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The Curation by Nour Hassan
The Curation, formerly Radical Contemporary, is a Digital Curator and Podcast based between Cairo, Dubai & Jeddah. We curate everything from art, fashion, and design, to culture, wellness and tech to present you with only the best brands, founders, products and pioneers.
The Curation by Nour Hassan
Mai Galal: The Woman Who Dressed the Pharaohs
Meet Mai Galal, the visionary stylist who has revolutionized Egypt's fashion landscape through her extraordinary career spanning decades. Far from an overnight success, Mai's journey began with a needle and thread at age eight, crafting homemade outfits for her Barbie dolls and transforming orange peels into artistic expressions. That same creative spirit would eventually lead her to style Egypt's most prestigious event in recent history – the globally televised Pharaohs Parade.
In our conversation, Mai opens up about navigating her "double life" – balancing the glamour of high-profile styling with the grounded reality of motherhood. She shares intimate details of her morning routine, which transformed after a health scare forced her to become more present and mindful in her daily life. Rather than following trendy 10-step skincare routines, Mai swears by what she calls "ancient Egyptian remedies" – olive oil, black seed oil, and simple traditional approaches that have stood the test of time.
Mai has styled everyone from iconic Egyptian stars Mona Zaki, Youssra, and Angham, to Amina Khalil, Nelly Karim, Yasmin Sabri and more.
Don't forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review! Watch the full episode on YouTube here.
Action. Welcome to the Curation, a show for the culturally curious. This is your host, noor Hassan. Each week, I'll guide you through a curated edit of the finest in art, fashion, design, culture, luxury, wellness, tech and more. This is your go-to space for discovering trailblazing ideas, untold stories and meaningful conversations with innovators and creators who are shaping our world.
Speaker 2:There's no gatekeeping here, so sit back of criticism.
Speaker 1:Yes, a lot. They will take the outfit and cut it.
Speaker 2:Yes, I wore, mona Okay.
Speaker 1:The Vodafone commercial, the advertisement that had two pages. For me, the advertisement was amazing.
Speaker 2:I found pictures from the parade and people were talking amazing things, so I felt relaxed. How?
Speaker 1:long did it take to style?
Speaker 2:About a year A year.
Speaker 1:They call it ancient Egyptian remedies To see the goal, to follow it.
Speaker 2:I see that I was born with a needle in my hand.
Speaker 1:Action. Okay, okay. I'm now sitting with May Galel, the stylist the most incredible stylist in Egypt, in my opinion. Thank you. We've been wanting to do this for 3 years, because May is not just an empty word. May, you're really busy and I really think that you're one of the most women I see as mentors in the industry. You work really hard and it shows your career is insane. So we're going to go into all the details, but thank you, nick, for being with me today.
Speaker 2:Finally, Thank you for your patience. I always told you I was afraid you'd hate me, but the first time I knew about you I was very clear that I wouldn't do this or that, but it was worth it.
Speaker 1:We did it. It's time. As I told you, I believe in timing and I feel that it's time for the right time. Obviously, the first question I want to ask you I ask all my colleagues who is Galil today? If you had to describe yourself, if you had to tell me who are you today, in this current moment In time, what would you say?
Speaker 1:I would say I am with my parents and the stylist, both, always, always, I mean Both of two, a mother of two. When I first met you, I felt that you were one of the most easy people to talk to. You know yourself, you're very professional, but when I discovered you're a mother, that was a shock for me. Another story I felt that you're so glam and I always see you in these events when we're very, very dressed up. Do you feel like you have a double life or a life with two sides?
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, yes, this is official, this is for sure. Double life is a reality, as they say. Yes, yes, because we met at a fashion show, right, fashion show. And we always meet at events. We wear a lot of clothes yes, and we do what we can't do.
Speaker 1:Glam, everything Makeup, hair Makeup yes.
Speaker 2:Heels, everything, yes, and that's it. On the other hand, the opposite I always walk in a hoodie, jeans, leggings, sneakers, and I walk. I always walk in a hoodie, jeans, leggings, sneakers, and I don't even wear extensions. I don't do anything. I go with my kids to a place or something.
Speaker 2:But I will tell you something I usually like to be at the end of the day and wear. And do. I like that? Yes, I mean, this is something in me that I like to dress and act like I'm a woman. I like that, yes, I like to do something, and when I don't feel like I'm doing something or I'm interested, I don't feel happy or confident. That's part of the things that make me, I see, a nice day, a nice place. You know, this is a therapy now it's a kind of I didn't know. Yes, to dress nicely, to be interested, the colors you'll wear, these are many things that have become very important In personality, in self-knowledge, in your personality, amad, in my personality for all people Interesting.
Speaker 1:I'll tell you something. I really believe in this. I feel that there is a big difference between my hair, my beautiful clothes and no, I want to ask you something, a question I like to ask all my guests. I want you to explain to me what is the morning routine To cut the skin Of my galal when you wake up? What do you do when you wake up, in all details.
Speaker 2:My rituals have changed Literally, for example, since 6 months, no, 7 months or something. I was very tired and since then my life has changed, so my morning routine changed, but now I'm very happy with everything I do and I'm enjoying the moment in everything. I mean, I'm now waking up earlier than the first time. Okay, usually you wake up at 9 am. Before that, I used to wake up at 10 am or something if I didn't have work. Okay, technically you're awake. Yeah, I'm awake.
Speaker 1:now I wake up at 9 am.
Speaker 2:Before that, I used to wake up at 10 am or something, if I wasn't working Okay.
