لبنى مصطفى، 20 سنة، بطلة السباحة في الألعاب الباراليمبية، لبنى آمنت بنفسها في وقت كانت كل الناس اللي حواليها ماكانوش شايفين إنها تقدر. فازت بعشرين ميادلية شرف خلال مشاركتها في الباراليمبياد. الجندي المجهول ورا نجاح لبنى المهبر كان والدتها صفية، اللي بذلت مجهود كبير علشان تساعد لبنى توصل لكل اللي بتتمناه. اتكلمنا مع لبنى ووالدتها…

مفهوم العمدة عندنا إنه لازم يكون راجل ضخم وبشنب مبروم وكل الناس بتخاف منه، لكن إيفا هابيل قدرت تكسر القاعدة دي، وكانت أول ست تفوز بمنصب “العمدة” في مصر لقرية إسمها “كمبوها” في الصعيد. كنتي بتناقشي مع  باباكي فكرة إنك تبقي عمدة لما تكبري؟ لأ، ماتكلمتش معاه في إني اخد المنصب ده خالص، بس أنا…

Marking herself as one of the most talented actresses of her generation, Donia Samir Ghanem shot to fame at quite a young age. She is as versatile as one can be for she sings, acts and hits us with one astounding performance after the other. It is hard to meet a person who can resist…

She is bold and she is beautiful. Since her award-winning role in Dawoud Abdel Sayed’s ‘Messages from the Sea’, she revealed a new side, one that is celebrating womanhood in all its facets. A side that is very strong, yet fashionably vulnerable, underlining her femininity with a matured outlook on life, cinema and the future.…

There is a Tooth Fairy myth, a Santa Clause myth and…A Supermom myth! Advertising, media, your friends, your friends’ friends, your ego, your mirror reflection, your shadow on the wall in the darkest nights- walking on your fingertips scared shitless to wake this untamed creature up- all of them force this new ‘Super Mom’ feature…

Settling has hardly ever been a characteristic of his. From acting, directing, producing and writing, Asser Yassin’s roadmap has and continues to take him down all sorts of paths. His latest directing experience for “Elekhtelaf ElMoatellef” song from West ElBalad band’s all new album, has been the talk of the town with everyone trying to…

Throughout the journey of life, we bump into many life-altering challenges and changes that just turn our lives upside down. Sometimes we come out of it stronger and sometimes we break. What I have learned during this interview is that some choose to suffer while others choose life. Mariam Mehana, Tarek Salem, Noura Abu El…

Throughout the journey of life, we bump into many life-altering challenges and changes that just turn our lives upside down. Sometimes we come out of it stronger and sometimes we break. What I have learned during this interview is that some choose to suffer while others choose life. Mariam Mehana, Tarek Salem, Noura Abu El…

“If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. If they don’t, they never were” this infamous quote by Khalil Gibran inspires everyone – for some odd reason – to get back together with their loved ones who left them, but the past is the past for a reason, right?…

Our generation has been on a rollercoaster ride for a few years now. Revolutions, wars, destruction and chronic stress have all been part of our daily struggle. Everyone has been cautious and insecure for so long now. Everyone’s emergency bag is waiting at the doors.   A lot of people have been postponing having kids…

The works of man and God have an expiry date on this planet. The only difference between a product and a human being is death. Products on your shelves need to die to expire but people in your life could expire long before they are dead.   Throughout our lives we build relationships with people…

The most dangerous feeling in the whole world is to become chronically bored of everything around you. From insane work routine and never ending body shape goals to relationships and family craziness. But what is more dangerous than being bored is to discover that the problem stems from ourselves, we are the reason behind our…

I personally believe that Kodak 35mm film cameras were gems! These old school photography assets made us learn the value of each photo taken due to the 36-photo limit. Shots weren’t taken for granted; we made an effort to save one last photo for the best adventure. Today, we take copious amounts of instant photos…

Anoushka’s finesse and splendor have been the talk of the Arab audience this Ramadan. This femme fatale has proven to the world that everything comes at the right time, and unique talents bloom. Anoushka came to our studio with her Cocker Spaniel diva ‘Queeny’ who made it impossible for us to take work seriously, “ever…

On a hot day in July, Amina Khalil visits our studio with her lovable dog Beanie (aka Bon Bon). She is clad in a pretty summer dress with her wet hair and zero makeup. She is beautiful and full of light and energy. A woman like her defines why hard work always pays off. When…

“Insanity is doing the same mistakes and expecting different results”, one of the most brilliant quotes ever said by Einstein. As humans, unconsciously we sometimes make the same mistakes and hope for better consequences. Optimism is great, but learning from previous mistakes is greater! “Optimism is great, but learning from previous mistakes is greater!” Our…

It’s amazing how we begin as a sperm and end as dust. In between, we are formed of various touchable and untouchable things that make us a person. We are all born for a purpose and throughout our life journey, we sometimes fail to recall the real reason behind our creation. “Sloth is one of…

    Whenever we hear a story about an Arab woman who cheats on her husband we are infuriated with rage. We become really sorry for the poor man she is married to and her story becomes the gossip of the century. It’s never forgotten and she is never forgiven. This year, Grand Hotel’s series…

