Janhavi Gusani

Farhana Bodi, The Elegance of Ambition

Farhana Bodi, The Elegance of Ambition By Janhavi Gusani In a world where visibility is often mistaken for achievement, Farhana Bodi is looking towards something more enduring: a personal identity with purpose, a business built on meaningful connections, and a vision that extends beyond the image. Influence has become one of the most recognisable currencies of modern culture. Yet its true value lies not simply in the attention it commands, but in what that attention makes possible. For Farhana Bodi, fashion, media and entrepreneurship occupy a space where personal expression meets professional ambition, creating opportunities to build something that reaches beyond the individual. Known for her distinctive style and public presence, Farhana represents a generation of women navigating the intersection of identity, business and digital culture. Her approach to personal branding reflects an understanding that visibility may introduce a name to the world, but it is authenticity, consistency and the ability to connect with people that give it staying power. For Farhana, fashion has always been more than the clothes themselves. It is a language through which confidence, creativity and individuality find expression. Personal style, she believes, reflects not only who a woman is, but also who she is becoming. Trends may offer inspiration, but the decision to embrace them remains deeply personal. Experimentation matters, provided it does not come at the expense of authenticity. It is this distinction that makes personal style compelling: the ability to participate in a constantly evolving visual culture without surrendering one’s individuality to it. In Farhana’s view, confidence remains the most powerful element of any look, transcending labels and seasonal aesthetics. Fashion, at its most meaningful, becomes an extension of character rather than a substitute for it. That relationship between outward expression and inner identity also informs her understanding of personal branding. In an environment where digital visibility can be instantaneous and attention increasingly fragmented, creating a recognisable name requires more than a carefully curated image. Farhana sees the foundations of a lasting identity in the values that underpin it, the discipline behind the work and the way relationships are cultivated. Her ambition for the Farhana Bodi identity extends beyond fashion and social media. It encompasses entrepreneurship, resilience, femininity and the freedom to evolve. Reinvention, in this context, is not a rejection of what came before; it is the ability to recognise new possibilities without losing sight of the principles that remain constant. A personal brand becomes more substantial when it can grow alongside the person behind it. Dubai provides a particularly relevant setting for this outlook. A city shaped by international perspectives, ambitious enterprises and the continuous movement of people and ideas, it offers an environment in which professional identities are rarely confined to a single discipline. For Farhana, building a career here has encouraged a broader vision, one that considers opportunities across industries and beyond geographical boundaries. The city’s international character has reinforced the importance of understanding different audiences and recognising the potential of cross-cultural exchange. Ideas can originate in one market, find relevance in another and develop into something with global reach. The Middle East, in particular, has become an increasingly significant platform for conversations around fashion, entrepreneurship and contemporary influence. For those prepared to think beyond established categories, it presents opportunities to build connections that extend well beyond the region. Yet growth on this scale depends on more than ambition. It requires an understanding of people, an expertise Farhana considers fundamental to everything she does. Business, marketing, fashion and content may each demand different technical skills, but human connection remains the common thread. The ability to communicate clearly, understand what others value and establish relationships built on mutual understanding can determine whether an opportunity develops into a lasting collaboration. Adaptability is equally important. Industries change, audiences evolve and the expectations placed upon public figures continue to shift. Remaining relevant therefore requires a willingness to learn, reconsider established approaches and respond thoughtfully to new circumstances. For Farhana, evolution is not an occasional exercise reserved for moments of transition; it is an essential part of building a sustainable career. This perspective also shapes her work through I Woman of the World, a platform centred on women and the possibilities created when they support one another. At its heart is a principle that remains both simple and consequential: genuine solidarity can create opportunities that individual achievement alone cannot. Farhana advocates a form of support that moves beyond public expressions of encouragement. It is found in recommending another woman’s work, offering mentorship, making introductions and opening doors that might otherwise remain closed. These gestures can have a lasting effect because they transform goodwill into tangible opportunity. In professional spaces where competition is often treated as inevitable, this approach offers a different understanding of collective progress. Another woman’s success need not diminish one’s own. Instead, shared knowledge, meaningful introductions and collaborative ambition can strengthen an entire network. The result is a culture in which achievement becomes something that can be multiplied rather than guarded. For a woman whose professional identity is intertwined with public visibility, maintaining perspective has also been essential. Being in the public eye means navigating commentary on appearance, decisions and personal choices, much of it formed without the context of private experience. Farhana has learned to distinguish constructive criticism from the noise that accompanies visibility, becoming more deliberate about where she directs her attention. The lesson is not to disregard every outside opinion, but to develop the discernment to recognise which perspectives deserve consideration. Such clarity becomes increasingly valuable as a public identity expands. The capacity to remain receptive without allowing external judgement to dictate personal direction is a form of discipline in its own right. It also informs her broader view of success. Farhana questions the expectation that achievement must follow a predetermined timeline or conform to a particular appearance. Women are frequently measured against milestones that leave little room for individual circumstances, changing priorities or the possibility of beginning again. She sees this narrow definition as unnecessarily restrictive. Success,

