People always tell you never to give up. As cliché as it may sound, it is true, but things are always easier said than done. To chase one’s dreams, one needs to harbor in them an absolute passion and drive that provokes them to go an extra mile.
When you work hard, you reap results; if not sooner, then definitely later. We always idolize celebrities. While we seem to focus on superficial things such as fashion and style, what one must really look up to is their motivation and work ethic.
Doubtlessly, strong women surround us. There are countless examples of exemplary women around us. Following is a list of examples of Arab female celebrities who gave it their all to get where they are today.
Here are our top picks:
Nadine Labaki
Nadine Labaki is a Lebanese filmmaker who has been making waves with her influential films. She is the first Arab filmmaker to have ever been nominated for an Oscar in the category of Best Foreign Language Film for her refugee drama movie named Capernaum.
Labaki rose to recognition last year when she became the first Arab woman to bag a major prize at the Cannes Film Festival when she won the Jury Prize following a premiere screening that managed to earn a 15-minute standing ovation by the audience. An advocate for social change and human rights, Labaki has always been on the forefront when it comes to voicing the concerns of the Arab community. Through excellent filmmaking, Labaki continues to inspire women around the globe whilst igniting a change from the grassroots level.
Huda Kattan
The self-made millionaire and founder of the increasingly popular brand, Huda Beauty, Huda Kattan comes from humble beginnings. Huda tells her life story saying that she never planned on becoming a businesswoman. She studied finance in college, and although she was never enthusiastic about it, Kattan was eager to give it a shot. It was only later that she realized that success is about fulfillment and not just a sound income.
After moving to Dubai and quitting her job in finance, Kattan decided to pursue the thing she was truly passionate about, makeup and beauty. Starting from working at a Revlon counter and running a blog to this day, Huda has inspired millions around the globe, never to be afraid to follow their dreams and passions. Today, Huda Beauty is worth a billion dollars.
Zaha Hadid
The works of Zaha Hadid are stranger to none. Her incredible works of architecture introduce us to a world of design that is futuristic, yet traditional, thus, creating a unique outlook that is spectacular beyond comparison. Born in 1950, in Baghdad, Hadid studied architecture at London’s Architectural Association. It was only after a considerable struggle that Zaha reached to the heights that she wanted. Some of her most notable works include the Peak, the “Fire Station” at the Vitra Factory in Weil am Rhein and others. The commingle of simplicity and intricacy of her work have garnered acclaim globally owing to its remarkable nature.
Mary Nazzal Batanyeh
A human rights lawyer at the Palestine Legal Aid Fund, an organization that supports Palestinians and Palestinian organizations in taking legal action against Israelis. Mary Nazzal Batayneh is one of Forbes’ listed strongest Arab females in the world. After joining the organization in 2009, Batayneh has been fulfilling her duties as a political activist since her days in high school. The founder of the Landmark Hotel in Amman, Mary, founded this facility to cater to employees and clients by creating a family-friendly environment that bases its operations on sustainability.
Haifa Al-Mansour
Haifa is Saudi Arabia’s most renowned female director which is a remarkable feat on her part as she hails from a country where art form and the female gender has been imposed on severe restrictions. Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, al-Mansour was the 8th of 12 children. Despite the harsh legal implications imposed by the law of Saudi Arabia, Haifa was raised in a fairly liberal household. She stepped into the world of filmmaking to create works of art that challenged societal norms and ignited many conversations regarding gender restrictions and more.
Nour El Sherbini
Born in Alexandria in 1995, Nour is one of the most exciting female players on the PSA World Tour. The youngest ever World Junior Champion in 2009, Nour bagged the prestigious title at the tender age of 13. She was recently crowned the World Squash Champion after beating Nour El Tayeb to win the 2019 PSA World Championship. Till now, Nour has won 215 matches out of 278 matches played and secured the number 1 spot for 31 months straight until December 2018.
Hadia Ghaleb
This Egyptian fashion figure has more than a million Instagram followers and is stars in a reality show named “My Fabulous M.E.” Hadia is one of the most renowned it-girls of the fashion and beauty scene in the Middle East. Known for her chic outlook and in-depth recommendations about the hottest places in the Middle East, Hadia has managed to attain a strong following through sheer consistency and dedication.
Whether you are on the lookout for getting some inspiration related to chic sling bags for women or you want to add new cuts to your wardrobe, Hadia, the Fashionista can help you.
Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf
The masterminds behind Okhtein, Aya and Mounaz Abdelraouf, are more than just sisters or business partners. Having launched their own label, these two young fashionista entrepreneurs give us major fashion inspo. Be it their effortless wardrobe, their wanderlust-inducing travel style, or simply their drive to push their brand to become bigger and better than ever before; the Abdelraouf sisters are major goals for all the girls out there looking to start their own venture. After all, it is never too late to pursue your passion. What’s more rewarding than seeing international celebrities like Beyoncé or Emma Watson rocking an Okhtein purse?
Sofia Al-Asfoor
Sofia Al-Asfoor is a Bahrain-based handbag designer and an emerging talent that has been making waves ever since she set out her first collection of designer bags. Despite significant resistance, Al-Asfoor’s designs managed to snag the crowd’s attention by drawing inspiration from her roots. One of her most iconic designs, the Shield bag, features pyramids; a design that symbolized power, peculiarity, quality, and identity. Motivated to change the game in the world of bag fashion, Sofia Al-Asfoor continues to inspire many young women around the globe with her extraordinary designs.
These names that we so commonly speak of now were once average folks like most of us. They came from backgrounds like ours but reached the heights where they are now due to sheer hard work and dedication. Kudos to these women who proved to be leading ladies on screen as well as in real life.
WE SAID THIS: Arab women making history as usual!
Author Bio
Audrey Throne is the mother of a 3-year old and a professional blogger by choice. Throne is passionate about lifestyle, business, automotive, technology, and management and frequently blogs about these topics.
Find her on Twitter: @audrey_throne.