Mariam Naoum, a young mother and talented scriptwriter, pulled off some very successful projects such as in quite a short time span. She knows how to create characters and develop them, whether from Egypt’s elitist communities or the less privileged man restlessly roaming the streets for survival, she knows them all. She does her research…

Kamla Abu Zekry has established herself as an award-winning director with many great success stories in her repertoire. She is behind films like “Malek wa Ketaba”, “An El Eshq wal Hawa” and “1:0” as well as a featured short film in “18 Days”, which was among one of the best. With “Zat” she has done…

The Whirling Dervishes are a vivid part of our cultural scene today and revived this spiritual folklore that was forgotten for a long time. This strictly male profession and art has now been shaken up by the young Radwa Saad El Din who with her nineteen years has some courage to face her male counterparts…

Photo courtesy of 7 Days Magazine   I’ve bumped into Ghada Adel more than once, and I’ve got to admit, she is dangerously beautiful. She has flawless skin, a fit body and healthy hair. I’ve seen her with zero makeup, a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt, and God, she is a knockout! “There…

Justin Trudeau is one of the youngest prime ministers of Canada, he won the elections on October 19 2015 at only 43 years old, something that would never happen in Egypt. His father was also Prime minister (Pierre Elliott Trudeau). Justin is clearly a treat for the eyes, we can’t help but envy Canada! Here…

Beirut is one of the most charming cities on the planet! With its unique, sophisticated edge and beautiful sceneries, this city is a destination for tranquility and joy! We checked in at Raouche Arjaan by Rotana hotel and we were stunned by it’s beautiful location right in front of the infamous Raouche rock amid the…

Charming, historic, artistic and romantically beautiful; all describe the amazing Lisbon. Being the capital of Portugal, Lisbon is considered one of the most authentic cities in Europe. From the minute you land in the city and see the yellow tram coming your way, you feel like you’ve been carried away to bohemian beautiful 70s.  …

Struggles of a Non-Drinking Egyptian     Drinking has become more common in Egypt now than it was a decade ago. People used to hangout at sports clubs and TGI Friday’s sidewalk and were pretty sure they had fun. Not everyone used to drink, as it was loss of opportunity more than being religiously, spiritually…

Yasmine Shaaban is one of Egypt’s hidden gems. She is a young athlete and an aspiring champion. The 21 year old has been practicing boxing for six years and had played Kung-Fu during her teenage years. We met with her at her place in Manial where she lives and practices her sport.   Yasmine’s father…

Once upon a time there was an Egyptian tale called Om Bassem. She is a strong independent woman who against all odds became Egypt’s one and only female plumber.  Amid a busy alley hidden in Old Cairo we talked to the infamous lady at her workshop where she kept all her secrets.   Om Bassem…

She is fun, fierce and fabulous! Everything about her defines girl power. She sings what she wants, wears what she likes and sets her own trends. Her comeback is Egypt’s most anticipated news. After years of chasing her, we finally sat down with the legendary Simone to talk music, film and family.   On a…

Her women are dreamy, bold, and content. They do what they want, without holding back. We met with Hala El Sharouny at Alchemy during her exhibition to discuss art, women and freedom. Can you describe your art in three words? Satirical, strong, and about women. The women in your paintings are liberated, confident, and are…

Our generation has been on a rollercoaster ride for a few years now. Revolutions, wars, destruction and chronic stress have all been part of our daily struggle. Everyone has been cautious and insecure for so long now. Everyone’s emergency bag is waiting at the doors.   A lot of people have been postponing having kids…

Last Ramadan, Segn El Nessa TV series conquered the audiences completely. The story by Fatheya El Assal was brought to life by director Kamla Abu Zekry and Script writer Mariam Naoum. In a brilliant cast lead by the fabulous Nelly Karim, the three musketeers did it again and topped the success of last year’s “A…

Through the past few years, Ahmed Dawood’s career has been escalated through home screens. He appeared in many TV serials like Sharbat Loz, Zay El Ward and Niran Sadiqa. His first cinematic experience was in 2010 through the film Walad & Bent.  He also participated in shorts and theatre.  Today, Dawood is the most talked…

5 years ago we met with Nesreen Amin after her role in Ehky Ya Scheherazade, directed by Yousri Nasrallah. Today, Nesreen Amin has transformed to Zeinat ‘elly betzawa2 elbanat’, who blew us away last Ramadan. This is not uncommon for the young actress, although she has only been on screen for the past five years.…

Beautiful, talented and legendary define Salwa Khattab. She has been a league of her own playing remarkable roles in the late 80’s and 90’s. She starred in great films like Al Aragoz, Al Saher, Fatah Al Masna’ and TV series like Raafat Al Hagan, Hend and Dr. Noman, Al Doo’ Al Shared and the latest…

A person who ignores the power of technology won’t survive in this day and age. You can save the world by touching 140 character letters on a device. You can save someone, you can save yourself and you can damage the whole world if you use this the wrong way. The evolution of mankind post…

This weekend, we had the chance to meet with Amina Salem at Picasso Art Gallery in Zamalek where she exhibited a wonderful collection of paintings. Her new exhibition ‘Impressions’ was a collection of amazing paintings made of collages and mixed media. Each and every paintng screams with empowerment in a way or another. “My art…

