Michelle Clark

Mona Tajarbi Redefining Influence Through Authenticity, Motherhood, and Meaningful Impact By Michelle Clark Mona Tajarbi began navigating her public journey behind the safety of anonymity, sharing her voice, her ideas, and a desire to connect. With time, she evolved into a visible creator, brand founder, and advocate for women balancing multiple roles. Today, she speaks candidly about the choices that shaped her creative path, the drive behind her beauty brand, and the deeper purpose fueling her influence. When she first launched her platform “Tajarbi” (meaning “experiences”), Mona shared insights through narration without showing her face. The anonymity gave her space to explore and grow while she figured out her direction. But as her audience grew, so did her desire to connect more authentically. “I realized I was building genuine connections yet holding back a big part of myself. I wanted to show up fully not just as a voice, but as a woman, a creator, and someone proud of her story.” Showing her face transformed the nature of her connection with followers, offering not just content but the real person behind it. Today, Mona successfully manages two identities: founder of Blink Beauty Cosmetics and full-time influencer. She is involved in every aspect of her brand, from product creation and packaging to storytelling, while continuing to inspire and engage her growing digital community. Rather than separating the two roles, she lets them enrich each other. Her insights as an influencer shape Blink’s product line, and her brand serves as a creative extension of who she is. In her words, it’s “a piece of my heart in product.” As a mother and entrepreneur, Mona understands the pressure modern women face to wear multiple hats. She believes the real challenge isn’t just time, but identity. Through her collaborations with Emirates Football Club and other initiatives, she has made it her mission to help women, especially mothers, remember that their voices matter. Whether in sports, business, or at home, she wants women to feel seen, heard, and celebrated. She creates spaces where women can show up as their full, authentic selves. Looking back at her digital journey, Mona recalls starting with only 99 followers, no grand plan, just passion and honesty. Her growth didn’t come from chasing numbers, but from consistent, purposeful sharing. The turning points included showing her face and story, posting with intention, prioritizing community over metrics, and embracing her full journey—including the challenges. She responded to every message and built real relationships with her audience. “That trust is something I’ll never take for granted,” she says. Among the many accolades she has received, one moment stands out: her first award as an entrepreneur. It wasn’t the flashiest recognition, but it carried deep meaning. It validated the hard work, the sleepless nights, and the risks she took while juggling motherhood and business. It reminded her that Blink Beauty was more than a product line. It was her vision, her resilience, and the start of a legacy built on heart and determination. Mona also emphasizes the responsibility that comes with influence. She believes that having a platform should be about more than trends and aesthetics. It should be used to promote meaningful conversations and positive change. Through her collaborations with government bodies and global organizations, she has witnessed how impactful influencer partnerships can be in creating awareness and driving real transformation. “Whether it’s advocating for women, supporting education, or amplifying local causes, I see it as my duty to use my platform with intention,” she says. Mona Tajarbi’s journey from anonymous storyteller to impactful entrepreneur and influencer is a testament to the power of authenticity, intention, and community. Her decision to reveal her true self, and her passion for building something with meaning, have led her to inspire thousands. Whether helping women find their voices or turning her ideas into products, Mona proves that influence is most powerful when it’s rooted in purpose.