Sara Mohannad, A Thread Between Fantasy and Possibility

Sara Mohannad, A Thread Between Fantasy and Possibility By Janhavi Gusani Between the immediacy of digital storytelling and the imaginative possibilities of cinema, Sara is building a creative identity shaped by performance, ambition and a desire to explore what lies beyond the screen. For her, acting is more than the ability to inhabit a character; it is an opportunity to create worlds, communicate emotions and connect with people through stories that stay with them long after the moment has passed. The desire to act began early, accompanied by a fascination with the world of Hollywood and the possibilities of storytelling on a larger scale. Yet, like many contemporary creatives, Sara found an accessible starting point in social media. What began as a space to share family stories, personal advice and everyday experiences gradually became a platform for experimenting with performance and discovering the possibilities of short-form acting. In 2021, she began creating scenes inspired by Disney, bringing familiar characters and imaginative situations into a format designed for digital audiences. These early experiments allowed her to explore expression, timing and characterisation while learning how to hold an audience’s attention in a matter of seconds. The medium was different from traditional cinema, but the underlying challenge remained familiar: making a story feel convincing enough for someone else to enter it. Digital platforms have transformed the relationship between performers and audiences. Creators can now develop an audience without waiting for traditional industry recognition, while viewers can encounter emerging talent directly through their screens. For Sara, this accessibility offers a valuable opportunity to experiment, build confidence and establish a connection with people who appreciate her work. However, she also recognises that digital visibility and professional acting are not interchangeable. Social media can open doors, but developing the discipline and range required for sustained performance demands continued growth beyond the platform itself. That distinction is important in an environment where popularity can easily become a measure of creative achievement. An engaging video may capture attention almost instantly, but the ability to sustain a character, interpret a complex script or contribute meaningfully to a larger production requires a different set of skills. Sara’s ambitions extend beyond the immediate rewards of online recognition. She sees her digital presence as a starting point from which she can continue exploring the wider possibilities of acting, particularly in film and television. At the heart of that ambition is the relationship between a performer and the audience. Social media makes this relationship unusually direct: reactions arrive quickly, opinions are visible and the boundary between public work and personal identity can become difficult to maintain. For creators, this proximity can be both encouraging and demanding. It offers immediate feedback while creating an environment in which every creative decision may be evaluated publicly. Sara approaches this reality by placing value on authenticity and maintaining a clear sense of her own direction. Criticism is an inevitable part of sharing work publicly, but it does not have to dictate the creative process. The ability to distinguish useful feedback from opinions that offer little room for growth becomes essential when the audience is large, diverse and constantly changing. Authenticity, in this context, is not simply about presenting an unfiltered version of oneself. It also involves understanding what to share, remaining consistent with one’s values and resisting the pressure to become a version of oneself designed entirely around audience expectations. For Sara, developing as a creator means allowing her work to evolve without losing the personal qualities that first made it meaningful. Her interests in fantasy and action offer another glimpse into the creative possibilities she hopes to pursue. These genres demand more than visual spectacle; they require performers to make extraordinary circumstances feel emotionally believable. Whether inhabiting an imagined world or responding to an intense physical situation, an actor must give the audience a reason to believe in what is unfolding. The appeal lies in that combination of imagination and discipline, where a performance can transport viewers somewhere unfamiliar while remaining grounded in recognisable human emotions. It is also where the limitations of short-form content become an invitation to think bigger. Brief scenes can introduce a character or communicate a single feeling, but longer narratives allow personalities to develop, relationships to change and conflicts to unfold with greater complexity. Film and television offer Sara the opportunity to explore these dimensions, challenging herself to move beyond the immediacy of social media and into stories with greater depth and scale. Hollywood remains part of that wider ambition, representing the possibility of working within an international entertainment industry and reaching audiences across cultures. Such aspirations require patience, preparation and the willingness to keep learning. Creative careers rarely follow a predictable route, particularly in an industry where opportunity depends on a combination of skill, timing, collaboration and persistence. The challenge is to remain open to possibilities while continuing to develop the abilities that make those possibilities achievable. Yet acting is not the only area in which Sara imagines a future. She is also interested in business and investment, particularly in Saudi Arabia, with the hope of expanding into Syria in the future. This interest reflects a broader understanding of ambition: creative expression and commercial thinking need not exist in separate worlds. Both involve recognising potential, making decisions under uncertainty and building something that can develop beyond its initial form. The business landscape across the region continues to attract entrepreneurs and investors looking for new opportunities, while cultural and creative industries are increasingly part of wider conversations about economic growth. For someone interested in both entertainment and business, this creates room to explore different forms of influence. A public platform can introduce a person’s work to an audience, but the ability to translate visibility into a meaningful long-term endeavour requires planning, sound judgement and a willingness to think beyond immediate attention. Sara’s interest in Saudi Arabia and Syria also points towards an ambition that extends beyond personal advancement. Building opportunities across different markets can create connections between people, ideas and

the Iconic Palm Jumeirah, Unrivalled Wonders Above

Unrivalled Wonders Above the Iconic Palm Jumeirah A captivating journey to the sky offering an unforgettable perspective on Dubai’s visionary skyline and engineering marvels By Janhavi Gusani Dubai has long been celebrated across the globe as a playground of grand ambitions, architectural wonders, and immersive leisure destinations. Among its vast repertoire of world-class attractions, Palm Jumeirah stands out as a true testament to human ingenuity and bold design. Stretching gracefully into the glistening waters of the Arabian Gulf, this iconic man-made archipelago has captured the imagination of travelers everywhere. Yet, to fully comprehend the scale, symmetry, and sheer magnificence of this palm-shaped miracle, one must step above the ground and witness it from an elevated vantage point. Standing tall at 240 meters above the landmark Palm Tower, The View at The Palm delivers precisely that, an incomparable 360-degree panorama that transforms a simple sightseeing excursion into a transcendent Dubai experience. The experience begins long before reaching the observation deck itself, as visitors are guided through an engaging journey through history and innovation. Interactive exhibits and immersive theater displays trace the incredible transformation of Dubai from a tranquil coastal trading hub into a bustling global metropolis. Guests learn the fascinated story behind the land reclamation and intricate planning required to construct Palm Jumeirah. This context enriches the journey, ensuring that when the high-speed elevator glides upward to the 52nd floor, every traveler steps out onto the deck with a profound appreciation for the engineering masterclass lying beneath their feet. Stepping out onto the open-air observation platform instantly takes one’s breath away. The floor-to-ceiling glass paneling and thrilling cantilevered glass extensions allow visitors to feel suspended over the coastline, creating a sensation of floating high above the turquoise sea. Below, the famous fronds extend outwards in perfect harmony, lined with luxurious villas, pristine beaches, and world-renowned luxury resorts. Beyond the palm fronds, the expansive vista unveils the shimmering Dubai skyline, featuring the soaring silhouette of the Burj Al Arab, the sparkling Dubai Marina, and the distant, majestic Burj Khalifa standing proud against the horizon. Whether visiting during the clear golden sunlight of midday or during the magical twilight hours when the city illuminates into a sea of glittering lights, the vantage point presents a mesmerizing tapestry of natural beauty and urban grandeur. Beyond the astounding visual spectacle, the attraction seamlessly integrates modern leisure and refined comfort to elevate every moment of the visit. Guests can enjoy sophisticated lounge spaces and fine dining options situated high in the clouds, allowing them to relax with refreshing beverages and delectable dishes while savoring the sweeping panoramic background. Photographers and photography enthusiasts find endless inspiration here, capturing dramatic compositions of light, sea, and futuristic architecture. For those seeking even higher thrilling heights, the elevated Next Level platform offers an unobstructed, glass-free viewing experience that brings visitors closer than ever to the sky. Every detail of this destination has been carefully curated to reflect the luxury and hospitality that define Dubai as a premier travel destination. Accessible directly through Nakheel Mall, the attraction fits effortlessly into a full day of shopping, entertainment, and culinary exploration. It caters with equal grace to families making lifelong holiday memories, romantic couples seeking an unforgettable sunset spot, and solo travelers marveling at modern engineering. In a city defined by constant reinvention and boundless creativity, visiting this breathtaking observation deck remains an essential rite of passage. It provides not merely a photo opportunity, but a moment of quiet wonder and deep appreciation for what human determination can achieve. Viewing Palm Jumeirah from this majestic height offers a fresh, awe-inspiring perspective on Dubai’s past, present, and limitless future, cementing its status as one of the most unforgettable attractions in the Middle East.