6 years ago we sat down with filmmaker Sherif El Bendary to talk about his first short fiction film “Rise & Shine” produced by the Egyptian Film Center in 2006 and starred Hend Sabry. The film was officially selected in more than 75 film festivals in 33 countries and won 15 awards. Over the past…

Whining about traffic is what we do most these days. They invented apps and made money out of traffic jams. Traffic in Cairo is the monster that has been eating us alive for the past few years. Seriously, I whine about traffic almost everyday. Some days I don’t want to get out of bed and…

Through the past few years we’ve been either reading about politics, fighting with friends about politics and coming home to have a good meal while watching something politically related. At most times, we don’t even realize it’s politically related. We zoned out of Planet Earth until we became trapped in a virtual world. Of course…

Street Children World Cup     Egypt has so many hidden gems that just need a chance to see the light. They are younge, genuine and full of energy and they will teach you a thing or two about humility and inspiration. We are proud to have met the Egyptian Street Children Soccer Team during…

Fear is the most toxic element on Earth. It boils silently into your blood creating chronic dissatisfaction. Some people are afraid of the dark or climbing a ladder, other people are afraid of loss and most people are afraid of failure. The result is the same: Dissatisfaction. The amount of fear that we experience daily…

One of the most successful blockbusters of the past season is Hatooly Ragel. A light comedy talking about a society where women wear the pants. They harass men on the streets, they fool around and prefer to marry an untouched man and they come home to find a good meal cooked by their husbands. We…

We tend to choose New Age media to shape our lives over healthy nutrition and a good weekend with a nice novel. From verified twitter users to talking heads on TV we became opinion frenzy. Not to forget that most of us unconsciously believe that if it’s written in a book, it’s of course valid…

Lobna Moustafa, 20, is a real heroine who believed in life when everyone else doubted her capabilities. She is a female swimming champion from the Egyptian Special Olympics team with more than 20 Medals of Honor dangling from her wall of fame.   Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual…

Throughout the past couple of years Nelly Karim has managed to become one of the most sought after actresses in Egypt. With her great performance in “1:0”, she has established herself a serious niche. Her performance in Zat was breathtaking and she has been the talk of town ever since. “I can’t get out of…

  It’s amazing how we begin as a sperm and end as dust. In between, we are formed of various touchable and untouchable things that makeus a person. We are all born for a purpose and throughout our life journey, we sometimes fail to recall the real reason behind our creation. Sloth is one of…

Storytelling a 1940’s Egypt; Nady El Sayarat the latest novel by Dr. Alaa El Aswany describes the hardships Egyptians faced due to the coercion of the British occupation that worked hand in hand with the King. Flipping through the pages of this 644-page novel, you feel that the characters are screaming “Bread, Freedom and Human…

Setting a trend in Egypt is a piece of cake. Making this trend fall out of fashion is another simple task. Lately, a lot of Egyptian women, especially in the upper social class have been taking off their veil, getting back to enjoy more freedom. Young women in politics, art, business, marketing and lots of…

The dark reunites people more than the light does. When the lights get cut in these tough times we are living in, everyone in the family comes out of their rooms to sit together until the electricity comes back. You find neighbors you didn’t know existed coming out in the balcony next to yours, until…

Nawal Moustafa talks about the children of women in prison Nawal Moustafa is an award winning journalist, writer, scriptwriter, novelist and public speaker. Aside from her great resume, she isthe head of ‘The Children of Women Prisoners Care Association’, fighting for the rights of “Poverty Prisoners” who are thousands of women that were put behind…

Azza Soliman is a fierce woman and human rights activist, who took on the revolutionary road in college. She realized the importance of civil society in criticizing and questioning religious orders and is considered one of the first liberal lawyers to work with Islamic groups. We talked with Azza Soliman about the perception of women…

The works of man and God have an expiry date on this planet. The only difference between a product and a human being is death. Products on your shelves need to die to expire but people in your life could expire long before they are dead. Throughout our lives we build relationships with people who…

In times when resistance is translated into ‘Lie to yourself’ about the forthcomings, while most of us are scared, stiffly drinking their coffee with every front page headline of massacres, lies, false decisions, assaults, harassment and the likes take place on daily basis, you can’t help but wonder, what lies beneath for us? Should we…

When you wash a red shirt with white shirts in the same washing machine, the result won’t be pleasant. That’s similar to what’s happening in our society in the past phase, one red shirt abuses all the other white shirts, simply because the white shirts agreed to go on a journey with the red one.…

When Change is under the Sea… One of the very promising projects in Egypt today is ‘The Feel Project’ organized by HEPCA, an internationally recognized NGO specializing in the field of marine and land conservation. HEPCA was founded in 1992 by 12 representatives of the diving community in response to serious environmental threats affecting the…

Amina Khalil beats out scores of young actresses in the Egyptian film industry. From concert singing performances to acting with TV and cinema veterans, Amina knows quite well what she wants. She travelled the world collecting valuable lessons in life and cinema. She learned acting, dancing, singing, getting ready to hit the entertainment industry in…