Speaker 1:With your technique. I mean, yes, I was completely relaxed.
Speaker 2:No, I wake up at 8 am maximum. Okay. Okay If there's no school or something. And the first time I wake up I'm in a hurry to wake up Although in winter I'm supposed to be cold and Interesting Interesting in your daily routine, in whatever you do, not just if it's a woman doing it. Yes, no, time is very important to me. Time is a sacred thing, great.
Speaker 1:So when you were trying to get well, you were very tired in the summer, yes, and you had some sort of coma. Briefly, so, before the work, did this teach you that? Teach you to slow down, to take more of your time?
Speaker 2:Slow down and to be I mean to be, to feel Everything around me the moment To be present. Because sometimes you're in the same place but you're thinking of a million other things.
Speaker 1:Your mind isn't actually focused on what's happening right now. Exactly so. You used to run down the stairs and that was your morning routine. You became more grounded Exactly.
Speaker 2:You take coffee and sit for a while and then, Exactly, I turn on the lights and stuff and I sit in the sun and I quiet. After that I start, after I pray, I start putting my cream my morning cream Skin care, yes, skin care.
Speaker 1:Okay, that's very important to me Cool.
Speaker 2:And also because I like to sit in the sun. Okay, I like to sit in the sun. Do you put sunscreen? I put. Okay, no, maya, we need, I like to sit in the sun.
Speaker 1:I like to sit in the sun.
Speaker 2:Do you put sunscreen? I?
Speaker 1:put Okay, we need some details About skincare Because, mashaallah, knock on wood, you look Like you're in your 20s. It's crazy, guys, I'm not in my 40s.
Speaker 2:I mean in the 40s, not 40s.
Speaker 1:I hope I reach the 40s In any way. But what's your? What product Do you like to use in the morning, for example, other than sunscreen? Do you have a complicated skincare routine or a simple one?
Speaker 2:No, it's simple, very simple, in the morning and at night, and for me, in the morning I use the brands and things I want.
Speaker 1:We like the details in the podcast. I like.
Speaker 2:Seshido and I like L'Oreal's morning cream the purple, not the pink, okay. I love Sashido a lot and I love L'Oreal Morning Cream in Purple, not in Pink, okay, interesting.
Speaker 1:Nice, love that.
Speaker 2:Because it gives a glow and it's nice and not Try it. Yeah, a lot of Purple, Okay, and Sashido is amazing.
Speaker 1:You feel?
Speaker 2:the difference at night and I want to tell you that the oils, the normal oils, are dangerous and magical. Olive oil on my face.
Speaker 1:Nice. My grandmother used to do olive oil on her face.
Speaker 2:And coconut oil and it would dry because the weather is cold. So I start doing it with a spoon and as soon as you do it on my face and here and here and here and here advice yeah, write this down, write it no and black seed oil which is a piece of blessed oil.
Speaker 1:Yes, amazing, okay, fancy. Not from the type like the TikTok where they, of course we all shaved our skin, alhamdulillah, with the 10-step skincare routine.
Speaker 2:And my daughter does these things.
Speaker 1:Yes, my father will tell you we all got our skin done and we're going back.
Speaker 2:Let's take three steps back and go back to the basics and my daughter goes to the office to do the 600 steps, the whole. Yes, even the things I don't have to.
Speaker 1:I feel, In the end, I feel that this topic really doing anything?
Speaker 2:I want to tell you that on TikTok and Instagram, people are getting jealous and they don't know what oil is. They don't know it like we're raised on it. And they tell you that it's dangerous, and it's a terrible magic, and it's normal oil.
Speaker 1:It's a natural oil and it's normal oil, normal oil, castor oil, you know you know that I don't do anything except castor oil and olive oil. I put them on my belly for my family and I put them and massage on my legs.
Speaker 2:My life is about these things they call it ancient Egyptian remedies.
Speaker 1:We're Egyptian and we know this. Massage for a Glee way yeah, I know, hi, I do, or I know how to do it be some more ancient Egyptian remedies, or you know. I mean, I'm a serene or finda already. Wish I got the data, but so I'm gonna tell you the time on file.
Speaker 2:I'm a video to the Alec, but only ancient Egyptian. Oh yes, okay, the one in front of the background, or ID ID? I have a way, the lucky I, she's normal, normal, okay, that's great.
Speaker 1:Now I want to ask you something. We talked briefly. Before we started. You had a year, which was 2021, approximately this year. There were a lot of things that happened in Maya Galal's career Generally, before we get into the Pharaohs Parade and all the things that happened this year, I want to know you and you young people, let's go back. Before we get into the Pharaoh's Parade and all the things that happened this year, I want to know you and you are young, let's go back. Did you always like to wear? Did you always like fashion?
Speaker 2:Or did this sort of happen when you grew up a little? No, I mean, I see that I was born with a needle in my hand, like Cinderella. With a needle in my hand, like Cinderella, I'm serious, because I never realized that until I grew up. And I have girls and kids. So when you say you don't know what the buttons are, you're wrong. So for her, what does it mean? What does it mean? So I've been sewing since I was 8 years old. The idea of the things we hear is serious.
Speaker 2:The idea that I have Barbies and rings. I take them and start. I take any shirt from my mom and I cut the shape of the dress. And I start sewing it by hand. I was making a top for myself, a simple top. I thought it was a halter neck and I made it myself. I made a top for myself. The top is simple. It's a halter neck. I cut it With a needle and a thread.
Speaker 1:So you're really born like this. You have love and honor.
Speaker 2:I love art when.
Speaker 1:I was still.
