A new era just began with Cairo Governorate’s launching of the “Efeslha” project last Saturday. This garbage-recycling project started with two kiosks in Misr El-Gedida, urging people in the neighborhood and all…
Etiquette Expert: The Language of Etiquette is not just for queens!
Contrary to popular belief, good etiquette isn’t just for royalty like Kate Middleton and Queen Rania. It is a set of rules that guide people to proper behavior. We had a sit-down…
Boys Must Not Be Ignored in the Battle for Gender Equality: A Talk to Amel Fahmy, Director of Tadwein
The office of Tadwein, a centre for gender studies, is tucked away in a little apartment block in Maadi. It’s managing director Amel Fahmy has spent her adult life working on issues…
On Raising A Boy In Egypt: A Mother’s Perspective
I have been blessed with 2 children in a 7 year marriage; a boy and a girl. Although I love my children both equally, I tend to lean towards my son, and…
Female Gas Station Attendants: There is no job women aren’t tough enough for!
“It’s a man’s-job.” The gender-categorization of jobs is a Middle East specialty. Drivers, butchers, pilots, Presidents, gas station attendants and many more professions have been seats saved for male candidates. However, the…
Could this Radical Type of Therapy Be the Answer? : A talk to Family Constellations practitioner Bassant El Menshawy
The feminist Adrienne Rich once wrote “Until we understand the assumptions in which we are drenched, we cannot know ourselves.” If you replace assumptions with traditions, then one might see that Family…
Reasons why we feel Marital Sex is boring and how to fire things up!
As we all know, sex is more than just a physical act between two people, it is something which regardless of if you are deeply in love with the other person or…
When anxiety hits, here is what to do!
No matter how brave a face you put on, everybody feels anxiety occasionally. Whether it is because of a looming deadline or a busy social-life or even just bubbling nerves that seem…
A Book Review for Be Careful What You Wish For by Alexandra Potter
When was the last time you made a wish? And what was it? Before you answer, you must know that by wish we don’t mean those well-thought out, calculated wishes you make…
A Book Review for Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Love at first sight is the typical fictional fantasy. Boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, girl reciprocates the feeling. That is almost every single happy-ever-after that we know of. We never…
10 Tips for every Egyptian Mother raising a Son
With social pressures all around pulling you in many different directions, it can be difficult to know the right ways to raise a son in Egypt. So here are 10 tips that…
Revolutionizing Egypt’s Art Scene: A talk with D-CAF’s Visual Arts Curator Berit Schuck
In the build-up to the highly anticipated D-CAF (the Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival), with events and performances about to transform our city and challenge our perspectives on everything from politics to art, Visual…
A Picture-Perfect Way to Remember Your Favourite Memories: Nada Habib from Little Pretty Things tells us about Shadow Boxes
Have you got little keepsakes from your child’s first year, or a holiday you loved that you don’t want to get rid of but don’t know what to do with? Then Nada…
Confidence is Key: Female self defence Trainers share the secrets of Wen-Do
Sitting down with these five normal Egyptian women, no man would have guessed that every single one of them could have kicked his arse. But Amany, Alaa, Yasmine, Manal and Maysoun, could…
What Yogic Philosophy tells us about the male mind
In yogic philosophy, men are said to be similar to the energy of the sun and women are said to be similar to the energy of the moon. In this article I…
5 Mothers share their views on raising boys: “He will not only be a man but also he may be somebody’s husband and father”
All Egyptian mother’s recognise the struggles of raising a son in Egypt. When asked how they plan on raising their sons to avoid creating men that fits all of the negative stereotypes of…
A Debate with Hepta’s Bestselling Author Mohamed Sadek on the depths of societal darkness
With a history of novels that have long-generated dispute, Sadek’s recent release “أنت.. فليبدأ العبث” (You), portrays society’s darkest sides; cheating, sexual harassment, murder and sin. A complexity that left us wondering,…
“The impact of trying to build up our boys to be ‘men’, is that they usually feel more guilt than girls when they are sexually abused”: A one-on-one with Founder of SafeKids, Sara Aziz
When we raise our sons to be ‘tough’, we think we are giving them the tools to protect themselves from harm, but according to the founder of Safe, an organisation providing support…
A Girl’s Guide to Staying in Hostels
We’ve all heard the stories of a friend of a friend who had a bad experience in a hostel, leaving a lot of young women feeling too intimidated to use hostels when…
Lipton and Hany El-Dakkak’s mashup is a portrayal of how good deeds circulate!
You know you are in Egypt, when a total stranger offers you gum on the bus, initiates a conversation out of nowhere, or shares with you his life story without you even…
Save our Animal Shelters!: ESMA needs our help to stay open
As we all know, Cairo has an epidemic of street cats and dogs roaming freely around our neighbourhoods. The situations for many of these animals is dire, with food and water being…
The hauntings of tragedies past: A rape survivor shares his story
I was ten years old and living in a building with other family relatives and cousins. I used to be left alone with my older cousins a lot. They used to tell…
Girls around the world are pushed to succeed in their dreams, whilst we in Egypt are pushed to postpone ours!
From the moment she opens her eyes in the morning to the moment she closes them at night, her mind is full of thoughts. She never stops thinking about how and when…
For the love of travel and photography: A married couple roams the world together
Smashing the stereotype that marriage has to bring staticness, stability and stagnation, this traveling couple, Bassi and Amr Hamid, share with us their experiences of roaming the world and explain how having…
The story behind “Thakooba” and the ultimate Egyptian food cart experience
Located at the Courtyard Maadi, “Thakooba” is a food cart run by Farida Thakeb, a GUC Management Student. “It was never my dream to start a food business, but since I was…
Chillax Café upgrades menu to include 80’s products; Kata-Kito and Bimbo
Some things automatically generate a nostalgic feeling when we hear about them, let alone eat them. We might enjoy global food brands, but our tummies are inclined to crave the local ones…
Sisi finally appoints qualified Education Minister!