I have interviewed all of them. Super stars, cinema legends, best-selling authors and politicians, but it never occurred to me that a clown with a tomato-red nose would have that much to say. Clowns are funny, they can turn upside down to make children laugh, but at the end of the day, after the re,…

The headline to this article has been the question of the century! We always hear people saying that the Egyptian child is the most talented and smartest child of all but we rarely see the proof. In this issue, we’ve met with children who proved us right. Those Egyptian children got the highest records in…

Now after Alia El Mahdy showed some serious skin in Fall 2011, she strikes again this winter accessorized with Egypt’s flag. It seems that some people are ok to get naked fighting for a cause, but this time, we aren’t talking about Alia El Mahdy’s cause, or nude art or whatever artistic or political terminology…

Giving back to the community is the real revolution. Bursting out of one’s bubble and digging deeper into real causes brings out a healthy society that works hand in hand on development and prosperity.Forsa is an amazing and inspiring initiative by Wataneya Society, an NGO specialized in the development of orphanages in Egypt. The whole…

  He is confident, he is victorious and he knows no defeat. He is one of the inspiring young Egyptians that we are surely proud of. When he was just 16 years old, he won his first major international title, the youngest player ever to win the Men’s World Junior Squash Championship. In 2006, he…

Cairo kills, it’s a fact. You spend long hours surviving traffic, harassment, chaos in this harsh city that sucks out your energy. In this issue, we asked ourselves one question, what are the options? Do we have any? And3 women answered us: “Get out of your car”!   Dina Wassef: Playing with big boys toys!…

Affairs is simply crazy, sexy and cool while Odezy.com is a larger than life design destination, with both your home can never be boring!

Throughout the years, it’s been a known fact that cartoons are for children; however, FREEJ came along and broke that stereotype. Proving that you can never lose the kid at heart, Mohammed Saeed Harib created FREEJ, the first 3-D cartoon show in the Middle East less than 10 years ago.   The show is based…

One year later, and the revolution’s rollercoaster ride hasn’t yet ended. We’ve seen regimes toppled, new faces were introduced to the scene and youth lost to martyrdom. Lots of courageous women led marches, NGOs fought against corruption and lots of courageous Egyptians made sure that the martyrs’ rights won’t burn among the things that we…

Once you meet Cairokee you instantly feel that they were your childhood friends from next door. They are outgoing, spontaneous, flamboyant, independent and importantly exceptionally talented. They are more than rock rebels and we are more than just fans, for we truly believe in them and their impact on the music scene in Egypt. They…

Early 2009 the financial slowdown affected growth plans which resulted in an obvious rise in unemployment in Egypt and the Gulf, hence has been a pressure point on the government linked to the decline in economic growth. Latest reports allude that a “slight” improvement of the unemployment rate in the third quarter of 2009. “The…

Celebrating ten glamorous years of Enigma Magazine, one of the leading English Speaking Lifestyle magazines in the Arab region, Yasmine Shihata, founder and Editor-in-Chief, shares with us her success story, recalling how her career started on a rollercoaster ride a decade ago and how she’s always been a great advocate of ‘hard work’. Tell us…

An alternative voice on the Nile With oriental infusions and edgy tunes, Digla entered the underground music scene. Their album ‘Free Your Mind’, proved that it’s a band that shouts for originality with music gently sloping in waves that roll you up and lay you down, and yeah, genuine acoustic bands are still alive and…

One of Egypt’s youngest entrepreneurs is Shady Sherif, Managing Director of Core Publications, the proud publisher of Campus, E7na and G-mag, Egypt’s Treasures, Ee for Entertainment and Events and Core Republic, the upcoming digital blow. He has set the trend for creative journalism in a time when creativity had no vent and youth no forum…

There are many ways to get rid of Post-Revolution symptoms that include fatigue, rage, fear, terror, anger and anxiety; either by locking yourself up in a plastic bubble getting away from the surrounding events or by turning to a healthy remedy like Homeopathy. We chose the second solution. Homoeopathy is a safe system of medicine…

Exerting his vast influence behind the scenes, Mohamed Hefzy, Managing Director and founder of Film Clinic proved that art and business don’t have to be mutually exclusive. With the launch of Film Clinic in 2006 Hefzy set a milestone in his career as a script writer and producer claiming his spot in the Egyptian film…

It is strange that an engineering student would have one of the leading fashion websites in the Middle East, but that’s the case with Amira Azzouz, a fresh graduate from communication engineering at the German University in Cairo (GUC).  Azzouz, who has always dreamed of owning her own brand or boutique, now promotes up and…

Laid back or adventurous; Kiteloop Egypt is where you want to be. The kite surfing school in Ras Sedr is simply what women want for a new lifestyle beyond the horizon. Amazing weather, beautiful scenery and very helpful hosts all describe our new weekend discovery. A couple of weeks ago, we decided to pack up…

      In 2002, Egypt witnessedthe launch of the first Diwan bookstore in Zamalek, creating a whole new world for bookworms, tapping into a great market gap. Diwan refueled and injected a ‘book culture’ into Egypt that no one ever anticipated, when five friends Hind and Nadia Wassef, Nihal Shawky, Ali Dessouki, and Ziad…