Speaker 2:I used to peel an orange. I'll eat it. You peel the orange and the peel is like slices. I start with the slices with a knife, I make a shape star, I make a heart. Sometimes I make a play With a t-shirt and pants and we put them on top of each other.
Speaker 1:So everything you're doing is creative. Yes, I love it. I feel like you're one of those people. When you meet someone, you feel like You're passionately, you're dressed in a way that makes you happy and you feel like you carry it well and you're dressed in a way that makes you feel If I want this too, definitely. But I want to ask you something when was the moment that you felt or knew about our job called stylist? Because I think that this issue in the region, for example, is known more than the past years from a stylist like you Proved that this job or this job can be very, very successful. So when did you know about something called styling?
Speaker 2:So when did you know about styling? Look, I'm lucky that Mona Zaki, she's my cousin and she's my sister. We've been living together in the same building all our lives, yes, and she's an actress since she was little. So since I was little, I used to watch, right, or with my aunt and mom, we used to go to the theater and film. So I used to watch, yes, and there wasn't anything stylist. There was an idea of a costume designer For movies, for the films that are needed, for the films that are needed, like Nahed Nasra, the film the Immigrant, the Fate, films that are needed For someone to be a designer. But normal films are made by a decor artist who is responsible for the clothes and stuff, right, so when a movie starts, you start buying a lot of clothes To show the decorator If there's a costume or something. So I was watching this and it was amazing.
Speaker 2:It was really nice and I wanted to enter In beautiful rooms Because there's drawing and stuff. And then I didn't enter In beautiful rooms. I didn't pass the drawing exam. I'm a senior and I draw well, but it happens, it happens. So I entered at that time in English literature but I said no, I will also work the job that I love From here. One by one, the idea of the stylist began to be there.
Speaker 1:When.
Speaker 2:I, for I finish school, I go to university. There used to be a stylist. I used to see that Mona went to a movie and there is a stylist and Mona sees the clothes and the stylist Watches the clothes at home and cleans.
Speaker 1:And there is something that created this job and became something that I really needed.
Speaker 2:I started working in university. I started working with Nahid Nasrallah. I worked with her as an assistant On the professional level, not just watching at home.
Speaker 1:We do it. What was the first film or first Work you felt in styling that you felt would be your career?
Speaker 2:Look, the first film I made made me a criminal.
Speaker 1:It was made by Ghada Adel and Ahmed, helmy and Abdul Ghafoor and Edward.
Speaker 2:I was very happy when I made it. It was directed by Amr Arafa and Amr was standing next to me and I didn't know anything. He was Mohamed Amin, a decor artist, and he was, I mean, for him. It could have been A mess and a mess, but I swear I was with him Before the half-life.
Speaker 1:So you were holding the film from the beginning to the end and styling it.
Speaker 2:And when I first started I was very afraid that would be working in the middle and I would only work with Mona. And what would I do? I wouldn't work with Mona so that people wouldn't say that I'm coming with a bag Right.
Speaker 1:And that's a normal feeling, I mean generally. But I feel that you I mean over the years and my life, I mean, I've been working for 20 years.
Speaker 2:I didn't work with Mona except two movies. Right, in the 20 years, I've never worked with Mona except for two movies. True, in the 20 years I've worked with many other people, with Amir Carrara, with Ahmed Helmi. I don't want to get into that.
Speaker 1:You've worked with everyone. Let's be real You've worked with everyone, not just, of course, mona Zaki. We love her. We got the icon.
Speaker 2:She's my idol, I love her.
Speaker 1:Her style is amazing. Everything, everything. But you worked on a very long list. You guys Okay Yusra Anghem Monazaki, amina Khalil Nally, kareem Amir Karara, ahmed Helmi, ismin Sabri, many, many, many more. I mean, I feel like there's no one. Honestly, my galil didn't style, but I want to know you're a celebrity, you have your personality, your style, your style. How do you prepare to work with all the different personalities? Do you have any process? Do you have a specific way?
Speaker 2:Look, with time, when I learned the know-how Of our work, yes, look your way with Celebrities is very important, like talent yes, the same importance, because if your way Is not flexible, you will convince them with clothes Exactly. If you talk to one of your friends and she wants to tell her that this top is not nice, she probably won't believe you and if she likes it, it will be perfect and that this bag is better than this. You know what I mean, or you're going to convince them with a look?
Speaker 1:It's very difficult because this dress is very intimate, something that is close to my eyes, one of the most important things I feel.
Speaker 2:Yes, so it vision is very important. Sometimes you can be so talented Like a stylist, but you don't have the way to convince them. Yes, convince them.
Speaker 1:This is the most, most thing I hear and the hardest thing, by the way, is her personality, definitely. And what else? For example, a film or a look? Actually, you did it. You felt your audience, it was blown away. You felt it was something small and it went viral. Really, what is this question? The question is More than anything, for example. These are two things, because you did a lot of things. Okay, tell me.
Speaker 2:Okay, I'll tell you. Because there are a lot of things I'm thinking about. For example, now I'll tell you something. Everything depends on the time, okay, because there are things. There are things that are out these two days, or fashion. So there are things that are very popular these days, so they're happy and they like it. If the role space as movies Is useful to make this or make the fashion. So you always look at it and you think to yourself why not be like her or like him? But I don't know, tell me.
Speaker 1:Think a little. Maya Nelly Karim. Recently you styled her for something. It was incredible.
Speaker 2:Red carpets, red carpets, these are different from movies.
Speaker 1:Red carpets, look, I feel that this is more time. You can go Really glam. Yes, you can go crazy, right or not?
