. You can celebrate all that she has been to the family and show everyone’s appreciation and love for her at Renaissance Cairo Mirage city hotel. Discover Chinese specialty with the whole family at Chinoix.

Mothers will enjoy complimentary dinner for every table of at least four persons. For a contemporary atmosphere, head to Citron and delight in a lavish international dinner buffet with the family where Mum will dine for free.

Surprise your beloved mum with an out-ofthe-ordinary present and treat her to a memorable stay in the haven of tranquillity and relaxation at Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay. The hotel has graciously prepared few suggestions to make every mum feel like a real Queen. The pastry chefs geared up to bake a mouthwatering Mother’s Day mega cake, using their special recipe of love and appreciation in The View Restaurant.

This Mother’s day, celebrate mum’s special place in your life with an unforgettable getaway at Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo. With a lavish Mother’s day buffet and indulgent spa specials, it’s never been easier to show mum how much you care.

You can treat your mum to a spectacular, hassle-free Mother’s Day buffet filled with delightful selection of breads, soups, salads, entrees, desserts and more. You will enjoy a complimentary meal when dining with three paying guests.

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Offers a Month-Long Mother’s Day

Join Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski for Mother’s Day festivities with many upcoming activities and promotions. This month, you can rejoice with luxury at Kempinski’s signature restaurants; accompany your beloved family to The State- buffet, Lucca- Italian cuisine, Yana- Thai restaurant, or Romanov- grill house for a special culinary journey. Experience a special family event at Vibes Lounge and terrace on Mother’s Day for a special High Tea Time from serving finger delicacies along with live entertainment. Le Petit Royal, kids club, will provide several children’s activities to keep the little ones entertained. You can pamper your queen at Resense Spa with exclusive packages and offers during the entire month of March. The packages vary and include a 3-hour spa treatment, manicure or pedicure, anti-aging facial, and a full body massage.

Sheraton Montazah Hotel, Alexandria, Has Special Gifts for Mothers

Mothers are precious and Mother’s day is a time of celebration for Mums. It is a great traditional celebration that enable us to show them how much we care, appreciate and love because neither words nor language can express our deep and sincere feelings towards them. You can also go to Sheraton Montazah Hotel, where you will find a simple and kind gift that will draw a smile on the face of the dearest lady in your life; a nice cake created, designed and specially innovated by the hotel’s pastry chef for this particular occasion. The hotel has lots of discounts offers on the table this month, so make sure you drop by.

RehamKhalifa The Makeup Guru

She’s not just our favourite makeup artist that knows how to bring out everyone’s eccentric side through the art of makeup, but she’s also a mother of an adorable boy and an entrepreneur on the verge of making it international. She knows how to multi-task smoothly and how to shuffle between her personal life and career. The founder of RK Makeup Studio, Reham Khalifa, told us all about her secrets to success and managing her time. Check out our exclusive interview with her!

By: Mayar El-Shamy

W and what you do?

hat can you tell us about yourself

I’m a mother to an amazing two yearold son and a makeup artist, and I am quite proud of who I am today.

How did you decide makeup was your passion?

I remember seven years ago, my mum told me to do what I love and what makes me happy, so I chose to be a makeup artist; it’s the one thing that makes me feel alive.

How does it feel to do what you love for a living?

There is something about doing what you love; it needs a hard work and a lot of practice. As a self-taught makeup artist, I have experienced the ups and down of the ever-changing beauty industry, but it has also become the basis of why I tend to create my own unique touch in every face.

What values must one hold to become successful in this field?

When it comes to having a successful career as a makeup artist, who you are is just as important as what you do. I have seen that personality matters as much as skills do. You must be yourself and let that shimmer through your art, whether you are working with a bride for a day, or traveling on tour as a personal makeup 46 insight

artist to a celebrity. The reason they request you by name is because your personality that shows through your work.

miss any of them. I also try to avoid wasting time at work as well.

What sort of obstacles did you have to face in your journey to becoming renowned?

Good manners, showing gratitude, being truthful, respecting people, and communication. You must teach them the ability to exchange thoughts, feelings and information.

I struggled a lot, but my heart and mind told me that I could do it. I worked hard until I finally opened my own makeup studio, and that’s when my dream had come true. It’s hard to keep up the good work with the same efforts when you are married and have a kid, aside from your passion in what you do that compels you to be a perfectionist; however, when you achieve your dreams, you just get stronger.

What do you love the most about your job?

What I love the most about my job is how I get to accentuate the beauty of bridesto-be enough to see them confident about themselves. To be able to make a bride look glowing in her most special, memorable day is the happiness itself.

In your opinion, what are the most crucial values and skills to teach your child at a young age?

Has your child ever embarrassed you in public? If so, tell us about it?

Oh yes, a lot actually because of having to breast feed him. He once kept pulling my shirt off in front of everyone for me to feed him.

Do you disagree with the father about parenting issues? How do manage to parent as a team?

I respect my husband and our parental discussions, but of course sometimes I disagree on certain things, sometimes he does. Parenting is one of the most important responsibilities and it’s an equally tough job. Like you said, we try to be a “team”; we discuss everything together and we try to solve our problems as a family.

Describe your most precious moment during your career.