The recent Cabinet reshuffle has seen a number of new faces enter the inner sanctum of politics, including new Education Minister, Tarek Shawky. After only 16 months at the job, public criticism…
Cairokee’s guitarist, Sherif el Hawary hushes all rumors: “I am not a spaced out-drug addict, I just listen more than I talk”
In any Cairokee-interview you’ve come across, he’s the guy in the background listening rather than talking. This gave people an opportunity to make false assumptions about him; They’ve said that he is living…
ISLC’s Special Session: where young talents inspire!
Having a passion in life is extremely wonderful, and it is even more wonderful to use this passion to reach ultimate success and fulfill the greatest of dreams. At a young age,…
Trying to charm your special someone? Get Closer with Closeup!
We all have those embarrassing stories from when we have gone up to our crush and have tried to charm him with our wit or by sharing our interests, and for some…
2017 ‘The Year of the Women’: Only one year to right all the wrongs?
In a country in which the law itself is an enemy of women’s rights, I cannot begin to say how happy I am that the country is starting to realize the importance…
Designing a better world: Award-winning Graphic Designer, Ghada Wali, on empowerment through design
For 27 year old Ghada Wali, Graphic Design is more than just a career; it is a way of life, a force for change. As a pioneer in Egypt, Ghada is now…
“Dear Society, it is not a crime if I want to quit college.”: 4 responses you’ll get once you utter these words
Dearest Daddy, Mommy, Auntie Soad, neighbors, whisperers, doorman, and general society, you know who you are, Every day I wake up before the sun does, I hit the road and head to…
Rising Band “Arabish” opposes forced marriage in a song that breaks the internet
It is the best of both worlds; Arabish is a rising band that sings arabic songs to western melodies. Founded in 2015 by 35 year old engineer and guitarist Wael Nasr, this…
Kick Like A Girl: Meet the Female National Soccer Team!
Football tends to evoke a sense of unified happiness amongst Egyptians that reaches to immeasurable depths. We see it in the street celebrations after Egypt wins an important match, and we see…
Meet the Egyptian Woman who gave up Banking for a life of Traveling
After deciding to leave the world of banking, Omniya Fareed took a step not usually taken by Egyptian women and started exploring the globe as a travel blogger. From the UAE, a…
“It’s not always rainbows and butterflies”: Diaries of a wedding planner
Nope. It definitely isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. That was my first reality check when I started working as a wedding planner. Actually, the first reality check that hit me was in…
Egypt’s Most Effective Medicine: Prayer
A year or so ago, my Mother started using a book of old Celtic prayers. Early in the morning you can find her in our living room, and late at night in…
Into the Wild: A chat with Nora Kafafi, the founder of Rock & Rope
Nora Kafafi grew up in the wild, her childhood spent outdoors by the ravine next to her house. Years later, working as a project manager in a company helping start-ups grow, Nora…
Were we waiting for the Africa Cup of Nations to revive in us a sense of belonging?
Recently, most of us have been losing the sense of belonging to our country. Maybe it is due to the economic, political, and social problems that we face every day? Maybe because…
Award winning Caricaturist, Doaa El-Adl, recognized as one of the most influential women of 2016
This success story started with I want to be a caricaturist and ended with I am one of the 100 most influential women selected by the BBC for 2016. Except this isn’t…
Dear President Sisi, Egypt isn’t ‘very poor’!
Sisi’s recent speech calling Egypt ‘very poor’ has not been great for the country’s morale. With the price of the dollar soaring, taxes rising and subsidies being cut, it is easy to…
The Birth of an Advocate: Dr Hana Kassem and the Long Journey to Natural Birth
Even over the phone the gynaecologist and natural birth advocator, Dr Hana Kassem’s enthusiasm is infectious. As Dr Kassem tells us “You know, when you attend a birth and everything is natural…
Rescue App: The App that Could Help Egyptian Women Reclaim Their Streets
Three months ago 21 year old Shadw Osama received a call from her friend. “She was walking alone and there were some men following her. I was not able to help her…
Want to predict the gender of your baby? Try this Ancient Chinese Calendar
Have you ever wanted to predict the gender of your baby before an ultrasound can pick it up? Or even decide the gender of your baby by choosing when to get pregnant?…
With the rise of the dollar, here’s how to travel on $5-10 a day!
Traveling is one of the most beautiful adventures we can experience in our lives, but how can you afford it? When traveling most of us choose to stay at nice hotels, book…
Jam-packed with Talent: Tunisian ‘Mes Confits’ founder tells her success story
The friction of ideas, the passion that leads, the spark that follows, and delicious homemade jam can come together to create a successful business. Something we learned from our chat with entrepreneur…
Will taking off your veil bring back your confidence? Two girls share their story
That one piece of cotton is thought to not only hold your hair back but also your confidence, your sense of identity, your self-perception…but does it? There are an infinite number of…
Is Melania Really a Victim of a Global Patriarchal System?
On Friday, Donald Trump officially became the 45th President of the United States. For many, however, the focal point of the inauguration was not Trump but his wife, Melania. People on social…
Nelly Karim’s new film behind the online ‘Bashtery Ragel’ sperm donor campaign!