Dana Najib, The Poetry of the Everyday

Dana Najib, The Poetry of the Everyday By Janhavi Gusani Dana Najib has never seemed particularly interested in fitting creativity into a single definition. Her work moves between words and images, observation and reflection, vulnerability and play. She writes about the things that catch her attention, but beneath the beauty of her work is something more personal: an ongoing attempt to understand herself, her creative instincts and the kind of life she wants to build around them. That process has required her to question some of the assumptions that once shaped her ambitions. Success, for a long time, could be understood through familiar markers: a career progressing in the expected direction, professional certainty, the reassurance of knowing what comes next. Yet there came a point when continuing along that path felt less honest than stepping away from it. Leaving a successful career was uncomfortable precisely because it required Dana to trust a vision that other people could not see. Standing at that crossroads gave her a different understanding of what it means to move forward. Her ambition did not disappear. It became more inward. Instead of asking how far she could go, she began asking what she actually had to say. That question remains central to the way she approaches creativity. Better storytelling matters to her, but so does becoming more curious, vulnerable and willing to make herself uncomfortable. She measures growth less through a fixed destination than through the quality of the questions she continues to ask. For a creative person, there is always another layer to explore, another assumption to challenge, another way to become more honest with the work. It is perhaps why noticing comes so naturally to her. Dana describes it as both a refuge and a philosophy, but it is also an expression of her personality. She pays attention instinctively. A tiny green bug crossing a flower, sunlight falling across a single cup, the shadows of a familiar tree on her wall, the pace at which an old man drinks his coffee: these details register because she is interested in the world beyond its obvious surface. But her attention is not reserved for beauty. She is equally conscious of pain, discomfort and the quiet experiences of other people. There is a heaviness to noticing everything, she admits, but she sees that sensitivity as an opportunity for empathy rather than something to suppress. Feeling deeply, in her view, is not a liability. It can become a way of understanding. That sensitivity also shapes her relationship with memory. Dana is deeply sentimental, surrounded by objects and rituals whose significance may not always be immediately explainable. A handmade mug, a journal beside a window she once imagined having, a plant growing sideways and reminding her of her mother’s plants can become emotionally charged without needing to represent anything monumental. Sometimes, she says, the reason we love something is simply that we do. Her relationship with creativity has also been shaped by harder experiences. Dana speaks candidly about the relationship between pain and making, while resisting the romantic idea that suffering is necessary for good art. Difficult seasons can open creative floodgates, she believes, but they can also demand rest. Not creating does not mean a person has stopped being creative. Sometimes stepping away is part of the work. The opposite can be true as well. When perfection becomes paralysing, she advocates making something simply because the impulse exists. Bad art has its own value. There is freedom in creating something without needing it to be impressive, useful or shareable. It returns creativity to something more instinctive and less performative. That is increasingly important in a digital culture where creative identity can become tangled with constant output. Dana has watched people turn to AI for concepts, captions and scripts, while others reproduce established creators’ ideas in the hope of getting ahead. At the same time, genuinely human work can be dismissed as artificial simply because it appears too polished. For her, the problem is larger than technology. It is the gradual erosion of personal perspective. AI and algorithms may intensify the difficulty of recognising authenticity, but Dana believes authenticity has always required work. It begins away from the screen, through experiences that cannot be outsourced: taking a pottery class, trying improv, spending time in nature, writing thoughts that nobody else will read. These experiences may never become content, and that is precisely why they matter. They allow a person to develop an inner life that does not depend on being observed. Her own creative process refuses to stay neatly divided between mediums. She does not see words and images as separate languages requiring a choice between them. Some days visuals lead; other days language arrives first. Sometimes both demand attention simultaneously. She accepts that uncertainty as part of the process rather than trying to impose a formula on it. There is a similar openness in the way she thinks about identity. Dana does not believe a person has to choose between being serious and silly, deeply thoughtful and playful, talented in one area and inexperienced in another. She is comfortable with having many interests, and equally comfortable with the possibility that someone may have only one. What matters is that the choice belongs to the individual. That philosophy extends beyond creativity. The slower, more intentional life she speaks about is not an aesthetic prescription. People seek it for different reasons: to rediscover what they enjoy, rest without guilt, experiment, make new connections or simply hear their own thoughts again. For Dana, presence is what makes any of those things possible. It is also what allows ambition to coexist with a life outside achievement. Her definition of ambition now has less to do with reaching a predetermined version of success and more to do with staying responsive to who she is becoming. Growth does not always announce itself as a breakthrough. Sometimes it looks like changing direction. Sometimes it looks like resting. Sometimes it is simply becoming more honest