My favourite moments are whenever my mum says she is proud me. I’m thankful for what I have and what I have done in the past seven years. Happy mother’s day

How do you manage to juggle between motherhood and work?

Being a full time working mother can lead to feelings of guilt and stress because of divided attention between work and family. The key is to focus on a plan, be organized by making a schedule for yourself. I list a yearly plan of all the things I want to do, all the activities I need to try out, and I do my best not to

Sally Abdelsalam’s makeup by Reham Khalifa.

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Dr. Georgette Savvides Psy.D

Consultant Clinical & Business Psychologist Psychealth Services & Training New Cairo -6th of October Photo: Nader Abdo 35mm Creative Studios- New Cairo Makeup: Michel Makdesy - La Coupe Stylist: Raphaela Savvides Clothes by: ONE Designs & JUPE Greece

Balancing between a Successful Career and a Personal Life

I chose to write about achieving balance between a successful career and a personal life as it has been one of my own major struggles. I am not sure if I found the perfect formula or not, but it has helped indeed in putting psychological theory into practice. At times, when I feel confused, stressed, guilty and mainly burned out because of trying to find the perfect balance between keeping both my worlds going fine; I resort to what I know best, psychology…

hrough trial and error, and many attempts to practice what I preach about time management, work-life balance…etc., I finally figured out that the following points are the most essential to keep a sane relationship between both worlds. It is very important to: Be physically and mentally present during both work time and personal time. How to accomplish this? One can disable work emails when on vacation or while out spending time with family or friends. Schedule regular workouts to ensure physical health is up to par.

Track your time. “Analyzing your present situation is the first step in achieving a balanced life. Keep a time log of everything you do for one week, including work-related and personal activities. This data will serve as an eye-opener in helping you understand how are you using -- and where are you losing -your time,” says Tim Kehl, a work-life balance specialist.

Avoid burnout, which tends to occur when one feels overwhelmed and unable to meet 48 insight

constant demands (such as the need to balance between work and personal life). How to do this? Reduce stress using effective time management: set daily schedules and stick to them. Saying no when you are at capacity is also important.

Realize the importance of making time for You. Have a ‘me’ party! Set aside time to do something only for yourself, any activity you enjoy, during which you switch off your phone and allow yourself to only focus on the activity at hand and on yourself. This will give you time to recharge and reduce your stress levels, which in turn will benefit both your coworkers in regards to your work life, and your friends and family in regards to your personal life.

Importance of switching off your phone: Robert Brooks, a professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School says, “Phone notifications interrupt your off-time and inject an undercurrent of stress in your system. So don’t text at your kid’s soccer game and don’t send work emails while you’re hanging out with your family. Make quality time real quality time.” “By not reacting to the updates from work, you will develop a stronger habit of resilience. Resilient people feel a greater

sense of control over their lives, while reactive people have less control and are more prone to stress,” says Brooks.

Self-care: Exercise, Yoga or meditation. “When I talk about balance, not everything has to be the completion and achievement of a task; it also has to include self-care so that your body, mind and soul are being refreshed,” says American psychologist Marilyn Puder-York.

“Instead of trying to do it all, focus on activities you specialize in and value most. Delegate or outsource everything else. Delegating can be a win-win situation,”says Stewart Freidman, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School and author of Leading the Life You Want: Skills for Integrating Work and Life. “Talk to the “key stakeholders” in different areas of your life, which could include employees or colleagues at work, a spouse or a partner in a community project,” he recommends. “Find out what you can do to let go in ways that benefit other people by giving them opportunities to grow. This will give them a chance to learn something new and free you up so you may devote attention to your higher priorities,” says Freidman.

Celebrities with Their Mini Mes The apple surely doesn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to beauty genes.

Nothing says woman empowerment more than taking after your affluent mother in appearance…and hopefully one day in success. After doing some digging, we have found the perfect definitions of the adorable Mini Me syndrome; here are six of our favourite celebrities with their younger clones. By: Mayar El-Shamy

DOMINIQUE AND DELARA

NANCY AJRAM WITH MILA AND ELLA

NAWAL AL ZOGHBI AND TIA

Being a mother hasn’t stopped Dominique from surprising us with her stunning photo shoots. Only now, they’re often with her equally beautiful daughter, Delara, who has her mother’s smile and charming spontaneity.

We love how they dress alike, accentuating how much of a mini-Dominique the adorable Delara looks.

She isn’t just Lebanon’s sweetheart with a mellifluous voice that has us in awe. Nancy Ajram is as good of a mother as she is a musician. As much as we enjoy Ajram’s tunes, we also love skipping through her daughters’ official pages and watching our jaws drop over how much they resemble their mother in posture and beauty.

As Tia’s Instagram goes viral, it’s no wonder her photo shoots are as breathtaking as they are, seeing as she has taken after her mother’s natural beauty and model-like posture. While their pictures with one another show how close they are and how Tia’s facial features render her a carbon copy of her mother, Tia’s personal shoots foreshadow a promising career in modeling.

JESSICA ALBA AND HONOR MARIE WARREN

UMA THURMAN AND MAYA THURMAN-HAWKE

KATE BECKINSALE AND LILY MO SHEEN

It’s no secret that the Fantastic Four star is a looker. Honor Marie, her firstborn daughter, looks like she’s following in her mother’s footsteps in terms of looks and confidence.