Speaker 2:Look glam, but not crazy. I will tell you this crazy, you can go crazy for the photo shoots. Okay, but the red carpet. No, the red carpet. People came out on the red carpet In a nice way, and they're Nelly Karim, for real, amina Khalil, for real.
Speaker 1:Not a character.
Speaker 2:And people want to watch them and they look nice the people you love. So you want to make them look as nice as possible. Star, really, exactly, if they're stars, you want to make them look as nice as possible and as much as people like them, because if people don't like them, there will be a lot of criticism, a lot, because if people don't like it, there will be a lot of criticism, a lot.
Speaker 1:Some people cried a lot. We can talk about this topic. Actually, this is really hard, but okay, give me a couple of red carpet looks, for example, a lot of love.
Speaker 2:Look, the love for this year was the gown. It was expensive, yes, it was, thank God. I can't say I did a good job. I was telling you my turn. The feedback was always used to be that there are bad things. Or I like it, but most people don't agree with it and you don't like them. And Facebook groups. And girls and sometimes it hurts a lot, but thank God they were saying that I liked all the things, so I was very happy.
Speaker 2:I felt it went really well. I felt it went very well and success, so I was very happy.
Speaker 1:How do you read all these criticisms? Do you read the difficult comments or do you make them a blog? I mean, yeah, especially if you wear Mona.
Speaker 2:Sometimes people say it's the best time to wear it when you wear it with you, and we know that you do. The comments are amazing. In the same group, you find that she has to change the style, not because she entered it and I didn't see it Say it and that's it Exactly. I can tell you something.
Speaker 1:The most thing I felt on social media. I don't have eyes. Tell me what you want Exactly. I don't have to, by the way. I can tell you something. The most thing I feel In social media Is that Negative comments Depending on the platform. For example, tiktok has a lot more negativity Than other platforms. Instagram is normal, facebook Is also fine, but depending on the platform, people are more negative or the audience is positive. But I feel In fashion it's more critical. But according to the platform, people will be negative more or the audience positive. But I feel that in fashion it's more critical than anything else. They take the outfit and separate it.
Speaker 2:Even if it has a nice part, I don't know. But I'm just saying within the process, when I choose a design or something with a celebrity designer, for example I don't know what color it is I tell them no, no, no, he'll put the signature or the signature or the letter of the person you already know. Yes, I really start thinking about where the way will come from, so that you avoid it?
Speaker 1:No, but I'll tell you something. I really feel that the more you become resilient, the more you feel that you won't hear this and continue. That's what makes you reach things, incredible things that we can't imagine, like, for example, the Pharaoh's parade. Let's talk about the Pharaoh's parade. I think this was one of the most iconic moments in the history of fashion, media and advertising in Egypt from the last 3-4 years, which is I want you to tell me. How did this happen? Who told you when? How did you know you would be the stylist for the parade?
Speaker 2:The Ferris parade is a turning point in my life, Khaled Azam. I always thank him for giving me this opportunity to be present and be with him, because he already had his own. And then he said I want to be with us. It's a very, very big project. I'll bring someone else to be a stylist. And he said May Galil, and we didn't know each other, we're not friends, hi. Just more than that. And then we started working together and he's not just my best friend right now, he's my brother.
Speaker 2:So, we became very close friends and it was for me. I didn't realize the extent of what we're doing, but I know that it's a big thing and we know that the whole world will be watching and we know that at this time in the meetings they were explaining to us what will happen, and so on, until we started the provost. So in the provost, wow, with the numbers, With the sizes, you know you work in something.
Speaker 1:And you worked and work in a company that you've worked in for months. I don't notice the scale.
Speaker 2:I know you have a lot of work and everything and I hope you pass it, but I don't realize it. Until the day of the show, I was in one place and Khaled was in another, and the rest of the team was in other places, because we were in Egypt. The event was happening In Egypt, yes and live. When it was over, I started to open. We finished. I started to open the phone and before that I was crying To Khaled on the phone. Before that we weren't, because there was. You were afraid of what. There was something, one of the people who will be, who are the big numbers who are walking in the parade itself. He was wearing a sneaker and I don't know what.
Speaker 1:And he took something from the things like that and he and a pair of jeans.
Speaker 2:The picture was taken in a very different way.
Speaker 1:He wasn't wearing any clothes, he was wearing jeans.
Speaker 2:He was still in the rehearsal. The boy was probably walking. He just put something on his shirt. The rest of his clothes were normal. What a story. Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay Okay.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay Okay.
Speaker 2:Okay, for 9 months I'm not doing anything else in my life Other than that. And there are people, the imaginary, the people who will open the door of the museum, the dancers, the pyramids Of Khof and Khafra, the pyramids of Giza, the pyramids of Saqqara, the temples in Luxor, the opera singers, exactly. There are, of course, other celebrities in the talks and things. What are they going to wear? What are we going to do? Of course they want Egyptian designers. They want Arab designers as well.
Speaker 1:And you were one of the people who were pushing for this. There must be Egyptian designers. There must be Arab designers. Yes, me and Khaled you and Khaled, yes of course, but you were here the day before and when the parade ended, when it ended, you opened the phone. I opened the phone.