On his first visit to Egypt, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator, Charles Bolden, called for using space science and technology to bridge cultural gaps between the U.S and the Middle East. Bolden said that the space agency had plans to carry out projects in Egypt and other Islamic countries aimed at enhancing…

The furniture market in Egypt has undergone many changes and advanced a lot in all aspects. The renewed passion for design and unique pieces have created a need for new brands and designers in our homes. Aya Galal created herself a niche with a well selected portfolio of furniture brands such as Bonaldo, Joquer, Celda,…

The stunning voice on Cairo’s live broadcast is that of Erin Fleming, the host of After Dark, the popular evening program on Cairo’s number one hit music station Nile FM. She has been a buddy for three years now to an audience that wants unwind and chill in their cars or just relax in the…

By giving birth to Wust El Balad band, Hany Adel has been considered as a true game changer and a visionary above-board, who started a constantly thriving underground music scene in Egypt which has been growing each and every day for the past decade. Fans fell in love with Wust El Balad which made the…

Lebleba is one of a kind. She is fabulous and she is a living legend with no equivalent. When you meet her for the first time she instantly draws a smile on your face. Her genuine charm and impeccable sense of humor capture you the very moment she sets foot in the room. She is…

Two female authors prove that when it comes to relationships, men and women do belong to two different planets. In in Schizophrenic Egypt Cairenes face major tribulations when it comes to their love life. We’re never fully aware of what the opposite sex thinks of our appearances or behavior; hence insecurity plays a leading role…

RedBull’s wakeboarding champion Denise De Haan came to Egypt in Red Bull’s ‘Wake it Up’ 4 day workshop which took place in Marina, in an attempt to teach Egyptian wake-boarders to reach a professional level. Denise’ lifetime dream was to wake-board in the beautiful nile, so the crew of Red Bull helped her achieving that…

Dina Souad, is one of the young TV talents who we’ve seen in many different serials through out the past years. She is associated with the role that helped her launch her TV stardom, in which she played Maggie, a naive betrayed wife, in 2004’s serial ‘Meshwar Emraa’ starring the legendary Nadia El Guindy, Mustafa…

In a country where thousands of citizens live by less than a dollar a day, some people might think that throwing an extra piece of California Rolls into a Sushi Bar’s litter won’t hurt anyone, but in the real world, it actually does. The gap between socio-economic statuses in Egypt could hurt one’s eye, as…

A main part of the human feature is emotional attachment. People need someone to follow and depend on by nature. Someone to tell us what to choose while confused, someone to tell us they’ve done it too, so we can feel that we aren’t alone in a certain situation. In ancient civilizations like Egypt or…

The Egyptian Food Bank is a charitable entity aimed at the supply and delivery of food to orphans, elders, widows, needy families and everyone who is incapable of work or profit. It is a national nongovernmental, nonprofit organization that was established under the supervision and inspection of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Central…

I’m not a cat, my mother is not a bee and I always feel naked walking down the streets. The whistling, the cat calling, the groping and the dirty comments highlight a huge part of our lives each and every day. Media talks, campaigns are organized, protests are held and they laugh in your face.…

With his 29 years of age, Ahmed El-Ganzoury has been the man who would turn a rusty wooden space into an über-glam dance floor changing the party scene in Egypt forever, where movers and shakers were born under his glitzy disco ball.  Ten years ago it all began with various events and partners until he…

It’s finally a weekend in Sahel and I was excited to hit the beach after a week packed with deadlines and events. There I came wearing my black shades, which I had bought after a 70% sale from H&M trying to keep discreet about the price, not in front of the girls, but in front…

A Salafi turned cynical presenter and creative writer is what describes Hesham Mansour every time he nails the hammer on the head in his new online show “El 3elm wal Emaw” on Al Gomhoreya TV. Everything from Egyptian relationships, gender issues or trivia he mocks it all and you are in for some serious laughs!…

Known for his smooth musical infusions, Fathy Salama has emerged as a groundbreaking strike and an icon of profound and uplifting grasp of jazz music. He is the first artist in the Arab world to win a Grammy and a BBC Award, and as he hunts down his grooves, he heats them slowly to come…

When searching for an exit to our sufferings is mental suicide…  When was the last time you said ‘What am I doing here? I don’t belong here”? I’m sure that was just a few hours ago. Every morning going to work, stuck in traffic, phone calls with clients who don’t give a damn about your…

With ear-friendly vibes, Maher Zain sang his way into the music scene with full power after signing with Awakening Records to produce his debut album ‘Thank You Allah’. His charming voice has made him front and center in the very crowded modern Islamic music spectrum that’s not exclusive for him. We managed to sit Maher…

Some women race to the altar, others race to a quiet living and some race for stardom. But when they said “ready, steady, go” these women raced for the white house!!   Hard, Hectic, Harpy Hillary! The stairs of her ladder of success are infinite, and her passion for power and independence is endless. She…

Film junkies will find their cravings richly satisfied by Amr Salama’s directing and perspective. With projects that have been boiling in his head. he wrote, edited and directed “Zay El Naharda”, the movie that introduced him to us, in which he triggered the twists and turns of a seriously amazing plot. He’s currently living to…