Although we’re not huge fans of paparazzi, we’re so in love with these sneak peeks they were able to provide us of Alba with Warren strutting the streets together.

Ethan Hawk and Uma Thurman were one of our all-time favourite Hollywood pairs, partly because they made a darn cute couple, and partly because they’ve created a child that takes after her father’s musical talents and her mother’s stunning looks and beautiful smile.

Though the pair are no longer together, we’re still happy to see their daughter, Maya, blooming and rocking her prime.

The Underworld actress doesn’t just star in some of our favourite blockbusters, making us jealous with her jaw-dropping pulchritude, she also happens to be brilliant mother to Lily Mo Sheen, who has taken after her mother’s cinematic talents and starred in the Underworld sequel as young Selene, the young version of her mother’s role, Selene.

Pregnant Celebrities Expecting in 2017 It doesn’t take a teenager who’s typically overly-enthusiastic about celebrity gossip to be excited about our favourite stars expecting babies this year. Celebrity babies are legacycarriers that will perpetuate the arts their parents master…and they also mean fabulous mother-baby Instagram photos that trigger our mother instincts and our inclination to go baby shopping for matching outfits. These stars are expecting babies this year, and we absolutely cannot wait to have a share of their joy.

BEYONCÉ

AMAL CLOONEY

AMANDA SEYFRIED

The American singer, songwriter and actress has been our muse ever since she managed to score early success with former all-girl band Destiny’s Child, until this very day with her groundbreaking solos and impressive film roles.

We were excited enough to hear about her pregnancy that not only took her audience by storm, but is said to skyrocket Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s marriage into its prime; however, we’ve been injected with double the enthusiasm on hearing they’re expecting twins!

Another stunning role model who’s expecting twins! The affluent barrister at Doughty Street Chambers who specializes in human rights says she’s due this June. After George Clooney officially tied the knot with Amal in Venice three years ago, the couple have been one of Hollywood’s most talked about pairs. The excited husband and soon-to-be father of twins has recently vocalized his enthusiasm about the pregnancy saying “We are really happy and really excited. It’s going to be an adventure.”

The American actress and songwriter who starred Hollywood’s best blockbusters including ‘Mean Girls’, ‘Mama Mia’ and ‘Les Misérables’ is expecting her first-ever child with her fiancé, Thomas Sadoski, later this year. The Newsroom star, Thomas, has voiced his excitement about his fatherhood saying “I spend a lot of my time looking at this bump that’s growing inside of her and just thinking… ‘You have no idea how lucky you are to have a mom like this.’”

LAUREN CONRAD

NATALIE PORTMAN

IRINA SHAYK

The fashion designer and author who’s starred in many of MTV’s popular TV series including ‘The Hills’ is expecting her first child! The star has publicly shared a photo of her sonogram on social media to announce the great news with her spouse William Tell. The reality TV star who was formerly a Teen Vogue intern hasn’t just flourished into a successful fashion designer with her own line, but seems to have found her other half with whom she’ll share a happy parenthood in her £3.3 million mansion.

The actor, producer and director ,who has starred in the phenomenal ‘V for Vendetta’ and ‘Black Swan’, is expecting a second baby boy with her spouse Benjamin Millepied.

The ‘Jackie’ star has been recently spotted dressed in casual wear flaunting her huge baby bump with her hair tied back, running errands in LA. Her son Aleph will soon have a baby brother to look after, and we’ll have family photos to look forward to!

The Russian model who first received international recognition after becoming the face of Intimissimi Lingerie is expecting a baby, but keeping her baby bump covered and hasn’t been very open about her due date. The model’s partner, Bradley Cooper, has been spotted escorting Irina to doctor visits. Officially, however, the couple have not confirmed the pregnancy news.

50 insight

Woman Firsts around the World In the spirit of commemorating women and their revolutionary strides to change the world for the better, we have gathered some of our favourite female pioneers in history who strived to defy stereotypes, and flourished in formerly male-dominated fields. These outstanding figures ingrained in our history have stepped outside their expected roles to become leading firsts, inspiring following generations to follow in their footsteps.

VALENTINA TERESHKOVA (RUSSIA)

KATHRYN BIGELOW (AMERICA)

MARIE CURIE (POLAND)

Valentina Tereshkova is not merely the fifth astronaut to go into the Earth’s orbit, but the first woman in history to ever fly into space. Although a former textile worker, she has always had adventurousness running in her veins and was known to parachute for fun. It was 1963 when she became the first female to step outside our planet. She successfully orbited the earth a whopping 48 times in less than three days, rendering her the ideal representative of the USSR at international events.

After directing her low-budget war film based on Iraq, The Hurt locker, Bigelow became the first-ever woman director to receive an Oscar.

The film also received a multitude of academy awards including best picture along with best original screenplay.

Although the apolitical film on bomb disposal experts was heavily critiqued and attacked by bomb experts, there were no differing opinions on her impeccable direction.