Rodolphe Manoukian, The Rhythm Beyond Borders

Rodolphe Manoukian, The Rhythm Beyond Borders By Janhavi Gusani For Rodolphe Manoukian, percussion is less an instrument than a language, one capable of moving between cultures without requiring translation. His work with the darbuka reflects an approach to music that is simultaneously rooted and exploratory: deeply connected to Lebanese and Armenian heritage, yet open to Indian, Punjabi, African, electronic and contemporary influences. What makes his artistic perspective distinctive is not simply the technical versatility of his playing, but his understanding of rhythm as a meeting point. In his hands, the darbuka becomes more than an instrument associated with a particular musical tradition. It becomes a vehicle for cultural exchange, capable of entering unfamiliar settings without losing the identity from which it comes. That philosophy reflects a broader understanding of what it means to be an artist today. Global audiences are increasingly exposed to music beyond conventional geographic and genre boundaries, while digital platforms have made cultural exchange almost instantaneous. For Manoukian, this presents an opportunity rather than a challenge: to demonstrate how much different traditions can discover in one another when they are allowed to interact naturally. His Lebanese-Armenian identity remains an important part of that equation. Rather than treating heritage as something that must be either preserved unchanged or deliberately reinvented, he approaches it as a foundation. The sounds, traditions and cultural experiences that shaped him inevitably inform the way he hears and creates, but they do not dictate where the music must go. “Authenticity means being honest about who you are while allowing yourself to grow,” he explains. That distinction is central to his creative philosophy. Manoukian is not interested in reproducing tradition simply because it is familiar. Nor is he interested in abandoning it in pursuit of something perceived as more contemporary. His interest lies in what happens between the two, when an inherited musical language encounters new influences and develops another vocabulary. The darbuka is particularly suited to that exploration. Its rhythmic character allows it to move naturally across musical environments, from Middle Eastern traditions to Afro music, house, electronic sounds, Bollywood and Punjabi music. His performances incorporating Indian and Punjabi influences have demonstrated how readily audiences can respond to that exchange, often encountering the instrument through a musical context they already understand. For Manoukian, the significance lies less in the novelty of fusion than in what it reveals: rhythm does not belong exclusively to one culture. That belief has been reinforced by his international experiences. Travel has expanded his musical vocabulary, but more importantly, it has challenged his assumptions about people and culture. Encountering different ways of thinking has made him more curious and open, while simultaneously deepening his appreciation of where he comes from. India, in particular, has offered a powerful example of this cultural dialogue. The strong emotional response to rhythm and the natural connection between Indian, Punjabi and Middle Eastern percussion have shown him how music can establish common ground before language or geography becomes relevant. This is where Manoukian’s work extends beyond performance. His objective is not necessarily for audiences to understand the technical intricacies of percussion. He wants them to feel something. Excitement, curiosity, emotional connection, those responses matter more to him than whether someone can identify every rhythmic technique being used. That emphasis on feeling also explains why the immediacy of live performance remains important to his practice. Yet the traditional boundaries of the stage have changed dramatically. Social media has transformed a performance from a moment experienced by the people in a room into something capable of travelling across continents within hours. For Manoukian, that shift has been particularly significant. A video can introduce the darbuka to someone who has never encountered the instrument, while an audience member thousands of kilometres away can become part of the conversation through a comment, song request or collaboration suggestion. The relationship is no longer one-directional. The audience can influence the artist just as much as the artist influences the audience. Behind that seemingly effortless exchange, however, is a discipline that remains distinctly traditional. Manoukian’s creative process begins with listening. Before introducing percussion into another musical form, he studies its rhythm, structure, feeling and energy. The objective is not to simply place the darbuka over an existing track, but to understand how the instrument can become part of the music itself. That requires technical discipline, but also the willingness to experiment without knowing whether an idea will work. For Manoukian, these two qualities, discipline and freedom, are not contradictory. They are complementary. Technical mastery creates the foundation from which experimentation becomes possible. Without preparation, spontaneity becomes limitation; without spontaneity, discipline can become repetition. His approach to success follows a similar principle. The international stages, digital visibility and opportunities that accompany a growing career are valuable, but they are not the measure by which he ultimately defines himself. Staying connected to the reason he began making music remains more important than external recognition. His meeting with Arijit Singh in India reinforced this perspective. What stayed with him was not only the singer’s extraordinary talent but his humility. For Manoukian, remaining grounded is one of the most important achievements an artist can pursue, regardless of how far a career travels. That humility is particularly relevant to his ambitions for the future. Rather than simply pursuing larger stages or more collaborations, Manoukian imagines projects in which cultural differences become part of one cohesive musical experience. Middle Eastern percussion could meet Indian rhythms, African grooves, electronic production and live instrumentation, not as separate showcases of identity, but as elements of a shared musical language. The ambition is ultimately bigger than genre. He wants to create experiences in which audiences can move through different cultures without feeling that they are being presented with cultural boundaries. The question should not be where one rhythm ends and another begins, but how they can exist together. And perhaps that is the most compelling dimension of Manoukian’s work. His career is not simply about bringing the darbuka into new musical