They are young, they are fierce and they rock! With a mystic and intuitive sound, Massive Scar Era – in short Mascara, caused some stir in the male dominated metal scene in Egypt. Originally from Alexandria, Mascara moved to Cairo ready to take the music scene by storm.   It’s impossible not to fall under…

No streets are fuller, louder and more colorful that the streets of Cairo, the pulsing heart of Egypt. Red bus, mini bus, micro bus, CTA, old cab, yellow cab, donkey cart, simply put public transport is a colorful mess. The introduction of the Yellow cabs through different taxi companies set a new standard in commuting,…

  Marwa Gabriel, is the founder of ‘Starz’, an acting workshop catering to professional and amateur actors in Egypt. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and Theatre from the AUC she took off to California to pursue her Masters in screenwriting. Having done so she returned to her homeland with a new project that might…

With a peerless instinct for quality and self-respect, Mariam Abo Ouf is a promising young filmmaker, truly an inspiration to upcoming filmmakers. Making films is definitely her passion, but to do it right, she walked her path to success slowly, beginning with short films, advertising, TV and in the upcoming year, she will finally be…

Dalia El Beheiry is one of the most sought after actresses of her generation who looks back on a decent track record of cinema and TV. Only few manage the transition from catwalk to box office glory so delicately and successfully. With a great sense of style and lightheartedness this beautiful power woman is the…

With his free spirited script choices, Hassan El Radad emerged in full force as a promising acting talent. Starring alongside super star Mona Zaki in “Ehky Ya Schaherezade” by Youssry Nassrallah, Hassan has proved to be the real deal by showing that it’s about time to select actors by their résumé and  that young talents…

After a few years of back and forth between the US and Egypt, between engineering school and working at a grocery store, Fahmy finally settled in Cairo to study Political Science giving into his parents’ wishes. In 2001 he filmed “Regal la Taref El Mostaheel” mocking the infamous “Tareeq Ela Elat” (Road to Elat) which…

Karim El Sirgany, a talented and rising photographer, is booming with his talent to introduce capturing frames of effective photography. He graduated from the Faculty of Tourism and Hotels and is a established a sales manager in a telecommunications company. Ten years ago, Karim began with his photography but kept all in his drawer and…

Twenty-five year old Fadwa Attia is the founder and creative director of Fofo Designs specializing in unique T-shirt prints. Fadwa is a Fine Arts graduate and began her home business two years ago. It all began with Pink Panther who she painted on her own T-shirt and received excellent feedback, which resulted in pursuing this…

Twenty seven year old Jasmine Soliman is quite an astonishing young artist. We met her at her latest exhibition in Cairo titled “Error”.   “Error” emerged from some artistic mistakes she made while painting whereas they turned out to be some pretty creative “mistakes” and landed her this exhibition. Jasmine Soliman graduated from Kingston College…

One of these young professionals is Hassan Mahfouz, media producer, currently working on the crew of Sherif Arafa’s “Lahazat Harega”, the Egyptian version of “Emergency Room” in its second season. How did you get into show business? I studied Mass Communications and I like the field a lot. I was only hoping to get into…

Waking up to watch Ashraf Hamdi on OTV has been like morning coffee for many housewives cuddling in their sofa’s to watch their favorite TV show with its charismatic presenter, but here is the even better news, Ashraf Hamdi’s upcoming plans are jam-packed with acting, scriptwriting and directing. With a passion for music and dancing…

Spot-on and a flamboyant sense of humor is Safi in a nutshell, and yes he does speak Arabic and can manage to talk with a calm tone while he sips his coffee. We’ve been listening to him for about 7 years now, over 4 hours of coiled entertainment, as we tuned in ‘The Big Drive…

Sherif El Bendary is a young charismatic director on the rise with an award winning repertoire of short films and a new perspective on matters of life. Bendary graduated from the Faculty of Applied Arts in 2001 and worked as a textile engineer before starting his directing career. He always had this deep passion for…

Behind every great Red Bull Flying Bull is a greater woman leading the way!   Every child dreams about flying and while growing up he/she realizes that this is impossible and quits dreaming, but sixty year old pilot RadkaMachova never stopped dreaming and not did she enter blue skies, but she also became a leader…

Ahmed Sabry is a young Egyptian jewelry and fashion designer who flashed his talent in the fashion scene with his glamorous taste. “I wanted to take courses first and it all came as a coincidence when I met with fashion designer Heba El Awadi”, Sabry tells us. A friend of his introduced him to El…

One of the most recognizable voices in Egyptian broadcasting belongs to Marwan Kadry, who took radio and TV by storm. With an early morning show on Nogoom FM and one on OTV Marwan Kadry managed to talk his way into the lives of many Egyptians.   How do you evaluate radio culture in Egypt after…

Photography by Rania Helmy Dirt, disease, ignorance, cruelty and inhumanity all describe the daily lives of Batn El Ba’ar residents who are piled up in a slum behind the pottery market located at the end of Salah Salem road. We were there distributing charity bags, medical supplements and money and we were shocked by the…