Marie Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only woman in history to receive it twice in two separate fields: Physics and chemistry. The former tutor and governess was known to make use of her spare time to study physics, chemistry and maths before she was introduced to the French Physicist, Pierre Curie, who later become a scientific duo. They have both done crucial studies that have led to the discovery of polonium, radium, and the development of X-rays.

ALISHA ABDULLAH (INDIA)

HANNA REITSCH (GERMANY)

SIRIMAVO BANDARANAIKE (SRI LANKA)

India’s first female national racing champion, Alisha Abdullah, has always been in love with racing since she was a child. At just nine years old, she would practice go-karting. She started winning races at eleven after which time she officially received the MRF National award for Go-Karting as well as the Best Novice Award in the National level Formula Car Racing. It was thirteen years ago that she decided to move from four wheels to motor bikes, rendering herself the first professional female biker in India.

The German pilot, Hanna Reitsch, became the first woman to fly a rocket plane, a jet fighter, and a helicopter, and is thus known as the most celebrated female aviator in Germany. She was not only the first, but the sole female aviator to have received the Iron Cross First Class award. Although she initially studied medicine, she eventually abandoned the field without looking back to become a full- time pilot and aviation instructor.

The Sri Lankan politician and stateswoman became the world’s first-ever female to be appointed prime minister upon winning the 1960 Ceylon general election. Although she was a clever politician and socialist who nationalized banking, insurance and schools, she was shortly deemed a threat after proposing to change the official language from English to Sinhala and was later outplayed by her own daughter, Chandrika, who was then elected president the same year.

The Power of Motherhood:

How Giving Birth Changes Your Brain epression and anxiety are not the only the psychological outcomes following the birth of your child. After generations of casually noticing changes in the psyche of females after giving birth, it has finally been confirmed by scientists that a woman’s brain does process alterations due to a surge of multifarious hormones that run through your body during pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

Your brain grows Shortly after giving birth, there will be a limited but significant, decrease in the volume of gray matter found in the brain. It has also been observed that women who act more zealous about their children showed a greater volume increase in brain areas such as the amygdala, hypothalamus, parietal lobe and prefrontal cortex than women who acted less eager about their new-borns, showing a direct relationship between their attitudes and the growth in question.

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Less gray matter, You get “high” on your baby means more attachment Although the decrease in gray matter is essential in helping the mother bond with her new-born, dramatic decrease leads to hostility towards others. Just like mama bear would act hostile towards strangers approaching her baby cubs. This decrease usually lasts up to two years following the birth of the child, and in some severe cases, it might be permanent.

Your body prepares your maternal instincts during pregnancy and after you give birth by releasing dopamine through an area called the substanstia nigra, which acts as an artificial courier of euphoria, triggering the same feeling you have when you overdose on chocolate. However, these signals are temporary and are only sparked when you’re near the baby: your body’s perfect plan of forcing you to nurture your child as long as it needs.

Your mothering skills PostPartum Depression naturally develop Means You’re More Sensitive

Since your brain grows in volume, specifically in areas that are directly linked to emotions, reasoning, empathy and judgment, you become a smarter mother the natural way.

These growth areas in more enthusiastic mothers are found in the female’s mid-brain, an expansion that also leads to a stronger impetus towards raising the child; meaning, a mother whose brain is more affected by these growths is more likely to raise a psychologically sound child.

As an effect of increased sensitivity in the amygdala, responsible for empathy and emotions, postpartum depression might evolve. Your brain receptors are more sensitive; so all your feelings are exaggerated, including the good and the bad. The neurological process of falling in love romantically is oddly similar to that of emotionally bonding with your child, caused by a surge of oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone”.

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Ways to Be Closer to Your Child

It’s every parent’s goal to raise a psychologically sound child who can reach for the stars when they grow up. A key to raising them right is letting them understand how much you genuinely care for them from a young age and to refrain from any sort of violence as punishment. When your children acknowledge how strong your connection is with one another, they avoid disobeying you lest they make you disappointed. Here are the best ways to assure your child grows up knowing you love them.

By: Mayar El-Shamy

Wake them up with a kiss

thing is going okay at school. If they’re being

It’s always these little things that make a difference. While some parents might think turning the lights on or yelling their kid’s name is the easiest way to wake them up, it might have some psychological negative effects on your child. They might grow up associating your voice or your presence with discomfort, while not being aware as to why that’s the case.

in an activity they love and make sure you let

bullied and they’re used to telling you everything after school, you’ll be the first to know.

Encourage them if they want to participate them know how proud of them you are.

Laugh at their jokes Children don’t have the mental capacity to form “good” jokes that entertain adults, nor do they find humour in any content that would

Know how to chastise them

normally cater to adults, and that’s something

The key here is guilt. Now, we’re not asking you to manipulate your child’s feelings, but resorting to physical punishments such as spanking and other so-called “light” beatings at any age could have some serious damage on their developing psyches. Instead, you can let them know their actions have disappointed you because you expect the best from them.

The silent treatment will always work on any child used to love and support.

your child feeling stupid or disliked, which is the

Connect with them

thinking skills, and helps put their minds to prac-

Specifying a time to ask your child how their day has gone and what they look forward to in the morning is essential in making sure every-

ing, and nothing comes bad out of voracious

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you must understand. That does not give you the excuse to flout their jokes, or even worse, tell them they’re not funny. This could result in worst coming from their own parent.

