The Duo, November 2018 issue, Identity Magazine

NOVEMBER 2018 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 13, ISSUE 11 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

The Duo

WHO SHAPED THE FUTURE OF EGYPTIAN COMEDY

BRUNCHI NG AT THE PAL ACE .

BBQ BRUNCH IS BACK!

Stroll along our Garden Promenade Café… listen to the grills sizzle …Savor the tantalizing aromas as our chefs rewrite the brunch menu. We have all what your taste buds desire from a fresh fish market and an endless sushi station to BBQ specials with veggie options, all while enjoying the live jazzy sounds sifting through the waving palms.

Grab your family and friends for a great day of #BrunchingAtThePalace.

M a ke a d ate eve r y Fr i d ay f ro m 1pm - 5pm for the best brunch in town!

16 SARAY EL GEZIRA ST., PO BOX 33 ZAMALEK, CAIRO 11211, EGYPT. T: 00. 202.27.28.3000 CAIROMARRIOTTHOTEL.COM ARABIC.MARRIOTT.COM/CAIEG

x bo

,S

ur

ep

he

Lip

C nd

lo Co

sh ma

a

NOVEMBER 2018, VOLUME 13 ISSUE 11

T

FOUNDER & MANAGING EDITOR Rola Kamel

Time.…….It’s up to us how to spend it,

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nawal Ismail

waste it or make the most of it, but we

ART DIRECTOR Alia El Abd

cannot stop it. When does something

COPY-EDITOR Amina El Fayoumy

or someone become ‘timeless’? We believe it’s when they succeed to withstand the inevitable test of time. Our November issue probes into the very

SENIOR STAFF WRITER Amina Moustapha STAFF WRITERS Aya Aboshady, Samar El-Swaify

fascinating concept of time, and exposes places,

FREELANCE WRITERS Amina Elghandour, Rana Ramez

books and actors that have managed to defy it. Some

INTERNS Sandy Hossam, Sherouk Mostafa

professions, as we may know them, have not been so lucky; time has rendered them extinct. We also

RELATIONSHIP EXPERT Marwa Rakha

venture into the future; what lies ahead for us there,

FASHION EXPERT Nahed Kazziha

and can we really predict or control what happens

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sandy Saied

in it? Well, we know our future selves will definitely be grateful if we follow the latest state-of-the-art exercise routine our editors picked for this month.

MARKETING & ADVERTISING MANAGER Riham Yehia BUSINESS DEVELOPER Raghda El-Sayed DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Youssef Ali

Back pain anyone?!

SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGIST Omar Zydan

Tic Toc Tic Toc…..

PRODUCTION MANAGER Mamdouh Abd El-hamid

Rola Kamel

VIDEO EDITOR Ahmed Mostafa IDENTITY MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTOR Ashraf Fouad

Identity Magazine was founded in 2005 by Rola Kamel to enhance every aspect of a woman’s life style, helping our female readers to discover and improve their own identities.

Published by Beezarre Publishing Ltd. Themistokli Dervi, 6 Papyros Building, 4th Floor, Flat/Office D5 – P.c 1066, Nicosia, Cyprus.

The subscription rate is 240 L.E./year (12 issues) through Al Ahram, Tel: 02-27703190 Distribution by AL AHRAM Website: QPIX SOLUTIONS Printing House: SAHARA PRINTING COMPANY Contact us at: 26A Montazah St., Zamalek, Cairo-Egypt. Tel: 02-27361187 Mobile: 0122-9401071 email: sendus@identity-mag.com www.identity-mag.com

4 IDENTITY

IDENTITYMAGEG

ANCIENT WONDERS, MARRIOT T BRILLIANCE ...

THE MEMORIES ARE YOURS, THE PLE ASURE IS OURS.

S P E L L B I N D I N G , B R E AT H TA K I N G , O R M E S M E R I S I N G ? YO U C H O O S E A N D F O L LO W T H E F O OTST E P S O F K I N G S A N D P R E S I D E N TS W H E R E H E R I TA G E B L E N D S P E R F EC T LY W I T H 2 1 ST C E N T U RY I N N O V AT I O N .

Where Pharaohs once gazed, 40 acres of gardens surround the Royal Lodge that has entranced travelers for 150 years. Today’s adventurers have 331 stylish rooms and suites, many overlooking the Pyramids; four restaurants and lounges; indoor and outdoor meetings and banquet options; heated swimming pool, spa and health club.

Effortless booking, check-in and check-out and up-to-the-minute originality join the ancient world to create never-to-be-forgotten memories.

6. PYRAMIDS ROAD, P.O. BOX 12556, GIZA, CAIRO, EGYPT T: 00. 202.33.77.3222 F: 00. 202.33.76.7777 MARRIOTTMENAHOUSECAIRO.COM

CONTENT

NOVEMBER 2018, VOLUME 13 ISSUE 11

6 TIMELESS 6 8

Identity Picks Authentic Egyptian sites highly underrated survivors of time

STYLE 10 12 14 18

How not to miss out on beauty supplies online Black Friday offers!

Vintage haircuts that have been making a comeback!