‘Bashtery Ragel’ (Buying a man), the internet controversy that has gripped our attention for the past few days, it has been revealed, has a whole new layer of drama and intrigue. The…
50 Countries and Counting: 20 year old Seif Tamer on being an Egyptian Abroad
Despite his age and his intensive medical studies, 20 year old Seif Tamer has already visited more countries that most of us will in our lifetimes. From a young age, travel has…
Female Entrepreneur Sets Up First Corn Shop in Dahab: A Chat with Nabila Radwan
When she was little, Nabila Radwan was given a silver corn pendant by her mother. It was to become a sort of talisman for, years later, Nabila is now the owner of…
‘Bashtery Ragel’: Controversy over an Egyptian woman’s online search for a Sperm Donor
Yesterday a Facebook page, ‘Bashtry Ragel’ (buying a man), was created by an unmarried 40-year old Egyptian woman expressing her desire to find a sperm donor in order to have a baby. On…
Speeding through Stereotypes: Egypt’s First Female Rally Racer, Yara Shalaby, shares her story
What was that again? Women can’t drive? They aren’t tough enough? Because a female racer telling us about how she rolled over twice in her car and continued driving in the same manner you’d…
It’s never too early to start taking care of yourself with InShape Clinic!
We all love looking nice and feeling beautiful, but no matter our age, our busy lifestyles can start to take their toll on our appearances- that’s where InShape Clinic comes in. Whether…
Wheelchair incident results in Uber publicly expressing their support for the differently-abled of Egypt
For wheelchair-users, moving around the city can be problematic, with public transport being pretty much completely inaccessible and useable pavements being a rarity. These are problems that one of our magazine cover…
Why Do We Wax?
On the way home from my first waxing experience in Cairo I saw a flayed carcass lying out in the street. I considered it quite an apt metaphor. The thing is I…
10 things most Egyptian parents don’t know about their childs’ psychology: A sit down with child psychologist Sherein El Rayess
As it is the small things that later shape the personalities of our children and determine their futures, we have to put great thought into them. However, sometimes we are led by…
A chat with Amr Wahba, the script-writer behind Plateau and Abla Fahita
Because our eyes only see what is on-screen, it is not until today that we were introduced to the comedian Amr Wahba. This light-spirited individual has been there all along, behind the…
No Mountain too high: The incredible journey of Manal Rostom, Egypt’s most prominent female mountaineer
Manal Rostom is someone who has achieved many firsts for Arab and Egyptian women, from being the first Hijabi woman to be featured in an international Nike campaign, to being the first…
Virtual Reality Love-Stories: How College-Crush Facebook pages are changing how people interact
In a society where values and norms are force-fed to us, we were raised to know that love-declarations are inappropriate. This has shaped our perceptions until we have become more comfortable in…
So what do feminists do for a living?: The musings of a proud Egyptian feminist
“Tell me… what’s your job?” is in fact the hardest question I get asked. Still after a decade in this career I struggle to answer this question, partially because I want to…
Stop judging modern women for being ‘unfeminine’ and start respecting us for our hectic lifestyles!
Who said that women are less feminine nowadays? Where did all of this come from? Social media rages about how ‘the good old days’ were so unique and glamorous. People will yell…
Egyptian Post Office dedicates a postal stamp to the late legend Nour El-Sherif
One of 2015’s major pains was the loss of legendary actor Nour El-Sherif to long-term illness. After an extensive journey impacting both the big and small screen, Nour El-Sherif died at age…
Ahmed Magdy from every angle: Everything you didn’t know
On the 4th of May 1986, 10:00 AM to be exact, an artistic little boy was born soul-searching; what he later found wasn’t one path to follow but rather many. With an…
Are Egyptian Women marrying for all the wrong reasons?
The word “divorce” has become very familiar these days and Egypt is now ranked one of the top countries in divorce rates. This is not only because life in Egypt is becoming…
‘Malaksh Feha’: An anti-harassment campaign targeting passive men and breaking stereotypes
Everyday women are harassed. Every now and then campaigns are launched, harassers are attacked, women are patted or blamed, but nothing changes. Maybe it is because we are forgetting a variable in…
Nannies, what role should they actually have?
Lots of mothers have nannies to help them with the exhausting and hectic task of raising children. But in each household it seems as though nannies have very different roles and responsibilities;…
Employ me for my potential, not because of my marital status or the number of children I have!
Dear employer, This is the cover letter that I would attach to my CV in a parallel world in which I could speak my mind. The following lines embrace a bit of…
An Extra-Special Spaghetti Pomodoro
Suzanne Mokhtar gives us her extra-special recipe for Spaghetti Pomodoro, inspired by her 6 year old son’s love of the dish. Ingredients: 500g spaghetti 500ml extra virgin olive oil 2 garlic cloves,…
Working out whilst pregnant is not a problem: Crossfit star Dalya Darwish shares her story
After training for years as a swimmer in Denmark, on the recommendation of a friend Dalya Darwish tried a single intro session in crossfit and became instantly hooked. A few years ago,…
Egypt’s First Women-only Driving Instructor Service, Direxiona, is launched!
Although driving in Cairo, surrounded by chaotic traffic and terrible drivers can be very stressful, sitting in your own car, driving yourself can definitely be the safest way of getting around. As…
Ola Roshdy’s Weghet Mazar: A Portrayal of Motherhood Struggles
Ever since the introduction of reality TV shows, we’ve been wondering how ‘real’ these shows actually are. With makeup teams in the background and staged conversations in the foreground, it has become difficult…
In Defense of the Dominant Woman
Women brave enough to enter the world of business are consistently told not to be too bossy or too abrasive in the workplace because it ‘creates a hostile environment’. Dominance, we are…
A Brilliant One Pot Chicken Fajita Pasta!