  “Esma3oona” Children Speak Up  Plan Egypt was founded 70 years ago, and has been operating in Egypt since 1981 under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Solidarity and it is considered one of the largest child-centered community development organizations in the world. It works in partnership with children and their families to bring…

Amina Khalil, a 24 year old fashion designer, just launched her new label “Amina K.” that came to light after an open day last summer at Hacienda Bay, North Coast, where she sold out the whole collection. Equipped with a degree in Fashion Design Marketing form London and various internships at reputable houses, she created…

“La Sosta Culturale” was the Ramadan hit show aired on Tarek Nour’s Al Qahera Wel Nas and catapulted Akram El Sharkawy to the new face of comedy this season. The show is a fusion between MTV Punked and Candid Camera, in which high profile public figures such as Mofeed Fawzi or Zahi Hawass, are interviewed…

When Essam Youssef  published ¼ Grams in 2008, he was on everyone’s lips. The book that was more eye widening than two lines of coke became a mega-seller and he travelled the world promoting its success. This is not another interview about ¼ Grams, this time; we met with the author to talk about his…

  Washing cars at the break of dawn to make a living for a 25 LE salary at the age of sixty is surely no walk in the park. Yet so many less fortunate women do even worse jobs than these, under mostly harsh conditions. Om Ramadan, a porter’s wife, represents a segment of so…

Eva Habil is the mayor (“Omda”) of Kom Bouha, a small village in Dairout, Asyut in Upper Egypt. She inherited her father’s profession by common law; the only uncommon thing about her heritage is her being the first woman.   Did your father ever discuss the subject of you becoming a mayor?   No, he…

  From the Egyptian Cinderella to Raseeni, Tameem Younis connected the dots to come up with a Youtube channel with amateur videos, that were the talk of the town in full throttle. Amid the revolution’s curfew, Facebook homepages went insane with a video that reached 99,600 views showing Disney’s Cinderella, swearing vaguely in Egyptian Arabic…

Nora Ibrahim is not a woman you meet everyday. She is one of the very few female pilots in Egypt and the Arab world. We met the extraordinary mother of a boy and a girl for an inspiring interview. How did you become a pilot? Since early childhood I had a fascination with planes and…

Their dreams, their fears and their expectations Tahrir Monologues is an authentic account of personal tales of the revolution. Although we are monologue virgins in Egypt, Tahrir Monologues rocked the stages by narrating the 18 days of mixed emotions, optimism and everlasting triumph in a theatrical performance in which real people tell their real stories…

As a consequence of the chaos that usually follows emergencies, thousands of children since Haiti’s earthquake of the January 12 were at risk of falling prey to child traffickers. The scale of the problem is potentially enormous as Haiti is awash with children, with 45 per cent of its population younger than 15. One UN…

Deana Shabaan’s Fall/Winter collection is poised to be the savior of old-school glamour. From classy to pin-up to hip, her collection is elegant and effortless. The complete collection is black and white.“Recently we judge people a lot depending on their looks; I guess you realized that before. If you judge a person by their looks…

Since her appearance in Youssef Chahine’s ‘Alexandria New York’, people knew that this one would surely be heard of again. With old school Hollywood glamour and promising potential, Yosra El Lozy is undoubtedly an actress with a bright future ahead. At first glance you would think she is this sweet innocent fragile girl but once…

Since March is all about women, women, and none other than women; we decided to bring you a slice of the Mean Girl’s pie as unfortunately there are some mean girls out there who turn into mean women, so here are some to watch out for:   Miss undermining colleague: we all know that girl in…

Popcorn partners: take your mum on Mother’s Day to a romantic comedy genre or rent a DVD for a family movie like “The Women”, “Marley and Me”, “Cheaper by the Dozen”. Avoid movies and soaps like ‘Step Mum’ and ‘Desperate Housewives’ as they only bring strain and teary eyes.  Breakfast at Tiffany’s: if your mum likes those little bling…

Samia Assad shot to fame this season with her role in Rasayel El Bahr in which she joined forces with Dawood Abdel Sayed, one of the most respected directors in Egyptian cinema. Abdel Sayed is known for his interesting plot choices and quirky cinematic blends. Her fierce passions towards acting turned the heads of filmmakers,…

Nigel Chapman is the Chief Executive Officer in Plan International Devolpment Agency, one of the largest child-centered community development organizations in the world. It was founded 70 years ago and has been operating in Egypt since 1981 under the supervision of the Minstry of Social Solidarity. Chapman worked for the BBC for more than 20…

"We can't change the past but we can control the future"          "Helwa ya Baladi " is getting to be one of the most influential social initiatives. the campaign is all about giving Environmental classes especially for children in kindergarten stage who are more flexible to learn and are easily to be changed,…

The cancellation of Elton John's May's concert in Egypt due to his gay identity; became an issue of international hard sell. Media like Vanity Fair, NY Daily News and Huffington Post were obviously enthused about the concert's ban. The 63 year old artist has a personal life which is perceived as contradicting the religious norms…

From “Blackout” mode to “Circus” flash lights!   “There are two types of people in this world, The ones that entertain and the ones that observe, well baby I’m a put on a show kind of girl” Britney Spears.   The past year has been a rollercoaster ride for Britney Spears, full of nasty divorce…