2018 Autumn trends Adieu Old Céline

50 20 22

Redefining beauty The duo who shaped the future of Egyptian comedy

SETTING THE FUTURE 32

Insecurities vs. Love: which will come out as winner?

34 Ten ways to make a difference while you get on with your daily life 36 The best way to predict the future is to create it 38 Theatre pioneers who changed the Egyptian theatrical scene 40 Twelve professions at risk of future extinction 42 Fifteen innovative enterprises setting the future 44 Exercises your future self will thank you for!

46 In the dystopian novel ‘Vox’ women are silenced after one hundred words!

48 Around the world this month 50 Fall Getaways

OUT & ABOUT 52 Advertorial 56 Press Releases 64 Horoscopes

6 IDENTITY

22

PICKS

IDENTITY PICKS The Ashley Summer Vintage Gold Coin Necklace This authentic and vintage necklace works with casual as well as classic looks. You can find it very easily; it’s literally everywhere.

Bath and Body Works Sparkling Woods Candle Fill your home with lavender & fir needle essential oils with notes of bergamot and iced lemon. A mixture that will add warmth and relaxation to your autumn nights and days.

RevJams Satellite Bluetooth LED Rose Gold Speakers What is truly cool about these speakers is their feminine color.

It’s quite unusual to find a rose gold colored gadget with LED light effect. But aside from the looks, it also plays independently with AUX port, Micro SD slot and FM radio.

Urban Outfitters Moon Tapestry Add an artistic touch and take your room to space with this elegant piece of tapestry. It would provide the perfect background for a cozy winter night.

The Palma Havan Weekender A practical bag can still be elegant too. Its perfect size makes it the ideal choice for work days, college days and even morning outings.

8 IDENTITY

Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream As we approach winter, our skin needs more and more moisturizing. Drunk Elephant introduces Protini Polypeptide Cream that comes with supportive amino acids and proteins for visible and immediate improvement in the appearance of skin’s tone, texture and firmness.

L’oreal True Match Liquid Glow Illuminator Autumn and winter may be dull seasons, but our skin has nothing to do with them.

L’Oreal introduces this highlighter to add some shine to your key features.

It comes in Golden, Rose and Ice shades.

Glossier Cherry Balm Dotcom It’s not only our faces that need moisturizing in winter, but our lips do too. This lip balm from Dotcom has a glossy look, which can be a great replacement for lipstick.

TIMELESS

AUTHENTIC EGYPTIAN SITES HIGHLY UNDERRATED SURVIVORS OF TIME

by Rana Ramez

Egypt is full of authentic locations and historic landmarks that have surprisingly outstood the test of time; yet they are quite underrated and unpopular compared to others. IDENTITY would like to shed a light on a unique list of six of the most momentous sites found in Egypt.

1. EL GILF EL KEBIR NATIONAL PARK Declared as a national park in 2007, El Gilf Kebir is a massive 7,700 square kilometer sandstone high plateau equivalent to the size of Switzerland. Despite the remoteness and wild nature caused by the fact that it’s the driest place on the planet, the landscape was full of life a few thousand years ago, as evident in the mesmerizing prehistoric cave paintings and rock carvings of the early hunter-gatherers that sketched the Stone Age life there.

2. DESERT BREATH Even though it’s a recent man-created artwork located in the desert near Hurghada, Desert Breath is still viewable from space two decades after its creation. This is a large scale of a double-spiral work of land art installation created by Greek artists in 1997; it represents an experience of infinity with the desert as a landscape of the mind. Through its slow disintegration, the installation has been seen as an instrument to measure the passage of time.

3. DENDERA TEMPLE Situated about 60 km north of Luxor, the temple complex of Dendera is one of Qena’s hidden gems.

The easily accessible temple is considered as one of the best preserved temples in Egypt; featuring tombs

10 IDENTITY

and chapels from various eras such as the Pharaonic, the Roman and early Egyptian Christians.

4. BARON EMPAIN PALACE The distinctive abandoned palace and historic mysterious mansion located in Heliopolis was built between 1907 and 1911 by Baron Édouard Empain, the Belgian entrepreneur and architect who also built the Paris Métro. Detailed animals and figures inspired

by Orissa in India and Angkor Wat in Cambodia cover and decorate the mansion.

5. CAVE CHURCH Carved into Moqattam hill in southeastern Cairo, the astonishing Monastery of Saint Simon was established in 1975 alongside several other churches also built into the caves of Moqattam. Aside from the awe inspiring view giving shivers to the observant, the fact that the Cave Church of St. Simon is the largest church in the Middle East with a seating capacity of more than 20,000, is what makes it so unique.

6. SANNUR CAVE Dating back about 60 million years, The Sannur Cave lies at 10 Km southeast of the city of Beni Sueif. The rare beautiful rock formations of stalactites and stalagmites of the cave were created by groundwater percolating through the limestone of the Galala plateau. It was discovered in the 1980s and was recognized as a protected area in 1992.

From the pre-history of the Stone Age and Pharaonic era to the modern times, Egypt is truly the cradle of civilization.

X-Large Design by Duravit

Offering plenty of extra storage space and extra elegance, the X-Large furniture series is popular with instinctive good taste.