The best recipes are always the easiest ones! Check out this brilliant one pot fajita pasta by The Devil Wears an Apron! Ingredients: Penne Pasta (400gm) 3 chicken breasts, sliced 1 red…
From war to discrimination; the stories of 3 independent Sudanese women
Suffering similarly yet differently, three Sudanese women, working as maids decided to tell their stories, hoping it might help. They emigrated from Sudan for the sake of escaping war in order to…
Fresh graduate dentists battle with public-hospital rituals
“You are about to get off mamma’s lap, and experience the real world” is what our Ethics professor told us right before we had to leave college for our internships. She said…
Inside Azza Fahmy Jewellery: An interview with the women whose jewellery is taking the world by storm
After transforming the world of jewellery in Egypt by challenging stereotypes and misconceptions, Azza Fahmy Jewellery has taken its success to a whole new level. Expanding across the Middle East and Europe,…
Ministry Of Education has Ensured that WheelChair Users will attend classrooms on the ground floor!
Despite the World Health Organisation estimating that 10% of Egypt’s population is in some way differently-abled, ranging from vision impairment to various forms of motor disability, the country has been generally slow…
The true story of an Illegal Immigrant who survived the sea: His brother tells all
When they open fairy tales with “Once upon a time”, they alert you that some great story is about to be told, with glitter and fantasy etched into it. But real life…
With Gillette Venus Breeze, You’ll Be Gliding Through Your Busy Day With Unprecedented Ease!
Moving around Cairo for back to back meetings; waking up at 6:00 am to prepare creative lunchboxes; and spending lunch breaks in traffic is a routine all power women know by heart. Amid life’s…
Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs celebrate with our Golden Girls
After their stunning victory against the reigning champions in the Woman’s Team Squash championships on the 3rd of December, our fantastic Egyptian Women’s Squash team has returned home to admiration and support.…
6 reasons why Iceland should be our Gender Equality role model
This cold, tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with a population of less than 332,000 is rarely in the news, however when it comes to Women’s Rights, there is…
Women Commit Suicide in Aleppo to Avoid Being Raped!
A UN spokesman has called the situation in Aleppo ‘a meltdown of humanity’ and perhaps nothing encapsulates this better than the reports that 20 women have committed suicide in Aleppo to avoid…
Fady Garas: The Egyptian Sound Designer from Brad Pitt’s latest Blockbuster ‘Allied’!
Hollywood is the ultimate dream for many. Once you make it there as an actress/actor, producer, filmmaker, director, sound designer, art director, or as anything else at all even if minimal, you open…
The Lives of Egyptian Cemetery Inhabitants
We drove into the Al Ghareeb Cemetery, manoeuvring through the tiny roads to get to the heart of the grave site. “Thieves hide there”; “people there are depressed”; “people there are unhappy…
He picked me up, just like a father would pick up his child.
I was in kindergarten at the time, going to a nearby school in Heliopolis. My apartment building was still being built so my family was one of few actually living there.…
Egyptian Doctors Trapped until They Pay the Government Back Their Full Education Fees!
If you are a medicine graduate looking forward to receiving your masters degree from a top global university, or even seeking out an experience abroad re-consider because this dream is about to…
Law Affirming Rape Abolished in Lebanon
Women stand in the middle of Beirut’s busy streets. They are wearing white wedding dresses shrouded by floor length veils. These clothes represent what it is globally thought of as one of…
Asmaa Amr: First woman to walk the Sinai trail!
25-year old Asmaa Amr walked like an Egyptian the 200 km Sinai trail, going from St. Katherine to the gulf of Aqaba. A trail that won the BGTW Tourism award for the…
Female MP Suggests Child Goes to Father’s Wife, If the Mother Re-marries!
From offering amendments to the Egyptian constitution against female circumcision, to increasing the constitutional penalties for sexual harassment, changes in the Egyptian constitution -for the most part – have been in favour…
“A Feminist”: The correct definition
Being a feminist is a label that has been assigned to many modern women without even understanding the meaning of the word. I see men talking about a girl they know who…
Forceful Veils: Behind the fences of Islamic Schools in Cairo
“He’s listening.” That’s what they told us about God, so we can doubtlessly raise our hands and pray; so we can have these silent conversations with Him about what we’ve down wrong,…
Quirky female artists you need to follow!
At a young age, art inspired them and became their gateway! But what made them successful is how they chose to express themselves through distinctively creative kinds of art. Here are…
Egyptian Deena Mousa won NASA and Google awards!
Not only is she living proof that age is just a number, but the 17 year old Egyptian Deena Mousa invented a medical device that stops bleeding in 5 to 10 seconds,…
The truth about the ‘raped dog’ Anastasia
A week ago, an animal’s caregiver found a female dog, which she’d been feeding and taking care of, bleeding to death with lacerations in her uterus. After rushing it to a vet,…
7 Things We Get Wrong About The Pill
There are many myths around the use of pills. When seeing a couple for counseling prior to marriage, contraception is usually on the top of the queries. Unfortunately, relatives and friends volunteer…
Are Egyptians Really Friendly with Newcomers?
Friendly Egyptians: A statement you hear all the time, and that I partially agree with. ‘Friendly’ in what sense? With whom, when and why? Are they friendly to foreigners? To other fellow…
Change Yourself Before Trying to Change Your Partner
Many women’s emotions are basically reactions to their partners’ behaviors. Practicing emotional intelligence will maintain a balance in your marriage. In this article, I will focus on Daniel Goleman’s ‘mixed model’ and…
Artistri: Interior Design with an Artistic Blend!