Speaker 2:You found the whole world. I opened the phone. I opened Facebook first. Okay, facebook, sometimes there are things More than Instagram. You see the book, more Facebook. A picture of her was in a group of Angie Aboud and they wrote how she was chic and beautiful. So I started scrolling. I found pictures from the parade and people were talking amazing things. So I took a break. I was at the Museum in the city of Hadarat. I found DMC. They do interviews. They do interviews with Iman Al Hosari. I started talking to my sister, father and husband. They started saying that we are so proud and everyone was happy. I know they always say Nice things, but I told them People say I like it, it's nice. I told Khaled you heard something, khaled. You heard. Everything is good. We did a great job, khaled.
Speaker 1:Yes, Not only did you do A great job, I think it was. Egypt watched the parade. The whole world Watched the parade.
Speaker 2:Things that was. I think I really really, really raised my head in the parade. In a weird way, it was a turning point in my career, in my life.
Speaker 1:I felt that that was the moment I felt no, I'm really a regional stylist, I'm a global stylist. I fixed my name in the styling field completely.
Speaker 2:I felt that I exactly changed everything I wrote in it. Stylist of the.
Speaker 1:Ferris parade.
Speaker 2:Yes, I felt that it's a turning point. It is yes.
Speaker 1:Then all of a sudden, the Vodafone commercial happened. The ad that had Sharihan and that was also. I told you before we recorded that for me the ad was great. Of course Sharihan is iconic. The outfits, the looks were amazing. So that wasarihan is iconic, the outfits, the looks were amazing. So this was something I worked on in the same year.
Speaker 2:I was in something like this for me. I mean, I was so proud and I can't believe in myself.
Speaker 1:And, of course, it was a dream. Yes, it was a dream. Really, for me, this was, it was incredible.
Speaker 2:It was an experience you wouldn't get tired of. I want to ask you something.
Speaker 1:What's the hardest thing about being a stylist?
Speaker 2:What's the hardest thing you find in your job? The hardest thing in my job, if you make me a film the idea that you'll be thinking about the details of every character and imagine what they feel in the scenes, what they'll do, the scenes, how they will dress and implement all of this. Right, he runs in the streets. He doesn't end up in the malls. Details are amazing. In the drama, in the movies, the details, everything will be done in a way, when you watch it, you will believe me Right.
Speaker 1:And then you're one of the stylists who wants to do everything on your own or, for example, you have assistants. I know that there are a million thousand details, as you said, so do you want to be involved in everything?
Speaker 2:Involved in everything and I have a big team of people Very close, but I have to be. I mean we help each other Right, but I have to. I mean we help each other Right, but I have to. I see everything and know everything. The, the, the. The red carpet looks and the things that are glamour look, and I mean that I, someone, becomes glam. I don't have In it Almost Someone who helps me, okay, no team or anything. I do all these things.
Speaker 1:The look itself Okay, okay, perfect. I was giving advice to men and how to stay in their way, and I heard that your husband liked the advice. That, of course. But I want to ask you something I feel that all people want to know Do you believe in something called balance? I mean, you're a mother, you're a wife, you're a stylist. Is there something called balance in your life, or do you always focus on it? Do you focus on this moment and that's it? Your wife, your stylist is there anything in your life called balance, or is it always his thing? Do you focus on this moment and that's?
Speaker 2:it look. I do believe in balance in life even though every week I get a doubt and that's normal because life is fast and three kids and work is not a week, it's a week. And that's why I have a doubt every week when I work, yes, and then I don't know and I sit at home.
Speaker 1:And what makes you continue, what makes you feel that you can do it, that you can do both, that you can see that you can do this a little bit. I can do the work a little bit.
Speaker 2:I can take care of the family a little bit. I can take care of the house a little bit. Exactly that I can organize my thoughts and organize my time. It will happen and I ask for help from anyone. As for the, advice that I was saying I came back from the house.
Speaker 1:I found Buzi.
Speaker 2:He said I'm sitting on the couch, I mean in security, why? And I found you sitting in something and my friends were telling me, Madam, let her calm down a little. And inside my friends, they started to send me.
Speaker 1:Do you want any good? Yes, you didn't say anything wrong. You basically said that the man should take his role too. He should help, because I feel that in this era, if we work and you don't help, the situation won't go well.
Speaker 2:Yes, and the idea is that you agree with the partner one by one, because neither of us knows how it goes, nor does he know, by the way, the first time we were both children. Yes, right, Okay so she will say no, we are both our children and we will start agreeing with each other and talking by time. Yes, that's right In your life, for example, that you will be a working mom. I mean, did you ever think that you will be?
Speaker 1:A stay-at-home housewife or something like that. This is not my personality at all.
Speaker 2:Look, this is not my personality at all. Okay, because I love work and I work since I was young, right, but also I also had, I mean, I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to have a family Because I really wanted to have kids and get married and I was afraid that work would steal me, right? And that happens and I was afraid that no one would agree with my work conditions. It happens too right.
Speaker 1:Yes, because your work conditions. I did a lot of interviews with actors, stylists, makeup artists. 9 to 5 promises unpredictable things, Maybe in the weekend it's not there.
Speaker 2:Suddenly, Maybe on a party, I do something like that, but you're very passionate.
Speaker 1:It shows that you, from the light that is, can't be not doing what you love, right.
Speaker 2:I also felt that I swear Sometimes I work hard and I feel I can go, I leave work and do early retirement.
Speaker 1:And sit Very early.
Speaker 2:And sit and go to the club in the morning and drink something with people Shopping, and then between work, work and work there's a gap. I get very bored and I start what's this Exactly? And then Exactly.
Speaker 1:I feel like I think it's this. I want to ask you something Right now. You work with a lot of brands, the In the world Of the biggest brands, I mean we can say Everyone. What is the process when you go to a brand, do you always? Do you always, make a suggestion? For example, let's say You're dressing, let's say Yusra or Nelly Kareem, for example, do you make a suggestion To work with the brand or according to.