Read them a bedtime story Assigning a time to read your kids a story does not only work to develop your relationship with them and make them more socially adept, but it also helps feed their imagination, critical tice. The child will typically grow to enjoy readreading! This will also help you if your children are typically difficult to put to bed.

Know how to deal with their meltdowns Child tantrums could be one of the many signs of dangerous levels of stress. This is a valid sign if they’re old enough to go to school, but the tantrums might signal brat behaviour if they’re younger. Either way, lashing out at them is never the answer. You need to work on calming them down and letting them know everything will be okay. Ask them what’s upsetting them and work on fixing it, instead of sending them to their room right away without listening to what they have to say.

Slip cute notes into their lunch It might seem like a silly thing to do, but you’ll see its effect in the long run. Childhood memories are pretty much glued to the human brain for good. Think of these little tokens as tools to shape your child’s perception of you. You’ll see that the more empathetic you are with them and the more you let them know you do care, thoughts of you will connote kindness and compassion, which will not only feed your mother ego, but will also help your children be emotionally fulfilled and more open to selfimprovement.

Looking for a special Mother’s Day celebration this year !

Pamper the special lady in your life by inviting her to lunch Or dinner in any of our outlets on "Mother's Day"

For reservations or more information : 02.2264.1111

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Woman

EMPOWERMENT Through The Art of Makeup By: Marwan Saad

Every woman is irreplaceable and beautiful in her own way. Using make up, however, helps you in translating this beauty to visual art, boosting your confidence and self-esteem. Make-up does not only transform you on the outside, but the way you feel about yourself on the inside as well. Heck, only using mascara with a kick of red lipstick could make you rule the day! So here, I’m offering two modern looks illustrating how to be empowered by the art of makeup.

For modern-looking matte eyes, I used The Balm’s Meet Matte nude palette. You can mix and match with shades of your choice; however, the Matt Rosen particularly goes fabulously with the Matt Gracia, which can both be topped off with subtle wings using the Matt Johnson to achieve the first look.

A pair of Ardell Lashes in Demi Wispies give a wonderful butterfly effect as seen in Look Two. They stick perfectly according to the shape of your eyes, blending smoothly with your natural line of eye-lashes without giving the artificial appearance of a double lash line.

As for the orange gold look, I used the Morphe 35O palette, which you can use to either mimic my look or mix and match with your favourite shades for a more personal touch.

To pop out the cheeks, I used Nars Blush in 56 insight

LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT POWDER

NARS BLUSH ORGASM

MARY LOU MANIZER

LOOK TWO

P FORE

TOO FA PRIM CED ER

Finally, you can create a natural pouted lips look by adding two colors of lipstick on the lips to give yourself an ombre effect. I used Urban Decay Gwen Stefani collection 714 on the center and Rock Steady at the edges. Alternatively, you can use the Makeup Forever 25c lip liner for a more exaggerated finish.

MAKEU

Then I set the face by using Laura Mercier translucent powder to top the face off with a more natural finish and ease oil production.

orgasm before adding the final touch of some glow using The Balm Mary Lou Manizer.

LOREAL TRUE MATCH

irst, I prep the face using the Too Faced primer before using the Zoeva Buffer to buff L’Oreal’s true match foundation to give a flawless full coverage.

VER 25

C

LOOK ONE

Mothers in Business WHO INSPIRE US ALL

It takes a lifetime of stamina and hard work to lead a successful career, and it takes double the amount of strength to lead a successful motherhood. We’ve spoken to astounding women who managed to excel at both worlds without having to compromise either, and they’ve given us bits and pieces of what it’s like and how they do it.

SHERINE NAKHLA

IMAN EL MAHDY

Public Relations Director for InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars

Marketing and PR manager of Steignberger Hotel Tahrir

Sherine is a result oriented strategic thinker who brings more than 20 years of experience in advertising, marketing, communications, research and public relations to her role as Public Relations Director for InterContinental Hotels Group Citystars. Sherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication with a minor in Anthropology from the American University in Cairo.

She is a mother of three amazing children and loves to shop and bake in her free time. Sherine is a strong believer of empowering women, and always challenges her team and her daughters to do things “differently”. “On being a mother, we are characteristically torn with our loyalty, between professional responsibilities and the importance of family. I believe that the set of leadership skills are the same for leading at work and leading at home. I have taught my children to be quite independent,” Sherine says.

The Sociology specialist who’s particularly competent in analytical thinking and problem solving, says studying sociology at Ain Shams university has helped her immensely in becoming the successful PR manager she is today. Her studies have enabled her to see how certain actions by the company will affect it customers based on their culture and economic backgrounds, she claims.

The affluent mother has never let her matchless success at Steignberger affect her motherhood. Sherine is quite optimistic about the future of tourism in Egypt. In a feature with Lounge magazine she has stated that “The outlook of travel and tourism industry in Egypt in 2017 remains healthy, despite economic fragilities and other sources of volatility. The government has accomplished great efforts in terms of security and safety.”