Dina Samaha, a talented architect, interior designer and a fascinating artist founded Artistri a few years ago to create a beautiful blend of art and design for a homy feel. From ethnic…
How “Nour” Empowers an Entire Society: An Interview with Zap Tharwat and Amina Khalil
For many, “Nour”, the video performed by Amina Khalil and Zap Tharwat, is about women empowerment, but for us it is about the empowerment of an entire society. “When you as a…
Sun Bites Knows What Women Really Want!#سناك_يبسطك
Free Massages, Manicures and Hair Styling all over Cairo! This season, our favorite crispy snack decided to pamper women with many fabulous events. Who would say no to a soothing massage? Who…
Mirinda helps in developing Egypt’s Hidden Gems!
New flavors, creative campaigns and exciting workshops! Mirinda embraced the innate creativity of Egyptians through a new CSR campaign with brilliant accomplishments and fun activities. The team behind this inspiring campaign visited…
Bridezillas Rejoice! Guestbookery is a Fab Life Saver!
Guestbookery is a fabulous new brand in town, blending vintage props with modern pieces, adding charm and romance to your guestbook table! Here are 5 reasons why Guestbookery should be part of…
The Target on Female NGO Members and Activists Continues!
Freedom is a feeling more and more people continue to lose to censorship, injustices and national oppression. It is a feeling and a state Egyptians went down on January 25th to fight…
A Mother’s Power: World’s No.1 Squash Player El Shorbagy Wins After a Surprising Comeback!
Image Source: EParena Mothers are magical forces to be reckoned with. Sometimes though, we tend to forget this reality till something happens that reminds us of their mystic greatness. Earlier this week, the World’s…
My Arabic Tutor Harassed Me!
It seems harder to put this on paper, even though I already shared it with many. But the thing is, when we share with others, we always find ourselves choosing a…
City Centre Alexandria’s Fashion Lounge makes a Fabulous Comeback!
Remember last winter when City Centre Alexandria was the first in town to showcase the season’s latest trends and styles? Well, it’s this time of year again! City Centre Alexandria is hosting…
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of being a Flight Attendant!
Being a flight attendant has always been a dream job for many girls. There is always a depiction in our minds that she is the luckiest; she travels the whole world, goes…
Married Undergraduates: Superheroes or Merely Humans?
Is it career suicide if she said ‘yes’ way earlier than it’s commonly mouthed? Does the weight of that ring on her finger mean a happily never after for her hopes and…
My Child Lives with One Lung…I Believe in Miracles!
My name is Amira. I am a first-time mother of a child called Yassin. He’s two, and he is also known as Red Glasses. In this life, everything is fate and decreed.…
A loveless marriage and a huge loss of self-esteem from constant mental abuse about not being good enough.
Loneliness is a weapon many divorced people use against themselves, making them vulnerable to being taken advantage of by users and manipulators, and this can cause severe depression. To prevent this from…
I suffered from Bulimia for many years
This is a story I feel is impartial to talk about. It must be said and expressed to relieve a heavy burden off my shoulders, and maybe that of many others reading…
A Rising Egyptian Opera Singer, Marks Herself on the International Scene!
Egyptian talent is on a rise in all kinds of realms and it just can’t go unnoticed. Amongst the many successes are women that are following their passion restlessly, slowly but surely…
President Sisi’s meeting with striving Mona ignores the struggles of thousands of other Egyptian women!
A few days ago, we shared an article showing two images that went viral of two Egyptian women suffering and/or being disrespected and devalued. One of these images was of a woman…
Quality time at it’s best with Lipton’s “Do Good” Campaign!
You wake up in the morning, drowsy and tired, with all these plans in mind for the day, but the push is just not there. The day begins, but you feel demotivated.…
3 Times a Cancer Survivor and She is Only 35!
As the cancer epidemic continues to rise, we continue witnessing all kinds of motivational stories. We’ve seen and heard many stories revolving around positivity, societal support and ease. However, we rarely hear…
Trump’s Win is a Testimony That our World is Already a Terrible Place!
What does Trump’s win mean for humanity and the world? People on social media are claiming that “the world will become a terrible place”, that “humanity is going to fail” and that…
Winter Is Coming! 9 Fabulous Comfy Items you can find at IKEA!
A cup of hot cocoa and dim lights and our afternoon is made! Our bedroom is where the day starts and ends,where we tuck ourselves amongst the mess of soft covers and…
Images Reflecting the Devaluation and Oppression of Egyptian Women Go Viral
Women being mistreated and discriminated against, is a reality evident in our society and one many of us are consciously aware of. However, every now and then during our moments of hope…
Video: AUC Students Strike Against Tuition Increase Following Egyptian Pound Floatation
Image taken by: Nada Hesham As Egypt announced the Egyptian Pound floatation, prices all over the country skyrocketed. Amongst the many monetary changes that generically took place due to the economic…
5 Basic Makeup Products That Won’t Break Your Budget!!
It’s always a dilemma for women to choose the best makeup products out there. With the wide range of products available in the market, it’s really hard to choose, especially with the…
Princess Fawzia: The First Egyptian Princess to Ask for a Divorce
The idea of being a princess is thought tobe a fairytale coming to life by many women,but reality is far from that misconception. Owning diamonds and sparkling tiaras, and living in a…
First Comes Pregnancy Brain, Then Comes Mommy Brain!