Speaker 2:I look at them according to my work and sometimes I leave them To suggest me what collection they will give me and sometimes if I find it Far from what was in my mind, I start telling them. I can tell you the things I like and see if it's available or not.
Speaker 2:And I become very careful that when I come To wear celebrity from them that I wear it right, correct, not the idea that I wear the dress or the set, and that's it no the rest of the look must be right, Matching the hair Differently, very, very To show you the outfit and the look.
Speaker 1:That's true. I feel like people Forget that in the castitis You're involved in everything the hair, the makeup, the shoes.
Speaker 2:The clutch, everything. So I have to wear the whole look to be right. So the big brand Will be happy. So you'll like it to work with me again. This brand and I didn't miss their collection when I wore it.
Speaker 1:Right, right. And what are the brands that you like to work with? For example, do you like a couple that you really love working with?
Speaker 2:Hmm, um, I love, uh, of course, um Zuhair Murad and Egyptian designers. I love Nour Azazi, maram, burham, elisa, Ab Bulgari, givenchy, dior, burberry, fendi, prada.
Speaker 1:All of them, guys, you want to think about it.
Speaker 2:No, you're kidding.
Speaker 1:All of them, guys, all of them, all of them. Okay, if you could explain to me your personal style, what would it?
Speaker 2:be For me Accessories.
Speaker 1:All of them Between Between. Mine is fully, fully ducted Beautiful, by the way, gorgeous, seriously insane. Thank you, incredible, I love.
Speaker 2:Symbols, protections, accessories.
Speaker 1:They play a huge role In the look.
Speaker 2:Fiya symbols I like it, fiya symbols and protections and things like that, but accessories Accessories play a huge role in the look. I mean, I wear black pants and a plain pullover, but you accessorize.
Speaker 1:I accessorize the look, so that's your main thing. You love accessorizing. Would you say you're simple. I don't think so. I'm not simple. Oh, I'm happy to tell your friends. I like confidence. I'm not simple, it's fair.
Speaker 2:You won't feel like I'm busy, but when you focus, it's not simple.
Speaker 1:Do you understand what I mean?
Speaker 2:You'll find it's not the over that we're talking about, but it's not simple. Saad, tell your friends to come down with me. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that. I love that I love that.
Speaker 1:I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love that, I love. Actually, in the fashion industry in Masoleil, the fashion design district, it was incredible and there were amazing panels. There was a lot of selection from the designers in the Al'A'a. Can you tell me more about the subject? I mean, you were the chair of it, you curated the whole subject. Yes, did you feel that it had a great impact?
Speaker 2:For me this is my baby fashion design district of Cairo Design Week, لأن من أيام ما كان قبل ما يبقى اسمه Cairo Design Week. صح بزبط, فهيشان بهدي لما كلمني أول مرة هو العام الكل ده الweek كله. فقعد يشرح لي, وأنا مش فاهمة ففي الميتنج, نزلت قبله مش فاهمة ب. So he explained to me and I didn't understand. So in the meeting I went down to him. I didn't understand what he was saying.
Speaker 1:But because of that idea it's crazy. At first you will do a takeover In Heliopolis and in the mountain, and at first it was Egyptian designers.
Speaker 2:But after that, the year that passed Before that, it's everything in the world together.
Speaker 2:So for me, the challenge was to bring Big names, like Arab designers and international brands and designers, with Egyptian designers and upcoming designers In one place and it's a show off and it's not a bazaar. You go and know that there's a brand, or if you already know that it's a well-known brand, but you see the concept as if you're in a museum, exactly an exhibition. You have to walk, you have to look up and down On everything the display of the product Around it and, since we're Egyptians, you're very happy, proud that all these things are included, like Egyptian brands and these very big names.
Speaker 1:So you're very proud. And this is my baby. I'm telling you that they're and this year was the biggest year and it was in the Al'A'a and it was the takeover of most of the new clothes in the Al'A'a and it was dangerous. I loved your look the black, black on black and black shirts.
Speaker 2:Thank you that that was a great light.
Speaker 1:It was great yes, it was.
Speaker 2:I was like what are we going to wear in the Fashion Design District? Let's think about it. It was great, thank, you. Yes, I'm very excited about this, about everything that happens, and I'm very happy when we find out that the most crowded places are the fashion.
Speaker 1:The fashion design district.
Speaker 2:The whole week.
Speaker 1:And I'm not surprised by the way people really, really want to know more, want to discover local designers, regional, to see who's in who's. So this is something I mean, of course. Okay, I want to ask you something from the end of my questions. Honestly, at the moment, you've done a lot in your career as a stylist. Honestly, as a stylist, honestly, you're huge right now. You've dressed everyone, worked with all the brands, but I find that recently, in the last year, I feel that, without a doubt, you've become sort of an influencer, you yourself as well. People follow you for your looks, your style, your thinking. Is this something that happened on purpose or did it happen throughout your career?
Speaker 2:No, this is throughout my career and my life happened throughout my career, life and days, and social media and advice, yes, but I don't know how to. I'm following a lot of influencers for fashion, but I don't know how to do the same as them. I wake up and imagine what I'm wearing today, every day, every day, I'll tell you something. I sweat a lot of myself Wearing what today. Every day, I tell you something. I wear a lot, but I don't take pictures. I don't know how to do that, but I can do it in my job For other people, or, if I'm in a certain event, someone did something for me. I'll put it down. I don't know how to do that. I feel like it's not my job, but I can be In another way, the influence that I make In a different way.
