Women’s contribution to the social, economical and political facets of the world has been immeasurable for ages. And be it the Middle East or any other region, women from diverse aspects of life are contributing their efforts for the betterment of society at large. And lauding their efforts in just one day is beyond the concept of possibility. But for celebrating their efforts what better way than to get inspired and create your own success story? This International Women’s Day we present 8 Women from the Middle East that have achieved milestones in their provided field.
8 Influential Women From The Middle East That Are An Inspiration
Huda Kattan, Makeup Influencer
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When people are busy playing around with their friends and toys, Huda Kattan, an Iraqi-British immigrant found her solace in cosmetics at the tender age of 12. And from then there was no stopping her from experimenting with makeup. Her passion grew so serious that now she owns a Million Dollar company that she started in 2013. Her makeup line, Huda Beauty, sells like hotcakes all over the world and includes skincare and cosmetics. More than 140 products are available from Huda Beauty.
Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture & Youth
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We always hear involvement of powerful men in the government of the country. But we forget the knowledge women behold when it comes to spreading awareness. One epitome of indigenous women involved with the ministry is Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture & Youth, UAE. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi is an Emirati politician and businesswoman. On October 19, 2017, she was elected to the UAE Cabinet’s position of Minister for Culture and Knowledge Development. She was named the Minister of Culture and Youth on July 5, 2020, as a result of a reorganisation of cabinet responsibilities. Her Excellency has made immaculate contributions to the welfare of youth.
Zeina Khoury, CEO and Chief Growth Officer of High Mark Real Estate
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One particular person who has had a significant impact on us through her experiences in the UAE is Zeina Khoury, also referred to as Queen Versace.
She serves as the CEO and Chief Growth Officer of the upscale real estate firm High Mark Real Estate. I Am The Company is the name of the fashion line she recently launched. Khoury’s journey from commission-only employment in the real estate market to a million-dollar business has been challenging but fruitful.
Egyptian DJ, Nur
Nur, an Egyptian DJ, producer, and sound artist, began her musical career at the age of 13. Since then, her music has undergone a significant transformation. Moving from jazz covers when she was younger to left-field after earning her MMus in Sonic Arts at the Goldsmiths University of London. Currently, she occasionally plays unusual funky music that includes pop, Latin, and African music, among other genres. Nur not only established a reputation for herself among the female DJs in the area, but she also performed a live set in Boiler Room when they first arrived in Cairo.
Chef, Tala Bashmi
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The first Middle East & North Africa Best Female Chef Award was given to Tala Bashmi, a Bahrain-born chef with Swiss training.
The chef developed a love for Middle Eastern food and ingredients as a young child. Now, she is regarded as the voice of contemporary Bahraini cuisine in her restaurant, Fusions by Tala, located at Manama’s renowned five-star Gulf Hotel Bahrain. She invested her passions in a fine-dining establishment that serves contemporary interpretations of classic cuisine starting in 2017.
Nora Al Matrooshi, Astronaut
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Nora Al Matrooshi is the first female astronaut from the Arab world. To date, only 65 women from all across the world have done so. She was picked out of more than 4,000 applicants to receive training for upcoming space exploration missions. Her interest in space was sparked early on since she loved going to stargazing activities and taking space-related classes in school.
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Aisha Al Mansoori, the UAE’s First Female Captain
Aisha Al Mansoori joined the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, more than 15 years ago. She has already logged about 6,000 flying hours. By becoming the first female captain of the United Arab Emirates, Aisha Al Mansoori made history. Before being elevated to captain, Mansoori was the first female officer of Etihad Airlines.
Lojain Omran, Saudi TV Reprenster
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Good Morning Arab! Did that ring a bell? Well yes the beautiful face that used to greet us with this on TV is now a renowned social media personality. We are talking about the brand ambassador of the luxury brand Bulgari, Lojain Omran. We all recently caught a glimpse of this media personality on Netflix’s famous reality show, Dubai Bling. Omran has a huge social media following, with more than 10 million followers on her Instagram account alone. She shares insights into her lavish lifestyle, numerous vacations, and brand endorsements like Van Cleef & Arpels and Clarins.
So if you look forward to becoming ‘That Girl’ this International Women’s Day then you have a list of inspirational people mentioned above.
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