SHERRY ADEL

SHYMAA FAHIM

Senior Director of Public Relations & Marketing Communications, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts Egypt

Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, at Hilton Pyramids Golf

“As a mother of two, a wife, a daughter, and a career-loving woman, life tends to be a bit of a juggle every once in a while,” says Sherry Adel, Senior Director of Public Relations Four Seasons Egypt, “but that is exactly the reason why I love it!” Sherry has managed to well-position her name within the field of hospitality in Egypt, start a family with a loving husband, and raise wonderful 10-year-old twins. “I am passionate about every single thing I do in my life including my job, my marriage, my hobbies, spending time with my family, everything– if I’m not passionate about it I don’t do it,” she said when asked about her core values, “I believe that one should spread positivity in everything they do – that’s the only way to true happiness.” She added.

With a bubbly personality, a passion for life and a love for public relations, it is obvious that Sherry has discovered the secret equation for success. “When you love what you do, you’re no longer just doing your “job”, you start caring about the details that no one else notices, and you invest all your efforts into doing the work because it’s no longer a burden,” says Sherry.

Shymaa Fahim, the manager of marketing and PR at Hilton Pyramids Golf, claims her secret to success is banning toxic people from her life! “You don’t have enough time [for them] already. So if you are living or working around a toxic person or people who invade your confidence and bring you down, you must remove them from your life, “says Fahim. The mother and business-oriented hard worker says another trick to speed up your road to success is to actually be kind to yourself; by making time for your leisure and comfort, even if it’s just to breathe and smell the air.

“Kids are going to make messes, they are going to eat your reports and download viruses to your computer,” says Fahim. The spontaneous brunette tell us her best weapon is a sense of humor and to enjoy being a mum and wear the title proudly. “We are basically super heroes,” she says to (in)sight.

The Nile Ritz-Carlton hosts a romantic night to remember with the legendary band ‘Le Petits Chats’

The Nile Ritz-Carlton has hosted one of the most opulent nights Valentine’s love birds have ever seen. Nothing says a romantic dinner like one with fabulous entertainment and exquisite music. At the affluent hotel’s Al Qahira ballroom, an event organized by Event 4 U by Hoda Abboud and sponsored by insight, Ideal standard, Mohamed Alsagheer, cheers, Dina Iskanader, Mawaheb, Eslsca and prolite, has left the visitors in awe after experiencing a night to remember of a matchless Valentine’s dinner party with the legendary band Le Petits Chats and DJ Johny.

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What’s up Egypt ?

HTC’S NEW SERIES: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BRILLIANT U

L’Oreal Egypt announces the opening of 2017 edition of “L’Oreal- UNESCO For Women

L’Oréal Egypt announced the opening of 2017 edition for L’Oréal - UNESCO “For Women in Science” Levant and Egypt program at a press conference attended by a crowd of successful women’s figures in Egypt. The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science initiative began 18 years ago, in the firm belief that the world needs Science and Science needs women, because women in science have the power to change the world.

The program recognizes five accomplished women researchers who have made extraordinary discoveries, and grants fellowships to 236 other scientists.

Cambridge International Examinations Enhance School Environments

Cambridge Principals Forums, an annual event hosted by Cambrige International Examinations, took place in Egypt last February for schools in the country. Over 140 principals from Cambridge schools in Cairo, Alexandria, and surrounding cities attended the event. Delegates at the Cambridge Principals participated in a workshop on Coaching in Education led by Dr. Clare Beckett Mcinroy, global speaker and CEO of BMC consultancy.

The workshop aimed to help school leaders and principals build a better environment for teachers and learners inside the school. Cambridge examinations have been witnessing a steady growth rate in Egypt. The demand for Cambridge qualifications in Egypt has soared this year with around 15 schools making 70,000 exam entries for Cambridge qualifications.

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HTC unveiled its newest smartphone series, HTC U, with two new models at an event at the Armani Hotel in Dubai, UAE, presided by Chialin Chang, President of Smartphone and Connected Devices Business, HTC, and regional HTC leadership. The brilliantly designed new smartphone series, with game-changing software and hardware will set the benchmark high for its competitors. The gorgeous new series is beautifully 3D contoured with a liquid surface that’s designed to reflect the best you. With attention to detail at the heart of this brilliant and unique design.

Chef Prapai Pattamang created some of his delectable signature dishes such as tomyum soup, crab yellow curcumin sauce, and more mouthwatering dishes.

Guest were greeted by the marketing team where special acknowledge was given to every attendee and magazine owner for their continuous support which contribute to Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski success and accomplishments today.

Sonesta Hotel Tower & Casino – Cairo Promotes Mrs. Caroline Selim

Mrs. Fatma Nosseir,Managing Director,Astra Travel & Mrs. Mervat Alfy, Country Manager, Travelport Egypt & Matthew Powell, Acting Regional Director, Middle East and South Asia

Sonesta Hotels International has announced the promotion of Mrs. Caroline Selim to the position of Executive Assistant Manager for Sonesta Hotel, Tower & Casino – Cairo. Caroline has more than 25 years of experience in the hotels and tourism industry inside and outside Egypt and since joining the hotel 17 years ago, her commitment, achievements, skills and aptitude have been have been exemplary, and had led her to such a post. Caroline’s last position was Director of Sales and Marketing for Sonesta Hotel Cairo.

Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Hosts Yana Media Dinner

Travelport inks new partnership with Astra Travel, Egypt

Travelport (NYSE: TVPT), a leading Travel Commerce Platform has today announced a new multi-year agreement with Astra Travel. This new partnership will provide Astra Travel with access to Travelport’s unrivalled travel content – including the branded fares and ancillaries from the world’s leading airlines and low cost carriers, as well as over 650,000 hotel properties and 36,000 car rental locations.

IRAM ‘MOMENTS’ COLLECTION AT DUSIT THANI LAKEVIEW CAIRO

On Valentine’s eve, Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo & IRAM jewelry collaborated to launch ‘Moments’ the latest collection of Jewelry in the spectacular LakeView ballroom. Women’s precious moments are never forgotten. That is why IRAM New 2016 Collection ‘Moments’ is made to cherish such precious moments. Every piece of “Moments” is designed uniquely and stylishly to reflect women’s different moments that are everlasting.

“Moments” takes your precious moments where they belong; your heart and mind; inspired by happy and memorable moments, which forever treasured.

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INSIGHTMAGEG @INSIGHTMAGEG

The All New E-Class…

Masterpiece of Intelligence.

Next Level Interior Design Next-generation driving The most intelligent All-new Exterior design The new E-Class is sophisticated, The interior of the new E-Class assistance systems executive saloon confidently stylish and dynamic. embodies the synthesis of emotion and The tenth-generation executive saloon delivers stylish highlights with its distinct, emotive design and high-grade, exclusive interior.

This new E-Class also marks the world premiere of numerous technical innovations.

Compared with its predecessor, its wheelbase length has grown by 65 millimetres, its overall length by 43 millimetres. The resulting increase in space is to the benefit of all passengers.

The new E-Class clearly shows a muscular front end that boasts a different look for each design and equipment line. The EXCLUSIVE line features the classic Mercedes radiator grille with the star on the bonnet. The AVANTGARDE and AMG Line models are identifiable by the sports radiator grille with a large Mercedes star as its centrepiece.

Each of the radiator grille designs lends the E-Class a distinct character offering a unique degree of diversity that makes each different model stand out.

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intelligence. Brilliant next-generation high-resolution displays, wide screen diagonal of 12.3 inches – unique in this segment. In a first for a car, the steering wheel features touch-sensitive Touch Controls. Like a smartphone interface, they respond to swiping movements, allowing the driver to control the entire infotainment system without having to take their hands off the steering wheel.

The interior lighting makes exclusive use of durable, energy-saving LED technology. The same applies to the enhanced ambient lighting with 64 different colours.

New engine generation with 9G-TRONIC automatic transmission At launch, the E 180, E 300 model variants of the new E-Class will be available. The 1.6L E 180 will be available with 156 hp & 250 newton metres of torque. Further newcomers will be the 4-cylinder E 300 rated at 245 hp with a torque of 370 newton metres. All models available at market launch are equipped as standard with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission. It enables fast gear changes and better efficiency.

Mercedes-Benz’s new assistance and safety systems enhance safety, comfort and driver assistance to new levels. Likewise included as standard are ATTENTION ASSIST with adjustable sensitivity, which can warn the driver of inattentiveness and drowsiness, which can assist the driver by substantially reducing the effects of strong crosswinds to prevent the vehicle from drifting too far off track. The new E-Class is also equipped with PRE-SAFE® system: the system gives the occupants the best possible protection by applying specific safety functions upon recognising a critical driving situation or in the event of an accident. It emits a short interference signal through the vehicle’s sound system. This signal can trigger the natural reflex and thus prepare the occupants’ ears for the expected sound of the accident, in order to reduce the stress on the occupants.

For a brighter approach, highresolution MULTIBEAM LED headlamps, each with 84 individually controlled high-performance LEDs, automatically illuminate the road with advanced, precision-controlled distribution of exceptionally bright light – without dazzling other road users.

* To pretend you’re tired during your pregnancy months because it’s finally time you get spoiled, and you have a good excuse for it this time. * To prioritize losing weight after giving birth almost as much as saving up for your kid’s education. * To think ‘Bashtery Ragel’ (Buying a Man), the film, is just a blah idea and not understand what the fuss is all about! * To freeze your eggs until you learn to like kids –it’s an acquired taste, you know!

Hey, It’s OK... * To be a single mother of five puppies who prioritizes her babies over the world. * To wonder if choosing your career over relationships is wrong, you don’t want to be right. * To be too busy to tidy up the house, so you shove everything in your closet and considered the place cleaned. * To take advantage of your good looks to flirt your way out of trouble. * To buy maternity clothes without being pregnant because they’re so damn comfy. * To pretend to text-message your boss to slowly sneak out of an uncomfortable conversation pressuring you to get into traditional marriage.

*

To not only be terrified of having children, but of children themselves and their deafening crying.

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e r A u o Y s Sign han No Less Tman Superwo

You’re a mother

You’re a dreamer

Whenever motherhood struggles are brought up, people always talk about the nine months of tiresome pregnancy, as if that was the climax of your troubles. What they don’t know is that the pregnancy period is probably the fruit of motherhood. What comes after is just a lifetime of sleep depravity and a ridiculous amount of multi-tasking. No one realises it takes a real superwoman to endure motherhood in its entirety.