Dr. Mahra Lutfi The Transformational Journey From Conflict to Cure By Michelle Clark From the hushed corridors of regenerative medicine labs to the global stage of diplomacy and beauty, Dr. Mahra is a woman who defies definitions. A healer by training, an ambassador by mission, and an icon by grace, she carries within her the resolve of a survivor and the vision of a builder.  “I was born into conflict,” she says. “But I chose to become a source of healing.” What follows is not the story of titles , but of transformation. Born in Iraq and raised amid the echoes of war, Dr. Mahra’s earliest memories are of instability and separation. Her family fled the shadows of political unrest, seeking refuge and hope across borders. “The pain of displacement leaves more than a physical scar,” she reflects. “It reshapes how you see yourself, how you connect with the world.” This early exposure to human fragility sparked a calling that transcended personal ambition. Medicine wasn’t just a profession , it was a pathway to restoration. She began her academic journey in the U.S., where she trained in regenerative medicine, an emerging field at the intersection of biology, innovation, and care.  “Stem cell therapy is not about chasing futuristic science,” she explains. “It’s about using what we already have within us , our cells, our capacity , to repair, regenerate, and restore.” Dr. Mahra is now the first board-certified Emirati physician in regenerative medicine and among a handful of Arab women leading the charge in this advanced specialty. Her current mission is the development of the UAE’s first comprehensive stem cell therapy hospital, a vision rooted not only in scientific excellence, but in access and equity. “This hospital isn’t just for the privileged,” she says. “It’s for the grandmother with osteoarthritis. For the burn survivor. For the child with a rare disorder. We want to remove the barrier of geography from hope.” But her path has never followed a singular line. In 2023, she made international headlines by winning Miss Planet International , a global pageant that places emphasis on humanitarian impact. As the first Emirati woman to hold such a title, the win carried both symbolism and substance. “I didn’t enter the pageant to be seen,” she notes. “I entered to give visibility to the causes I care about, climate action, refugee support, and women’s health.” The pageant stage became a platform, not a pedestal. Wearing the crown gave her entry into spaces where she could advocate for regenerative medicine funding, push for greater female representation in STEM, and speak to youth across underserved communities. “In some rooms, a lab coat opens doors. In others, a sash does. I learned to carry both with responsibility.” Social media became her third space. Dr. Mahra has cultivated a digital presence that merges vulnerability with vision. Her posts are less about perfection and more about purpose , glimpses into medical missions, policy talks, and her own quiet battles with mental health and identity. “People follow authenticity,” she says. “And they can tell when someone is hiding behind curated filters. I choose to show up with truth , whether I’m tired after surgery or excited about speaking at the UN.” Indeed, as a UN Ambassador for Stem Cell Research, Dr. Mahra has helped shape international guidelines around ethical research, patient consent, and inclusion in clinical trials. Her voice has become particularly vital in advocating for underserved populations , especially refugees and women , who are often excluded from innovation pipelines.  “We can’t afford to have a future in which only the wealthy benefit from scientific progress,” she argues. “Dignity must be the starting point of every breakthrough.” Beyond her professional reach, Dr. Mahra’s philanthropic work speaks volumes. She funds regenerative care for trauma survivors, partners with NGOs for cross-border medical outreach, and sponsors girls pursuing degrees in biotechnology and medicine.  “Impact isn’t what you post,” she says. “It’s the quiet ripple of someone walking again. Of a young woman entering a lab she never thought she belonged in.” Her efforts are anchored by a deep connection to the UAE , the nation she now calls home. “The UAE gave me more than shelter. It gave me a chance to lead, to serve, to belong,” she says. “Here, tradition and progress walk hand in hand. It’s where a woman can be both fierce and feminine, both ambitious and anchored.” That identity , as a modern Emirati woman who holds space for contradictions , is something she fiercely protects and proudly shares. “I’m Arab, I’m Muslim, I’m a scientist, I’m an advocate. I’m not meant to fit into a single frame , and I want other girls to know they don’t have to either.” Her legacy, she says, isn’t about applause. It’s about permission.  “I want girls to know they can be more than one thing. That they can build hospitals and speak on world stages. That they don’t have to choose between intellect and beauty, faith and freedom, care and courage.” As she continues her work , in labs, at podiums, across continents , Dr. Mahra’s message is one of synthesis. Her life is not a series of chapters, but a symphony where every note is intentional: the healer, the refugee, the queen, the builder. Each part made stronger because of the other. And when asked what still drives her, she pauses. Then offers:  “There’s still so much pain in the world. And where there’s pain, there’s room for healing. That’s where I’ll be.”

Luxury Meets Ambition How the UAE Masters Modern Living By Desk Reporter In the UAE, ambition doesn’t come at the cost of well-being. Life here moves fast, but it’s never without elegance and ease. Across the Emirates, professionals are redefining what balance looks like, spending weekdays in high-rise offices and weekends in beachside resorts or tranquil desert escapes. The UAE government’s progressive policies, such as the new Monday to Friday workweek, have aligned public and private sectors with global markets. This enables smoother international collaboration while giving residents more meaningful weekend time. It’s a lifestyle where success is measured not just by career growth but by quality of life. Wellness is now part of daily life. From sunrise yoga sessions on Dubai’s rooftops to retreats in Ras Al Khaimah that blend nature with mindfulness, health has become a priority, not a luxury. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the UAE’s wellness tourism market is expected to grow annually by 6.8%, reflecting a strong public interest in mental and physical well-being. As skyscrapers light up the skyline, they also symbolize how the UAE merges drive with self-care, proving that here, ambition and serenity complement each other.