Speaker 1:And I feel like Usually your story and you're a mom and a mother and a stylist and other things People feel that they are very inspired by you. So I think, naturally and you're a mom and mom and stylist and other things people feel they're very inspired by you. So I think, naturally this happened. I suddenly thought they're following you for you and for the advice. And the last thing I'll ask you is that there are a lot of stylists that have come out in the past years and generally Gen Z, I think, is one of the dreams of their lives and they're a stylist who really, really wants a job. Is there any advice you can give to young stylists who are trying to build a portfolio, a career and a name.
Speaker 2:Look whether it's a young stylist or whether it's not just Gen Z. Not Gen Z, but generally. Generally, because there are people who meet her or take her, for example they come to a workshop or something they want. Okay, anyway, the world has become very easy in the idea that we change the career and do new things and that we reach a certain point. True, very true.
Speaker 2:That I reach a certain point that will help me or go and make me a True, very true, true. Yes, okay, see the goal, go after it, do anything that can happen. It will happen.
Speaker 1:It will come to you. Don't feel depressed.
Speaker 2:If you sent someone a DM, that's true, but I'm responding. But I'm responding and the occasion won't be useful. No, it's true, and I'm always sorry.
Speaker 1:No, it's true, of course, the persistence, but as a character, what character trait that you feel should be in a stylist? Should a stylist be or should he be?
Speaker 2:First of all, I stylists have to be or stay. The first thing Is to be. I'm not here To be the attention. For me, this is a very important thing Because these times I see it, I'm in the place With the celebrities Going To a movie To dress them In something, in a red carpet, in in a program, whatever. I don't get the attention and I'm not the star. They're the stars and because of them I work, even If I see that I'm a star In my job. Okay, I'm a star in my job, but they're the stars.
Speaker 1:I don't have time.
Speaker 2:Because some people make the same mistake. The ego issue, which is, by the way, right that I'm, no, let me be a star. They're Attention is not mine, it's theirs.
Speaker 1:It's really good advice, by the way. I think that really because everyone wants to be an influencer, everyone wants to be famous, everyone on social media feels that I am the star. I am the thing.
Speaker 2:It's hard. No, it's not.
Speaker 1:It's hard.
Speaker 2:I mean bravo that you're a star in your job. Right, but not according to you and me. But feel it inside, keep it inside, yeah.
Speaker 1:I love that. I love that. Okay, I want to know what no one knows about you. You've never written about it on social media as a character, trait or habit or something in your personality, unless no one knows about you?
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, I don't know. No one knows about me except my friends and family. I love food a lot, really. Yes, very, very, very, very, very Okay, yes. And then I want to tell you that I love eating a lot. It seems to me that I'm not a person who eats a lot. No, I love eating and not normal eating. It seems to me that I eat sushi and that's it.
Speaker 1:I love it too. No, it seems to you that you eat sushi. Matcha skimmed milk. That's it.
Speaker 2:I love kawara and sushi.
Speaker 1:Matcha. The fat is made with butter. Our food, the Egyptian food, yes, yes, yes, it's obvious. Believe me, I love the. I love the. Maya loves stuffed food and she looks like a supermodel. Tell me what's going on here.
Speaker 2:I don't understand. I'm currently the anger that came to me that I don't eat. I eat soft food and other types, but generally you like food, but generally before the past month.
Speaker 1:I mean, if you want to go to sushi or to a place.
Speaker 2:The prince, the prince, I love you. It's dangerous. The prince, the prince of course the prince.
Speaker 1:I mean the prince of the Caliph. I love you, Maya, You're so beautiful. Okay, I'm going to ask you a question from we're Not Really Strangers a game. I love this game. Okay, the question I'm going to ask you is that usually, when there's an event or any work or something, do you come early?
Speaker 2:or late, I never come early.
Speaker 1:I didn't think of that. That's an Egyptian response. I never come early.
Speaker 2:Even the 20 minutes that you're late today, you try to come early.
Speaker 1:But you were on time, but I'm a little late. They're a quarter to a third of an hour. They're those. So there's no early but not late.
Speaker 2:You weren't late 10 minutes, 15 minutes, but if I come early, it won't be easy, it's hard.
Speaker 1:I want to come early. All this and you want me to come early, why? No, no, it's not our fate. By the way, there's no one in Egypt. I feel like we feel that if I came early, that's what's important. Look, I don't know.
Speaker 2:I always have a nice dream, okay, and I want to go to the mosque, and I want to go early, but, and I'm right, yes, yes, yes.
Speaker 1:And it's ready, but I don't know what's going on?
Speaker 2:I don't know. I always feel like the world is still empty, nice, so this is ideal, an event or something like that.
Speaker 1:I'm a third of an hour away and they'll call me there. Perfect, okay, my security. I want to know how many things you can tell me. You can't live without them.
Speaker 2:Your number, how much you can tell me this you can't live without them. Your attitude, as with Galal Telephone, definitely Okay, 100% With me. Love-hate relationship Really.
Speaker 1:All of us, yes, and sometimes I don't open All the things.
Speaker 2:It's social media yes, how I have this ability yes.
Speaker 1:No, this discipline I don't have Really.
Speaker 2:I'm busy with other things and that's it. So my phone Nails Gel.
Speaker 1:I love your nails. Can you show them? It's insane. They're like cats. I used to make the same color. I'll do it again.
Speaker 2:I love it. I love the fashion, the fashion for the nails there were paintings.
Speaker 1:There were paintings, so you play with what you like In fashion In your own way.