It doesn’t make you realistic to refuse to dream, it just makes you a pessimist who’s pushing herself down. If the sky is your limit and you’re determined to have nothing stop you from achieving your goals, then that’s a superpower of its own. You’ll only go as far as you dream, so dreaming big only foreshadows the success you’re bound to come across when it’s time.

You’re confident It’s rare to spot a woman with envious selfesteem these days among the crowd of attention-seekers who think pretending to be self-conscious makes them seem modest or attractive. There’s nothing wrong with accepting the way you look and embracing it. It doesn’t make you conceited to acknowledge how attractive you are, it just makes you feel powerfully confident.

You’re not the jealous type Capes come in different shapes and sizes. Some look like aprons and lab coats, others take a more abstract shape of emotional strength or perseverance.

Here are ten signs you’re a superwoman:

Jealousy is a natural emotion in reasonable circumstances. But we’re talking being jealous of the air your significant other breathes, or of a woman you don’t know who just passed the street because you think she’s prettier than you. Hating on other women solely because of the attention they seem to get over their appearances makes you seem like you doubt yourself. Shrug off your jealousy, and see how strong you’ll feel.

You don’t hold grudges We’ve all been lied to, played, bullied, mocked –you name it. But not everyone has the strength to actually move on from that dark corner of failed relationships, be those platonic or romantic. Not holding a grudge does not entail being cold about betrayal; refusing to seek payback alone makes you the mature adult we all wish we could be. If only revenge wasn’t so sweet for some of us.

You’re a risk taker Some call you crazy and reckless, but you know exactly what you’re doing. It might seem to others like your actions will blow up in your face, but you never know until you try.

Staying on the seemingly safe side is sometimes the least secure space of all, preventing you from seeing what else is out there. Taking risks and exploring for hidden gems might be all it takes for success.

You acknowledge your mistakes Everyone comes to you for advice

If you’re everyone’s go-to anger absorber and it’s making you feel like spewing bad news your way is all you’re for, you’re wrong.

If you’re typically the person your friends and family confide in to reveal their nastiest of rants, that’s because you’re not just a good listener who comforts them, but a good problem solver as well. Take it as an indirect compliment of being told you’re socially intelligent.

Being a superwoman isn’t all about doing everything right; it’s also about knowing when you’ve made the wrong decisions or have done others wrong. It takes so much strength to apologize to those whom you’ve wronged. Only a wimp refuses to admit they have been wrong, and that’s not you, is it?

Mistakes are just lessons you can learn from in order to build the persona that will get you places, so never have shame in your past and allow it to teach you.

Fun Ways to Spoil Your Mother on Mother’s Day By: Mayar El-Shamy

Take her to the spa

ou have to admit that you have been the biggest nuisance to your mother since you were born. She’s given you her all, and you have probably left her bankrupt after she spent her entire nesteg on your college tuition and other miscellaneous demands. It’s finally time you give back.

Here’s what every mother really wants for Mother’s Day:

Sleep Yup. From work to chores, and from chores to work, she never has time for herself anymore.

You can repay her in physical efforts by getting her usual errands done on Mother’s Day so she can spend the extra time to actually get some rest. It can be a great gift, but it’s best as a pre-gift.

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A woman that doesn’t have time to sleep obviously has none to pamper herself in a fancy spa. If you have siblings, you can divide errands among you, while you send your mum to the spa, preferably alone. Make sure you actually pay for her visit, otherwise, your only gift is time.

Buy her personal gifts No, not kitchenware! That’s probably a mother’s least favourite present. “Hey, mum. Here are more tools you can cater to our needs with,” would probably be the only proper note you can leave on a kitchenware gift.

Instead, you can buy her clothes, makeup, books, or a gift card to her favourite shop.

A day at a sumptuous hotel Depending on how old you are and how much you make, you can take your gift to the next level and send her to the best hotel in town at your expenses. From the hair salon and spa, to the fine dining spots and the luxurious bedroom with the amenities she needs. Trust us, no matter how strict your mother is about budget, that’s one offer she won’t turn down.

Write her a song For our fellow musicians out there, the cutest, most memorable gifts do not have to cost you anything but time and effort. Yes, it’s the thought that counts, but you also have to make sure said thought is manifested in a neat gift that would either touch her heart, or give her a back massage. A sweet Mother’s Day song is the way to do the former.

Homemade spoils If you cannot afford to take her to the spa and you have no idea how to play an instrument, you can always be the spa. Surprise her when she comes back from work with a massage table, scented candles, and some homemade smoothies! Sometimes, the effort makes it all the more special.

Spend time with her Simply visiting your mother to cook together and chat about what you missed on each other’s lives can create the perfect day. Staying overnight will be a huge plus if you don’t typically spend much time together anymore.

Take the whole family out You can also take the entire family to nice restaurant or do something more eccentric like taking them all to a fun day at a public or private beach –depending on your budget. It doesn’t matter if it’s bloody cold out, that’s when swims are most exhilarating.

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The new E-Class.

Masterpiece of Intelligence.

Visit your nearest Mercedes-Benz authorized dealership or call 16362