Mayar Bakeer So,I was at work, and my colleague asked me, “Mayar, where are you going?” In complete confidence, I replied,“I’m going to the potty.“ I was met with absolute silence in…
Is Owning a Car Worth it in Egypt?
Kia Picanto’s (3arabeyet el sha3b) pricehas escalated from EGP90,000 to EGP179,000. The prices of cars in Egypt have been skyrocketing, just like everything else around us has in 2016. The question here…
On Raising An Addict; The Truth Unmasked.
The truth we all cannot deny is that we are all addicts in different ways; either behavioral addicts or substance addicts. A very simple definition of addiction is‘a persistent, compulsive dependence on…
An Isolated Egyptian Fishing Town Becomes an Explosion of Art
At times, art inspires, at other times it expresses or beautifies or questions, but in all cases it purifies a person’s emotional state. Unfortunately though, the importance of art and the power it…
8 Times Suzan Mubarak Made Us Giggle About the Dollar Crisis!
Suddenly, everybody is an economist. Couldn’t agree more, the care-free days! HAHAHAHA! And we’re also in need for these pounds. You’re right, Suzy! Its becoming insane. We kind of want you guys…
Get a Free Haircut for A Cause!
As part of the empowering and awesome awareness campaigns to support breast cancer, Kriss Beauty Salons started their very own fabulous initiative that has been the talk of the town throughout the…
Spread Your Wings for Girl Power!
Unicharm is a Japanese company with HQ based in Tokyo and offers a variety of hygienic products. Through the most advanced innovative technology and well known Japanese quality, Unicharm has been offering…
Okhtein Wins the Vogue Arabia Fashion Prize!
The Launch of Vogue Arabia earlier this year was a huge milestone for the Arab fashion scene. With the launch, came the Dubai Design & Fashion Council/Vogue Fashion Prize Competition, and our…
Moez Masoud Sings, and People Are Not Happy!
We live in a society inevitably encompassing judgements. Mix that with the presence of social media and you create a recipe for disastrous negativity. Although we saw many positive responses during the…
Mothers who lost their babies: On Grief, Acceptance and Moving On
Shams Rashad an engineer lost her baby Layla Hassan Choucri at 2.5 months of age, one day after coming home from NICU. This experience changed her completely. It affected her husband, as…
Here’s Why You Shouldn’t Get Pregnant in the First Year of Marriage
A scholar once argued that language was abstract (intangible). He created a diagram to prove that just about any word was abstract on some level. The only problem was that, the more…
Are Newspapers Getting Extinct?
Back in the day, newspapers were a hit. People woke up early to get their daily editions and be up to date on whatever is going on in their country or around…
How Not To Catch the Early Engagement Disease
In a society where marriage is a social requirement, you would think that it couldn’t get any worse. But the new college-generations are full of surprises, aren’t they? Lately, an early…
How to Talk to your kids about their Siblings with Special Needs
Marriage undergoes change with the birth of a child, any child. But when a child in the family has special needs, this change can be enormous. Having a child with a disability…
8 Reasons Why Justin Trudeau is a Global Women Empowerment Icon
Justin Trudeau has proven time and again that he is more than just a pretty face or an ordinary Prime Minister. Trudeau is not new to making headlines encouraging feminism and women’s…
How Sexist Can You Possibly Be Using Just Your Mouth? On Sexist Language
Remember that time you were heading out with your sister to meet some friends and your parents said don’t be late “ya welad”? Later that night, it was rather difficult for…
Peeing in Public Bathrooms 101
We all have to pee in at public toilet every now and then. Some bathrooms, of course, are cleaner than others. Still, there’s nothing like your home sweet home’s toilet. Here are…
Avon Selects Pink Warriors and Diana Richy as their ‘Beauty for Purpose’ Ambassadors in Egypt!
Part of their fantastic and empowering campaigns, Avon Egypt announced their Beauty for Purpose ambassadors for Egypt: the Pink Warriors, Egypt’s first American female football team and our favorite makeup artist Diana…
We are only the victims of our own thoughts and actions!
Everyone goes through tough times at some stage of their lives and it’s normal to feel sad, frustrated and depressed. However, only the wisest can find a way out, no matter how…
Weren’t Vintage Egyptian Ads just Fabulous?
I thought the idea of using celebrities in ads and choosing certain celebrity to be the face of the product in order to promote the product was something new, but when I…
Why does Disney hate us stepmothers, so much? Stepmoms Reincarnated
I was tanning under the beautiful sun of Tulum, Mexico, and my nine-year-old stepdaughter was lying on the lounge chair next to me, munching on some chips and sipping her lemon…
Unemployed and Awesome!
“There are companies in this world that inspire you to grow and succeed and there are other companies that make you – for the first time in your life – feel…
Child Maids: Doll Houses or Human Beings?
My friend’s maid is six years old. “My family said I am six but I don’t know for sure,” she said. I quarrelled with my friend for having such a young…
Here is Why Egyptians Can’t Live in Sweden!
While half of the Egyptian population (if not all of it), daydreams about fleeing away to somewhere in heavenly Europe, they don’t know what they might be getting themselves into! Little do…
8 Quirky and Artistic Photographers We Are Obsessed With!
Photographers are on a rise and the competition is at an all time high in Egypt! We have the fashion photographers, the portrait photographers, the outdoor photographers and the generic studio photographers.…
The Cutest Baby Photography Studios in Cairo!
From their spontaneous smiles, to their heart-melting cries, to their sudden funny movements and responses, babies are the cutest! Sometimes as a parents you feel like you want to capture that innocent…
Fabulous Moms of Instagram Who Have it All!