Gabriela Abud, A World Seen in Layers

Gabriela Abud, A World Seen in Layers By Janhavi Gusani beauty is never simply something to be seen. It is a language shaped by culture, travel, design and the quiet details that give an experience meaning. There is a certain kind of creative perspective that cannot be reduced to a single aesthetic, culture or discipline. Gabriela Abud approaches creativity from that space, where travel, design, beauty and lifestyle intersect to create not simply a way of presenting the world, but a way of seeing it. Her work is defined by an appreciation for visual refinement, yet equally by the experiences and cultural influences that give those details their meaning. For Gabriela, beauty is never simply about making something look appealing. It is about understanding why an image, a space, a destination or a moment feels compelling in the first place. Her perspective has been shaped by a life lived across cultures. Growing up Brazilian Syrian and experiencing life across Brazil, Italy, the United States and the Middle East has given her an understanding of identity as something layered rather than fixed. Each environment has contributed a different reference point, allowing her to move between cultures while gradually developing a creative language that remains distinctly her own. Rather than seeing these experiences as separate chapters, they have become part of the same visual and emotional vocabulary through which she understands the world. This multicultural foundation is particularly evident in the way Gabriela approaches travel. For her, a destination is not simply a backdrop for an image or an opportunity to capture something visually beautiful. It is an invitation to understand how people live, communicate, create and define beauty within their own environments. Travel becomes meaningful when it changes the way a person looks at the world, when a new culture challenges assumptions and introduces another way of understanding life. Exposure to different cultures has made Gabriela increasingly aware that there is no universal definition of elegance, success or happiness. What appears desirable in one place may hold little significance in another. Beauty itself changes according to culture, history and experience. This awareness has encouraged her to approach the world with greater curiosity, while also strengthening her connection to her own heritage, particularly through her relationship with the Middle East and her Syrian roots. This ability to observe without immediately categorising is central to her creative identity. Gabriela approaches different environments with curiosity rather than assumption, allowing each place to contribute something to her understanding of people and culture. The result is a creative perspective that feels international without becoming detached from identity. Her work moves comfortably between different worlds, yet it does not attempt to flatten those differences into a single global aesthetic. Her relationship with design adds another important layer to this perspective. Studying Interior Design at Istituto Marangoni in Milan developed an awareness of proportion, materials, architecture, composition and atmosphere that continues to influence the way she sees and creates. Design taught her that the smallest detail can alter an entire experience. A particular texture, the balance within a room, the relationship between light and architecture or the positioning of objects within a space can determine how a person feels before anything has been explained. That sensitivity naturally extends beyond interiors. It influences the way Gabriela approaches photography, fashion, beauty, travel and the spaces she chooses to share with her audience. Rather than viewing these as separate categories, she sees them as connected elements within a larger visual experience. A destination can inspire an aesthetic, architecture can influence an image, and a cultural detail can become the beginning of a story. Beauty itself becomes another expression of the same attention to composition, atmosphere and individuality. This is also where her approach to personal branding becomes particularly distinctive. In an environment where digital visibility can encourage creators to reproduce whatever is currently attracting attention, Gabriela places greater value on developing a recognisable visual language. She does not see personal branding as the construction of a flawless identity. Instead, it is a gradual process of expressing a genuine one. Her aesthetic is allowed to evolve because she herself continues to evolve. What remains consistent is the sensibility behind it. She is drawn to beauty, but not beauty without context. She values polished imagery, but does not believe refinement should remove personality. She is interested in trends, yet does not believe following them should come at the expense of individuality. This balance between inspiration and authenticity has become increasingly important in a digital environment where visual culture moves with extraordinary speed. The worlds of beauty and lifestyle now produce an endless stream of inspiration. Trends travel almost instantly across continents, aesthetics are reproduced within days and the pressure to remain visually current can sometimes overshadow the individuality that made a creator interesting in the first place. In such an environment, originality is not always about inventing something completely new. Sometimes it lies in the ability to interpret familiar influences through a genuinely personal perspective. Gabriela’s approach is more considered. She draws inspiration from fashion, architecture, travel, culture and design, but filters these influences through her own experiences. For her, elegance is not about representing every new trend or adopting every aesthetic that appears successful. It is about understanding what genuinely represents you and having the confidence to interpret inspiration rather than simply reproduce it. The same philosophy shapes the relationship she has with her audience. As her community becomes increasingly international, the intention is not simply to show people beautiful places or carefully composed images. Gabriela wants the experience to feel participatory. Her audience should feel that they are discovering the world alongside her rather than observing it from a distance. This subtle distinction changes the role of the creator from someone who merely presents an experience to someone who invites others into a way of seeing. That sense of participation depends upon authenticity. A carefully curated digital presence can still feel human when there is a recognisable personality behind it.