As a working mother of two, Aya Osama, an AUC graduate decided to start out a business a lot of housewives might find interesting, helpful and a life saver. "I used to come back running from work every day to fix lunch for my kids.  Having to do this I had to compromise my well being;…

Mazahers cakery specializes in making the most creative, artistic and tasty desserts in town by using high end ingredients.  Mazaher’s Cakery caters your sweet tooth by providing a wide range of juicy carrot cake, chocolate cake, cupcakes, mini cakes, cheese cake, apple pie and so much more. The best part is you get to customize…

For some people, being ‘Positive’ is the beginning of a life full of desolation. As government, society and media close the doors of mercy in the face of people living with HIV. Taking slow and ineffective measures towards AIDS awareness Egypt turned into one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics. The call for taking effective…

Mai Selim is surely worthy of a royal title in the Arab music scene. She is a young, ambitious and beautiful young woman who sings like there is no tomorrow. With hip titles Mai Selim manages to stay at the top, reinventing herself with every song and eventually venturing into cinema. I met with Mai…

    Egypt’s political sphere has been rocked with question marks, hope and enthusiasm since El Baradei, the former head of the UN’s atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Nobel Prize winner, announced that he will run in the 2011’s presidential elections. It’s not another Egyptian obsession like those of Turkish soap…

Bobby Chinn, the international charismatic chef, author and TV figure is mining travel cooking and writing with a cynical sense of humor and high rated charisma. We met with the firecracker at Diwan Bookstore where he was signing his new hit book Wild,Wild East and doing a playful cooking class for the attendees. Born in…

One of the outstanding young bands on the Egyptian band scene is Salalem. Salelem, named after their habit of playing music on their college stairs during gaps, is a combo of seven exquisite musicians who created their own little niche in the scene. With often sarcastic texts voicing out social critique Salelem combine witty Arabic…

Sheila Vance is an aspiring eyewear designer whose shades are favorites of superstars like Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Sylvester Stallone, Brad Pitt and many other Hollywood heartthrobs. We caught up with her in Cairo where she came to run some of her business errands with Magrabi Optics, the reputable eyewear store that she chose to…

Located in a narrow alley in Zamalek, Soho has proven to be the IT boutique since its opening in 2008. Famed for its unique’n’chic collections, Soho brings its’ owners passion and personality to its shelves. When I entered Soho, I was spellbound by the glam within its walls, ceiling and collections. The boutique’s setting has…

Sexual education and knowledge among Egyptian men and women is close to non-existent based to various cultural and educational factors. Most schools don’t have sexual education and if they do it is merely very scientific and not discussed. Most sexual beliefs stem from urban myth passed on through generations through family members or false information…

      Yara El Guindy is the voice that millions of Egyptians wake up to every morning on Nogoom FM and her groupies make sure to tune in Nile FM when she so stylish. I met with Yara for a chit chat about music, lifestyle and showbiz. The entertainment business became Yara’s calling in…

Shaima, 30, isn’t just a pretty girl on stage. She is a talented Egyptian singer climbing the ladder of success with live gigs in Cairo. Her vsoice goes down like honey with a little bit of chili to spice up the pitches she skillfully throws at the audiences like a fisherman throwing his out net.…

Only few people go from unknown to icon overnight, but the whole cast of 3ard Khas achieved the near impossible by bursting out with this new groundbreaking series that mixes fact and fiction, embodying show business with all its difficulties to reach the dream of fame. Five young aspiring actors are given the chance to…

While extravagant towers with the cream of the crop evolve around Dubai with residents of spendthrift shopping bags and trendsetter cars, others are sentenced to jail for creating cultural chaos in Dubai’s fancy restaurants, amusing malls, the chaos that stretched to text messages! Media projects also came to face serious censorship. Lately, the city is…

“If painting a panda on the walls of Egypt will change the history of art then that would be very sad”   As the instantly recognizable graffiti of a Sad Panda spanned the walls of Heliopolis and Zamalek through the past year everyone was asking who’s behind it? Why did they paint it? What’s the…

There is a Chinese proverb and curse that says “May you live in interesting times” and I always say that whoever lived in 2011 could happily die fulfilled with interesting moments. Global revolutions, rumors of Armageddon, regimes toppled, world leaders brutally killed and screen legends passing away one after the other. A couple of weeks…

Mashrou’ Leila fascinate the crowd with their spellbinding music and they hit the nerve with their outstanding lyrics. They always remain true to their sounds each time and they are elevated to a higher step in their musical career. Carl Gerges, Omaya Malaeb, Andre Chedid, Haig Papazian, Firas Abou Fakher, Hamed Sinno, and Ibrahim Badr…

“I forced myself to take a picture everyday and edit it on the same day for a year” He didn’t know that playing with his dad’s old Canon AE-1 camera would turn his interest in photography into pure addiction, and get his work into the Italian Vogue. We talked with the photographer who thinks that…

They are creators, innovators and trendsetters. They don’t believe that there is a limit to their skies and they just stepped out of their comfort zones to embrace their dreams. They dream big, shout loud and run their own projects with great potentials. These four young men work around the clock and give “Made in…