Speaker 2:Nails and jacket or shell. Even in the summer I am very cold, so you have to travel by car or something, even in the summer I get very cold, oh okay. So you have to travel by car If I go out in the summer and we're in the desert? No way, oh, okay, there's no there has to be a jacket With me. And I walk from the sea. I mean it's expensive, so I'm a very strong woman, okay.
Speaker 1:I love that. Three things we're going to do. What's in your bag with Mai Galel? Are you guys ready? Let's go? Okay, look at this. The first one is a Gucci bag. Yes, I love it, thank you. The most trendy color of the year burgundy. Yes, it's nice. Yes, and it's nice for all people.
Speaker 2:MashaAllah, it's nice. It's a nice color. People are wearing it all the time. I coats, pullovers, pants.
Speaker 1:And you like it. It looks amazing on your mother. Thank you, okay, go ahead.
Speaker 2:First of all, I cheated Because I saw you on the account. You saw Dora Exactly. So I tried to take a small bag from me because I put everything in the bag.
Speaker 1:So you brought this bag with another bag. Is there another bag? I always have two bags with me If I go out.
Speaker 2:I have one with everything. And then I have a smaller one and I go out in the car, which is the cute one, exactly the cute and matching one, because I go out in a bag that's not comfortable. So these are the things that are essential that should be in my bag. The other one has the whole house. Okay, I my bag.
Speaker 1:The other one has the whole house. Okay, no, I mean look.
Speaker 2:The other one has the whole house. Let's open the bag. Okay, go ahead. Okay, first thing I need to have a charger and a power bank, because my phone is always ringing so it's impossible for it not to be with me. Okay, that's it. Second thing I need something to eat Begals.
Speaker 1:Yes, I'm afraid of that you put snacks yes, I put sweets whatever.
Speaker 2:In the past, I used to have snacks when I was eating. Yes, yes, Okay, this is something the second thing I need a blanket. It's a blanket, it's nice. Show me A. This is my mom's. Always with me. Sunscreens and this is always in the bag, even if I wear another one, because this is always small.
Speaker 1:Can you try it on? Try it on, I love it. Actually, it's insane.
Speaker 2:Thank you, I want to tell you this is always in the bag because it doesn't take a place, and I can wear another matching one. This is the sun shade of the bag, basically, exactly, I love it, and what else Makeup?
Speaker 1:is a must. Okay, I can't Look. This is really the only thing I put in the bag, no matter what I can't the concealer that's it. Oh, that's, this is the YSL. I love it a lot.
Speaker 2:This is the favorite Lip gloss.
Speaker 1:Can I see which one this is Kylie? I will tell you that it is a dress. A velvet called Harmony Harmony.
Speaker 2:It suits you. By the way, my daughter, kimia, was choosing it and this I prefer this it is out of all my bags, all my bags.
Speaker 1:The magic rose, the lip balm. Any Egyptian knows the magic rose, the lip balm. I can't believe you have it, I have it and I get a stock.
Speaker 2:I can't wait.
Speaker 1:I get it from the club, the club of hunting.
Speaker 2:Sometimes I don't go, I send my wife who goes there and the prophet goes to the club.
Speaker 1:I can't believe you have that. That's insane. I can't believe you have that that's insane.
Speaker 2:And perfume I put a small one. I put Versace Noir, but this is nice. I put perfumes on top of any perfume Layers. Put another small one, I put Versace Noir. Okay, but this one is nice, it's good on any perfume. I even put perfumes on it.
Speaker 1:Layers. You put layers. This one is nice, this one and this one.
Speaker 2:This one is Greek. This is Mystica. It's so fresh. Mystica Care is its name, it's so nice.
Speaker 1:I love it so much I mean you can put this on any layer of your body in a day, exactly Okay. Also, this is Mary Poppins, by the way. There should be a mirror?
Speaker 2:No, of course not. Oh, I can't. I mean, this is the vintage tracotta.
Speaker 1:I don't put anything else.
Speaker 2:I know I don't put and this is my mirror with the lipstick and stuff, and then I always put one lipstick. I always have to put something else on it.
Speaker 1:Honestly, one of the makeup artists on the show asked her what lipstick did you put on me? And I said I put seven things.
Speaker 2:So I always put one. That's true, but these are the basic things that I put on me from the car.
Speaker 1:No, but there's nothing else, no wallet, nothing, no In the other bag I don't hold wallets, Cards holders and the money. Interesting. I love it. So that's your bag, that's what's in my bag with my galil. Thank you so much I absolutely love this. It's dangerous. It's more girly. Thank you so much. You're my. I absolutely love that, Khatira. No, seriously, the most you saw the magic lipstick, the most girly.
Speaker 1:No, the magic lipstick is for women to fall in love. I mean, seriously, this is not challenging. Do you know how this magic lipstick does it? It colors your lips without anything. Did you miss it? Not yet?
Speaker 2:right. Wait, the magic lipstick we just need to know I'm telling color, color. It looks like green. You put it, it makes color.
Speaker 1:Exactly, and I mean this is a life hack. Do you know what a life hack is? Thank you, thank you so much For coming to the podcast. Thank you.
Speaker 2:I'm very happy. Finally we did it and I hope you don't mind. Thank you so much for coming to the podcast. Thank you, I'm very happy Finally.
Speaker 1:Finally we did it. Yes, finally we did it and, god willing, we'll do more episodes and thank you for the advice and everything and I'll see you next time, god willing. Thank you, anour. Thank you, that's a wrap, we're done. Thank you, guys.