Emirati Women’s Day, A Legacy of Ambition, A Future of Possibility

Emirati Women’s Day, A Legacy of Ambition, A Future of Possibility By Janhavi Gusani Emirati Women’s Day is more than a date on the national calendar. It is a reflection of a national journey shaped by vision, education, opportunity and an enduring belief in the contribution women can make to the UAE and its future. Observed annually on 28 August, the occasion honours the achievements of Emirati women and recognises their role in the country’s continued development. Established under the vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the occasion has become an important national platform for recognising women across generations and fields. This year, with the celebration extending beyond the traditional date and continuing through 28 September under the directives of Her Highness, the occasion offers a wider space for recognition and reflection, not simply on what Emirati women have achieved, but on the many ways they are shaping the UAE today. At the heart of that journey is a distinctly Emirati understanding of progress: women can move forward without leaving their identity behind. A Legacy Built on Partnership The advancement of Emirati women cannot be separated from the development of the UAE itself. The establishment of the General Women’s Union in 1975 under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak created a foundation for women’s participation in national development. Decades later, the UAE continues to position women as essential partners in the country’s social, economic and cultural progress. The National Strategy for the Empowerment of Emirati Women 2023–2031 further reflects this long-term national direction. But empowerment in the Emirati context has never been limited to professional achievement. Family remains central to the social fabric of the UAE, and the role of women in nurturing generations is increasingly being recognised as a contribution to national development in its own right. This provides an important foundation for understanding the contemporary Emirati woman: her contribution cannot be measured through one role, one profession or one definition of success. From the Classroom to the Cosmos The breadth of that contribution is perhaps most visible in the fields Emirati women now occupy. Their achievements extend far beyond traditional professional sectors. Emirati women are contributing to the UAE’s ambitions in space science, artificial intelligence, engineering, healthcare, nuclear energy and other future-focused disciplines. Women account for around 50 per cent of the workforce in the UAE National Space Programme and nearly 80 per cent of the scientific team behind the Emirates Mars Mission, Hope Probe. These are not simply impressive statistics. They represent a profound change in what younger generations can imagine for themselves. The same ambition can be seen in sport. From jiu-jitsu and cycling to athletics, fencing, rowing, chess and other disciplines, Emirati women are competing at national, regional and international levels. Safiya Al Sayegh’s historic participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics, for example, marked an important milestone for Emirati women’s cycling, while athletes including Asma Al Hosani and Shaima Al Kalbani have achieved gold-medal success on the Asian stage. Women’s sport is also becoming an institutional force, supported by organisations and platforms dedicated to developing female talent and creating competitive opportunities. The UAE’s participation across all nine sports at the 2026 Arab Women Sports Tournament reflects the breadth of that ecosystem. Entering Every Arena The expansion does not stop with science and sport. The modern Emirati woman is increasingly visible across the creative industries, fashion and beauty, media, entrepreneurship and international cultural platforms. She is building businesses, creating brands, participating in cultural conversations and representing the UAE across increasingly global platforms. She is also present in the ecosystems surrounding major sporting spectacles, including the world of Formula 1, where Abu Dhabi has established itself as an international destination for motorsport and major events. Fashion and beauty have similarly become spaces through which women can express creativity, entrepreneurship and cultural identity. Emirati women are increasingly building businesses, representing the region internationally and participating in global conversations around beauty and style. Even within highly visible international spaces such as beauty competitions and pageantry, women from the UAE and wider region are increasingly finding platforms to represent themselves, their cultures and their perspectives. The significance is not that women are entering every possible field simply for the sake of representation. It is that the range of possibilities is expanding. Redefining the Measure of Contribution Perhaps one of the most meaningful developments in the UAE’s evolving conversation around women is the recognition that contribution cannot always be measured by a professional title. In March 2026, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, directed the Community Development Authority to adopt the title “Generation Shaper” in place of “housewife” as part of a tribute to mothers. The initiative recognised a role whose influence extends far beyond the walls of a home. Sheikh Hamdan described mothers as the first school for their children — the place where belonging, responsibility and values are first learned. The significance lies in the language itself. A title can define how society sees a role. “Generation Shaper” places emphasis not on what a woman does not do professionally, but on what she actively contributes: raising individuals, transmitting values, building character and shaping the foundations of the next generation. It also reflects a distinct UAE understanding of progress. Women’s advancement does not require diminishing the importance of motherhood or family. Instead, professional achievement and family contribution can exist as equally meaningful forms of impact. From the home to the laboratory. From the classroom to the boardroom. From nurturing a family to building a company or contributing to a national space mission — these roles do not have to compete with one another. They can form part of the same national story. A Modern Emirati Identity Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the contemporary Emirati woman is her ability to navigate different worlds without having to choose between them. She can be internationally minded while remaining deeply connected to her culture. She can embrace technology while respecting tradition. She

Shahd Naser, Representation to Creation

Shahd Naser, Representation to Creation By Janhavi Gusani Shahd Naser has grown with an audience that has watched her evolve from a university student sharing affordable beauty content into a creator, podcaster, entrepreneur, and founder. What began in 2017 as a genuine interest in makeup, photography, and being in front of the camera has developed into a broader creative career, one shaped by representation, trust, education, and an increasingly clear understanding of what it means to build something of her own. For Shahd, content creation was never simply about being visible. Even in its earliest stages, there was an instinct toward accessibility. Her beauty, skincare, and DIY videos focused on products and ideas that young women could realistically recreate without needing an extensive budget. It was a simple premise, but one that established an important connection: creating for people rather than simply creating for the platform. Her decision to wear the hijab in 2019 became another defining chapter. Shahd chose to remove her previous content and begin again, uncertain of how her audience would respond. Instead, the transition strengthened the relationship she had built with her community. As her audience continued to grow, so did the significance of the platform she occupied. Messages from young women describing how her content had influenced a decision, helped them through an experience, or simply made them feel represented changed her understanding of responsibility. The audience was no longer watching a creator from a distance. They were growing alongside her. Today, at 29, Shahd can look back at a community that has witnessed multiple versions of her life. That continuity has become central to her approach to influence. Rather than presenting an idealised version of herself, she has allowed her platforms to evolve alongside her personality, priorities, and perspective. That evolution has also shaped her creative voice. Early in her career, participating in trends was part of understanding social media and connecting with a younger audience. With time, however, Shahd learned that relevance does not require constant participation. She can appreciate a trend without making it part of her identity. That distinction has become an important part of her maturity as a creator: knowing what belongs to her and what does not. Her digital presence reflects this increasingly intentional approach. YouTube allows for longer, more spontaneous glimpses into her life through vlogs, travel, updates, and conversations. Snapchat captures her most casually, while Instagram and TikTok offer shorter, more polished and useful content. Her podcast, Athar, meaning “impact” in Arabic, gives her another space entirely—one where conversations can move beyond the pace and limitations of short-form content. Across these platforms, however, there is a consistent visual sensibility. Shahd gravitates toward elegance, calm colours, clean photography, and considered details. Her perfectionism is visible in the way she approaches presentation, but she is equally conscious of ensuring that refinement does not become distance. The polished imagery exists alongside skin texture, mistakes, difficult days, and the less perfect parts of life. That balance is particularly important in beauty content, an industry where the line between inspiration and insecurity can easily become blurred. For Shahd, makeup is fundamentally creative. It is art, self-expression, and a form of enjoyment. But it should never become a requirement for feeling worthy or beautiful. Her approach is therefore grounded in both aesthetics and honesty: show the beauty, but also show the reality behind it. Freckles, breakouts, skin texture, professional lighting, carefully selected angles, and editing all form part of the conversation. The objective is not to reject beauty standards altogether, but to give audiences enough context to understand that what appears effortless online often has a process behind it. That same principle informs her approach to influence more broadly. Numbers matter. Views, engagement, and reach are part of the business of being a creator. But Shahd does not equate reach with impact. A video can receive millions of views and still create little meaningful value—or even generate a negative response. For her, the more powerful measurement is trust. A message from someone saying that her content encouraged them to make a better decision, work on themselves, or simply feel understood carries more weight than an analytics report. That trust also informs the commercial choices she makes. Shahd has turned down financially attractive opportunities when she did not genuinely believe in the product, protecting a relationship with her audience that took years to build. It is this understanding of influence that led to Athar. The podcast represents a deliberate move from quick consumption toward deeper conversation, creating room for ideas that cannot always be communicated within a short video. Its very name reflects Shahd’s larger ambition: to leave an impact that exists beyond metrics. Her relationship with the UAE has been equally formative. Born in Abu Dhabi and raised entirely in the country, Shahd describes the UAE not simply as a place where she works, but as home. Growing up surrounded by people from different nationalities, cultures, religions, and backgrounds taught her early that there is no single way to see the world. That diversity has influenced her understanding of beauty and self-expression as much as her communication style. Traditional clothing, modest fashion, international trends, and different interpretations of elegance exist alongside one another. The result is an environment in which identity does not have to fit a single definition. The UAE has also provided the infrastructure and confidence for Shahd to think beyond content creation. With a background in Marketing and a Master’s degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, graduating with distinction, she approached entrepreneurship as an extension of both education and lived experience. By Shahd emerged from a need she understood personally. As a hijabi woman, Shahd knew the frustration of searching across different places for high-quality hijabs, suitable fabrics, reliable undercaps, accessories, and the small essentials that influence comfort and confidence. Her audience had been asking similar questions, reinforcing the idea that a personal frustration could represent a much larger unmet need. But bringing that idea to market was not an immediate process.