Some people believe that having children and being a part of motherhood, stalls a mother from achieving her dreams and ambitions. Those very same people usually also believe that having children, tends…
Why is everybody neglecting Nadia Lotfy’s Critical Condition?!
In a world of lights, camera and action; sometimes stars stands alone until they fade away. Our media/public attention become news frenzy feeding on repetitive trending and hot topics, neglecting humane and important…
Egyptian Women Were More Empowered in the 1900s
Reminiscing about the past has become a common occurrence amongst Egyptians. Recently a Facebook post went viral, stating that Egypt is the only country that can move forward in our modern days,…
Microblading: the Latest Eyebrow Thickening Solution is Now in Egypt!
Thick hair on girls is not always a great thing. When it comes to eyebrows though, some of us are lucky enough to have naturally thick hair that helps give our eyebrows…
17 Brilliant and Emotional Wedding Shots by Remon El Markiz
Extremely special, genuine and emotional moments don’t necessarily occur often. We do however witness some of the most beautiful expressions, genuine reactions, and meaningful moments during weddings. There is something about weddings,…
10 characteristics of people who like to read Mickey!
We hear the name Mickey Mouse and suddenly, a goofy-like smile shows up on our faces. You think age makes a difference? Oh no, trust me! I’d like to think that even…
How hard is it to be veiled and living in a foreign country?
Lately, it’s no picnic to walk around with your head wrapped up in a religious symbol. If before it used to be about the veiled striving to prove they are no fashion-aliens,…
Ashton Kutcher Requests Male Diaper Change Stations and Obama Responds!
Dads are more involved with kids than they were decades ago. From changing diapers to feeding and babysitting, young fathers are more aware now of the importance and necessity of ‘being there’…
“A Day for Women”: the Egyptian Film People are Eagerly Waiting For
Photo From: British Film Institute’s official website Egyptian films have been doing so well lately, proving to be worthy competitors in the international film scene. From Mohamed Diab’s “Clash” which was…
Are Shadow Teachers really Helpful?
The concept of shadow teachers is new to many. In fact, most people may not have come across this term before; I myself came across it only when I started working in…
Women With Balls: Time to promote a language beyond gender stereotypes and for integrated diversity!
“Katie Ledecky is swimming like a man.” “And here is the man who’s responsible for her success.” (Speaking about Katinka Hosszu) “Simone Biles is the next Michael Phelps.” Thanks to the global…
Fashion Designer Farida Temraz on her Latest Collection “The Rise of the Pharoahs”
Photo By: Danni Siminerio During NYFW, I met with Egyptian fashion designer Farida Temraz, who took New York City by storm with her latest collection, “The Rise of the Pharaohs”. Her unique…
Oh My Sweet Salmon Teriyaki!
Glossary Try this recipe with ginger sweet teriyaki sauce and served with quinoa stir fry. This plate is ideal for athletes who are looking for high protein and complex carbs intake. Tips!…
Beef Stroganoff to grab your family’s immediate attention!
Beef Stroganoff or Beef Stroganov is a Russian dish of sautéed pieces of beef served in a sauce with cream. From its origins in mid-19th-century Russia, it has become popular around the…
Could it get any Yummier? Chicken Parmesan over Zucchini Noodles!
Glossary This meal is fun to cook with Kids. We cut the carbs in this recipe by mixing the spaghetti with veggie noodles.Try this delicious yet healthy meal with only 400 calories…
A Wonder Woman and Her Cancer Diary!
“Cancer”, a word many people dread and hate hearing. Our culture has systemized us to view cancer as the equivalent of death, however many strong cancer fighters and survivors are constantly proving otherwise.…
Banana Pancake is always healthier with Juhayna 4.5.6 Banana Biscuit Vanilla!
Ingredients: 1 Banana Biscuit Vanilla Juhayna 4.5.6 1½ cups flour 4 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 3 tsp sugar 1 egg 3 tbsp melted butter Method: Mix dry ingredients in…
Healthy Peanut Butter Cookies made with Juhayna 1.2.3 Vanilla Honey!
Ingredients: Cookie Batter: 1 Vanilla Honey Juhayna 1.2.3 2 ½ cups flour 1 tsp baking soda Pinch of salt 1 cup melted butter 1 ½ cups sugar Pinch of vanilla powder…
5 Benefits of Juhayna Flavored Kids Milk!
Just as Good as Plain Milk The main reason for parents’ concern is that they believe that only because it is flavored, it doesn’t have the same nutrients as plain milk.…
Bedroom Design Ideas Based on Your Child’s Character!
As the new school year begins, so do household changes! One of such changes occurs in our children’s bedrooms. As our kids grow and begin forming specific characteristics and interests, we…
Brilliant Toy Storage Tips that Save Lives… Literally!
Toys toys toys! All our children have toys, and all parents go through the struggles of collecting, cleaning and storing toys thrown and scattered around the house! To try and make the…
Studying Could be Fun Too! Cool Desk Ideas for Your Kids!
Schools have started and we want to make the coming academic year a good experience for our kids in a way that plays on their comfort and needs. With that being said,…
Vogue Editors Disappointingly Smash Fashion Bloggers
About a week and a half ago, I woke up to Fashionista’s latest article “Susie Bubble and Bryanboy respond to Vogue.com criticism on fashion bloggers”, I was feeling a bunch of different…
Mama Fifi Gives Students Some Love and Support on Twitter
Fifi Abdo is always up to something having us laughing, correcting her English, or simply loving her even more. Recently, she discovered Snapchat filters and ran with them. Social media has been…
Here is Why We Friendzone the Good Guys and Go For the Terrible Ones!
