Many Egyptian women inspire us every day, irrespective of International Women’s Day. Their bravery and the impacts they have brought about by the lives they have chosen to lead for themselves serve as motivation to us all, giving strength to many women and men who struggle to find it within themselves. Therefore, in honour of International Women’s Day on March 8th, we highlight some of the many inspiring Egyptian women who have left impeccable impressions across different sectors of life.
1- Nour Emam (Education)
via Instagram
Nour Emam is an inspirational entrepreneur, sex educator, and birth doula. She founded ‘This Is Mother Being’ to empower women by coaching them about body literacy. Her videos and podcasts are educational in a light-hearted way, making her content inspirational and helpful. She hosts a multitude of events catered to women and sheds light on several products in addition to hers that can make many lives more manageable.
2- Pakinam Kafafi (Business)
via Enterprise Press
Pakinam Kafafi is an inspiring successful woman in a male-dominated field. She is an energy expert who takes immense pride in being the CEO of the multinational TAQA Arabia, utilising her 24 years of exceptional experience in the field to its fullest. It’s important to note that Kafafi didn’t just make it to the Forbes List of the Middle East’s Power Businesswomen in 2021; she ranked number 31!
3- Farida Osman (Sports)
via Instagram
Farida Osman, the current record holder for the fastest female swimmer in Africa, is a fierce competitor, routinely setting new benchmarks in her sport. The four-medal haul she took home from the 12th African Games in Rabat, Morocco, is only the latest in her long haul of remarkable achievements. During the African Games, the international champion won two gold medals in the 100 and 50-meter butterfly competitions and silver in the 50-metre freestyle race and 100-meter freestyle event.
4- Youssra (Entertainment)
via Instagram
The most famous Arab female actress was born Civene Mohamed Nasim and goes by the stage name Youssra. Egypt’s sweetheart has been acting since the 1970s and has established a filmography unmatched by any other working actress today. She has also served as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and was named the 29th most powerful Arab woman by Arabian Business. In recognition of her work as a UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Youssra has impressively garnered over 50 awards.
5- Dr Nagwa Abdel Meguid (Science)
via YouTube
Nagwa Abdel Meguid’s reputation as a human genetics professor has spread widely across Egypt and the global community of genetics experts. She has found several new genetic syndromes and is an expert in treating children who suffer from genetic illnesses. She was the first Arab woman to win the L’Oreal UNESCO Prize for Women in Science in 2002 and has since won numerous other awards, such as the National Research Centre Appreciation Prize in Medical Sciences in 2011.