Dalal Aldoub, The Story From Influence Into Enterprise

Dalal Aldoub, The Story From Influence Into Enterprise By Janhavi Gusani Long before the creator economy became a defined industry, Dalal Al Doub was already building a relationship with audiences through fashion, beauty, and makeup. When she began sharing content in 2012, there was no established roadmap for becoming a creator, nor a clear understanding of what a digital presence could eventually become. What began as a genuine love for beauty gradually evolved into a community, a personal brand, and ultimately a business with ambitions beyond the region. As one of the early creators in the GCC sharing fashion and beauty content while wearing the hijab, Dalal also offered a form of representation that was still relatively uncommon online. Women could see someone who looked like them, dressed like them, and shared their interests. That familiarity helped create a relationship with her audience that felt personal from the beginning. As the community expanded beyond the GCC, she began to recognise that she was no longer simply sharing what she loved; she was building a community with the potential to become something much larger. That evolution has remained central to the way she approaches creativity and entrepreneurship. Dalal’s online journey has never been about presenting an untouched version of perfection. Her content has reflected both the rewarding moments and the challenges that accompany growth. For her, beauty begins from within, but it is also shaped by the life a person chooses to build. Over time, she learned that creativity, personal branding, and business are not separate worlds. They are extensions of the same journey: remaining curious, continuing to evolve, and transforming lived experience into something meaningful. At the centre of that journey is trust. Since she began creating content, Dalal has remained selective about what she shares and the brands she chooses to associate with. Her recommendations are grounded in genuine familiarity rather than simply commercial opportunity. That principle has become even more important as she has moved into entrepreneurship. When someone purchases a DALALID product, they are not only buying makeup. They are placing their trust in Dalal’s taste, standards, and vision—the same qualities that shaped her relationship with her audience long before she became a founder. The transition into beauty entrepreneurship therefore feels less like a departure from her creator career and more like its natural progression. After years of discovering, testing, and learning about beauty, Dalal began thinking about what she would create if she could address the gaps she encountered herself. Often, the starting point was personal: a particular texture, shade, finish, or product she wished existed. Her thinking was straightforward—if she was searching for something, there were likely other women searching for it too. That philosophy became the foundation of DALALID. Yet the brand is more than formulas, shades, and high-quality products. It has become a creative space through which Dalal can express her ideas, emotions, personal growth, and evolving perspective on beauty and culture. Product names, shade names, campaigns, and the stories surrounding them all contribute to a larger identity. DALALID is ultimately a reflection of its founder—not because every product is autobiographical, but because the standards and perspective behind it are deeply personal. That distinction is increasingly important in a global beauty industry where differentiation is difficult. Products can compete through performance, packaging, formulation, and innovation, but a brand with a distinct cultural point of view can create a deeper connection. For Dalal, that point of view is firmly rooted in the GCC. The Middle Eastern beauty industry is experiencing a significant transformation, with regional entrepreneurs increasingly shaping rather than simply participating in global conversations. Their advantage lies partly in proximity: they understand the consumer because they are part of the culture. They understand regional beauty standards, lifestyle, climate, purchasing habits, and the role beauty plays in everyday life. For DALALID, thinking globally has been part of the vision from the beginning. Dalal wants the brand to reach women across both East and West while retaining the cultural perspective that makes it distinctive. She sees an opportunity for someone discovering DALALID anywhere in the world to experience not only its products, but something of Kuwait, the GCC, and the Middle East through its story, inspiration, and cultural references. In that sense, beauty becomes a form of cultural dialogue. The experience is not only sensory. It can also introduce audiences to where a brand comes from and the perspective that shaped it. This reflects a broader confidence emerging among Middle Eastern founders. Global relevance no longer requires regional identity to be diluted. Increasingly, culture itself can become a source of distinction. Dalal has also witnessed the transformation of social media from a space for personal expression into a sophisticated business ecosystem. Today, the digital landscape is more crowded than ever, but it also provides unprecedented freedom. Creators can define their own paths, build communities around their interests, and develop businesses from their individual strengths. Yet that freedom comes with pressure. The constant presence of trends, algorithms, views, and engagement can make creators lose sight of the identity that initially made people connect with them. For Dalal, the answer lies in having a clear “why.” Why create? What should people feel, learn, or take away? What impact should the work ultimately leave? She recognises that financial success is a legitimate part of building a business. But longevity requires something deeper than commercial ambition. Purpose gives creativity direction, while authenticity gives it staying power. That same philosophy informs how she approaches product development. Her process often begins with personal experience, followed by careful attention to her community. She listens to feedback, reactions, comments, and conversations to understand what women feel is missing, then combines those insights with her own creative vision. A strong team supports the research, development, and execution, but the underlying idea remains personal. It is this balance between instinct and insight that allows a personal brand to evolve into a business without losing its original character. The journey also reflects a wider shift in