The friendzone has been the basis of many jokes, memes and even movies since the 1994 Friends episode “The One with the Blackout”. People tend to dread the friendzone and many…
5 Nasty Phases we go Through After Breakups!
Every girl has experienced some kind of breakup, whether the relationship was official or not, and every breakup process involves some phases of grief. It’s important to understand that what’s happening to…
Get the Huawei P9 Smartphone and You’ll Leica this!
Elegance, lightness and uniqueness. The Huawei P9 Leica phone is the perfect mesh! Perhaps one of its most distinguishing characteristics is its back camera which comes with dual 12 MP sensors and…
I have Cancer but Cancer Doesn’t have Me!
Life is full of roller coaster rides, ups and downs, happiness and sorrows; and all need to be received with acceptance and gratefulness. There are extremely powerful young women who are fighting…
Is it a Mistake to Say that Your Baby Was ‘A Mistake’?
Kids are a gift from God, but due to our stressful lives, busy schedules, challenges and of course living in Egypt, having kids is a big deal! Not all contraceptive methods are…
We Travel the World out of Passion, not Because we are Single
Living in an Arab society – more specifically the Egyptian society – comes with many stigmas in all kinds of realms. Some of these stigmas revolve around single women who travel. Traveling…
The Lebanese Film Submission to this Year’s Oscars, Questioning Lebanon’s Future
Last night at Zawya – the independent cinema in Egypt – the Lebanese award-winning film “Very Big Shot”, written and directed by Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya, was screened. Being the Lebanese film submission to…
MP Elhamy Agena Calls for a Virginity Test on Females before University Acceptance!
Elhamy Agena is a member of the Egyptian parliament who has recently been making headlines and not for any good reason. He has previously made extremely controversial – and ignorant – claims such…
5 Arab Fashion Bloggers Helping us Reshuffle our Wardrobes
In the ocean of fashion bloggers that are being followed now a days, it becomes apparent that most of the time, suggested looks and fashion tips are either too expensive, too edgy,…
6 Celebrities that Inspired Us with their Head Wraps
Trends change all the times. From year to year we wait for the revealing of all the upcoming trends from shoes to pants to jewelry designs. Sometimes in the midst of our…
My Journey and Looks through New York Fashion Week
After a long summer in Egypt, it was definitely nice being back in New York City. Even though it was insanely warm and I had terrible jet lag, all the designers’ shows…
4 Reasons Why Mr. Robot Wouldn’t Make it in our Egyptian TV Industry
Rami Malek made us all proud when he won the Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series award for his spectacular performance as Elliot Anderson in the American drama-thriller TV series -Mr.…
F.R.I.E.N.D.S Indeed!
If you’re an 80s or 90s kid, then you’ve definitely spent a big chunk of your time binge watching the worldwide loved sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S. When we – friends’ fans – look back…
Bearing the Scars, Softly Defeating Cancer
A picture can be worth a million words. This is a phrase we so often hear to where it has become rather cliche. Its constant usage however, is a testimony to its…
Why Women Prefer Paulo Coelho
1-He tells women what they want to hear Coelho has lots of romantic novels that women love to read and daydream about. He uses words to make us feel better and make…
My Trip to a Real Central Perk in Port-Fouad!
Are you a huge F.R.I.E.N.D.S fan?! Pack your bag and hit the road to Port-Fouad! It’s about time you get to live the real Central Perk experience. Walking to the coffee shop,…
Ten Things only a Mom of Twins Would Relate to
1- That awkward moment when you heard you were pregnant in twins, and all the thoughts that went through your head in a fraction of a second. For me, I couldn’t talk…
It’s Always the Woman’s Fault!
Whenever I sit with a group of women, without fail, topics are discussed about things going wrong in society and they all laugh and say ‘because it’s our fault!’ I for one…
Social Media: A Cycle of Continuous Social Discomfort
We live in an age where social media is as important to us as eating and drinking. We have become so focused on creating the best versions of our ‘digital selves’ that…
Going Back to Nature Improves your Well-being and Gives you a Quick Energy Boost
Hug a Tree Our lives between concrete walls blind us about who we truly are; natural and spiritual beings. As such, we need to nurture ourselves in order to survive. Since its…
A Lifetime Message to Young Ladies in their 20s
The age of the twenties is a beautiful phase in any woman’s life. It is the time she develops her personality and creates a life path which she deserves and wants. She…
How to Save on Perfume
Fragrance is expensive and will probably be the most expensive cosmetic you are going to use! Here are a few things you need to take into consideration when buying a new bottle…
This Gorgeous Egyptian Designer is Part of Project Runway!
Combining her love for travel and her love for fashion, Amna El Shandaweely -Egyptian Fashion Designer- was able to live the best of both worlds as she explored the countries she visited…
20 Signs You’re a Bookaholic
You never really have free time since you just finished a book and need to start a new one. You love to customize your own bookmarks. You love winter because hot chocolate…
7 Egyptian Paralympic Athletes Making us Proud
We witnessed three amazing Egyptian athletes come back home from the Rio2016 Olympic games with medals, making us overly proud and happy! However, little did we know that our athletes competing at…
Cleo in the City: the Egyptian Fashion Blogger taking on New York
The fashion scene has recently been growing in the Arab World proving to be a worthy competitor. From designers, to models, to photographers, the fashion industry is on a rise, and soon…
Ahmed Mourad: Commercial or Best Seller? 5 Reasons Why We Adore Him
It’s very rare when you find someone who doesn’t like Ahmed Mourad’s writing. Each one of the 5 books he has written is a page-turner on it’s own. Some bookworms might say…