Priti Malik, A Voice That Found Its Way Into Millions of Lives

Priti Malik, A Voice That Found Its Way Into Millions of Lives By Janhavi Gusani Screens and constant digital consumption have taken the world by storm but Priti Malik’s career offers a compelling reminder that communication has always been, at its heart, deeply human. From the energy of live radio to the discipline of dance and the curiosity of journalism, her work has consistently revolved around one essential idea: connection. Raised in Queens, New York, by Indian-American parents, Malik grew up at the intersection of cultures. New York’s intensely independent character gave her the confidence to find her own direction, while its extraordinary diversity exposed her from an early age to different communities, perspectives and ways of understanding the world. Her Indian heritage remained an important part of that foundation, but so did the multicultural environment surrounding her. Together, they gave her a perspective shaped less by a single identity than by an openness to many. Her parents played an equally important role. Encouraged to be bold, social and willing to explore different possibilities, Malik developed an early confidence that would later become central to her career in media. Storytelling, however, was not the only form through which she learned to communicate. Dance became an important creative education in its own right. As captain of her Bollywood dance team during college, Malik experienced the discipline required to master a craft while simultaneously learning how to lead, collaborate and communicate with an audience without words. Preparation for competitions demanded dedication and organisation, while leading a team taught her the responsibilities that accompany bringing different personalities together around a shared goal. That understanding of communication would later translate naturally into broadcasting. For Malik, radio possesses a quality that remains difficult for any digital platform to replicate: immediacy. Unlike highly produced content, live radio leaves room for the unexpected. A conversation can shift direction in a second, a listener can respond in real time, and an unplanned exchange can become the moment audiences remember. It is precisely that unpredictability that she values. Radio, she believes, remains powerful because it creates a direct relationship between voice and listener. There are no visuals to carry the conversation and no opportunity to hide behind elaborate production. The connection has to be created through presence, personality and the ability to respond in the moment. That principle extends into her approach to interviewing. Preparation is essential, but Malik believes that listening is equally important. A journalist may enter an interview with carefully considered questions and talking points, yet the most compelling part of the conversation may emerge from an answer that was never anticipated. The ability to recognise that moment — and follow it rather than rigidly returning to the prepared script — is what can transform an interview from a sequence of questions into a genuine exchange. For Malik, listening is therefore not simply a professional skill. It is a way of understanding people. Years of hearing stories from individuals across different backgrounds have reinforced one lesson above all: kindness matters. Every person carries experiences that may not be immediately visible, and assumptions rarely reveal the full picture. Her work has taught her the importance of extending grace not only to people within her own circles but also to strangers whose circumstances may be unknown. It is a deceptively simple philosophy, but one that feels increasingly relevant in an era where communication has become easier while understanding can sometimes feel harder. The UAE has provided another dimension to that perspective. Living in a country where cultures and traditions coexist so closely has allowed Malik to recognise an environment that feels familiar rather than foreign. In many ways, it echoes the multicultural landscape in which she was raised in New York. That familiarity has shaped the way she approaches both her work and the people she encounters. Cultural diversity, for Malik, is not simply a characteristic of the UAE; it is part of what makes communication richer. Different backgrounds bring different interpretations, and understanding those differences becomes essential when creating conversations intended for broad audiences. This becomes particularly significant as media itself continues to change. Digital platforms have dramatically expanded the ways stories can be created, distributed and consumed. Audiences are no longer limited to scheduled broadcasts, and creators can reach people across geographical boundaries almost instantly. Yet Malik does not see digital media as replacing traditional communication. Instead, she sees the two existing alongside one another. Technology can extend reach. It can make information more accessible and create new opportunities for discovery. But the desire for genuine human interaction remains. That distinction is also central to her view of authenticity. In a world where audiences encounter carefully constructed identities across social media every day, Malik believes people have become increasingly perceptive about what feels genuine and what does not. Maintaining a version of yourself that is fundamentally disconnected from reality requires constant effort. Authenticity, by contrast, does not need to be performed indefinitely. For Malik, creativity and authenticity therefore remain two of the most enduring forces in media. Platforms may change, formats may evolve and technology may continue to transform the industry, but audiences will continue to respond to voices that feel real. Her perspective is also informed by the broader changes taking place in the media landscape, particularly the growing visibility of women and the stories they are bringing into public conversation. One of the most significant developments she sees in social media is the ability to amplify stories that may previously have remained unseen. Across digital platforms, communities now exist specifically to highlight women’s achievements across industries and disciplines. For Malik, that visibility represents a meaningful shift in whose stories are recognised and whose experiences become part of the larger cultural conversation. It is a progression that mirrors her own understanding of media: communication is not simply about having a platform. It is about what that platform allows people to hear, discover and understand. From the discipline of dance to the spontaneity of live