For more info please visit our showrooms in Sheraton +2 02 26968700, Designopolis +2 02 38572041 or +2 0238572042, Sharm El Sheikh +2 06 93664162, Hurghada +2 01 001789418 or visit www.duravit.com.eg

W E CA N H E L P YO U I N D E S I G N I N G YO U R B AT H R O O M .

19219

BEAUTY

HOW NOT TO MISS OUT ON BEAUTY SUPPLIES’ ONLINE !

Black Friday Offers

by Raghda El- Sayed

S

hopaholic or not, Black Friday sales are not to be missed, especially if you can shop from the comfort of your own home. While retail sales are good enough to make us happy, online vendors usually have the biggest deals during this season. So if you are a makeup junkie, you should not let your fear of buying beauty supplies online stop you from milking the sales as much as you can!

We know shopping for beauty supplies, especially makeup, can be risky. This is why we gathered some tips and tricks to make your life easier when you shop online!

12 IDENTITY

START BY SETTING A BUDGET We all get too excited when we find cheap stuff to buy, but we end up buying a whole lot, and they still cost a fortune at the end. Make sure to set a strict budget for yourself, which should include the shipping fees.

DO YOUR RESEARCH Before the sale starts, do a simple research; which website will have sales, what brands are mentioned, and the most important part – what will I need from this brand, and what is their product’s expiration date/shelf life. The expiration date part is the most important one! Based on that, you will know if you should buy just one of each product, or bulks if they are worth it.

TEST THE PRODUCTS IN REAL LIFE While you’re shopping online; you can go to a real life store and try the products there to know your shades and see if they’re worth buying or not. While this might not be the most ethical approach, make sure you don’t take too much of the seller’s time if you’re not planning on buying anything. It would be even better to buy something before you leave.

HAVE A TEST-BUY Start by buying the supplies you need to use soon. Based on the production and expiration date on the products, you can decide whether you should buy in bulks or not.

BUY THEM IN BULKS, IF YOU CAN We all have that one moisturizer or mascara that we can’t live without. Since you have done your research, it’s time to decide if you should or shouldn’t buy in bulks.

While each brand and product differs through their expiration dates and shelf life, here is the average lifespan of popular supplies.

• Face Masks: As long as the jar or cap is tightly sealed, it can last up to 18 months • Skin Products: Most skincare products have approximately a 2-year shelf life • Foundation or Cream-Based Products: 6-8 months • Any Powder: 18 months • Liquid Eye Products: 3 months • Pencil Products: If you keep it freshly sharpened, you can keep for as long as 2 years • Lips: 2 years • Nails: 2 years

MAKE USE OF THE BUNDLE’S OFFERS Usually, there are brands that make Black Friday bundles, and the prices of the said bundles are most of the time worth it! It is always recommended to buy these bundles, even if you won’t use all the products in it. You can always exchange them with friends, or even resell them online on Facebook groups like “Clean Your Closet.”

DON’T FORGET THE PERFUMES! Based on all offers through the past years, perfumes have the best online Black Friday offers. This is the easier part since you can easily test the perfumes anywhere, and buy them in bulks with no risk!

IDENTITY 13

Vintage Haircuts

THAT HAVE BEEN MAKING A COMEBACK!

by Aya Aboshady

Other than her smile of course, the best thing about a woman is her hair. The majority of women believe that the most important component of any look is the haircut, and we can’t claim it isn’t true. Famous women in the fashion world have been setting hairstyle statements for decades, and now that we’re in 2018, we can evidently see that the most significant ones always make a comeback! Here are 8 of the most iconic hairstyles that we still see women rocking nowadays:

MIA FARROW’S PIXIE CUT Needless to stress how ICONIC this hairdo was, Mia Farrow’s Pixie Cut is what most women, especially celebrities, are all about even these days. Ever since she introduced it, people have questioned its femininity. Right now, we can’t even find the words to explain how feminine and beautiful it is; take Kate Hudson and Cara Delevingne as examples!

MARILYN MONROE’S PINUP The beautiful Marilyn Monroe’s hairdo is still rocking today. It’s one of those timeless hairstyles that you can never go wrong with; especially when combined with hot red lipstick, like the stunning Katherine Heigl in this photo!

14 IDENTITY

MEG RYAN’S SHORT LAYERS The ‘You’ve Got Mail’ beauty has always been stunning us with how she styles her pretty short waves. Her most unique style was the short layers, and it’s still trending nowadays with beautiful women all over the world slaying in it, like Taylor Swift in that one!

AMY WINEHOUSE’S BEEHIVE UPDO The late R&B singersongwriter’s beehive updo is one of the many unique things about her.

Even after her early death, many celebrities and people around the globe have rocked it in different ways, like the beautiful pop artist Katy Perry!

JULIA ROBERTS ‘PRETTY WOMAN’ CURLS Who could ever forget the astonishing Julia Roberts in ‘Pretty Woman’? Her beautiful long curls set a whole new trend for women’s hairstyles, in a revolutionary way. This hairdo is pretty much the go to for everyone nowadays, long or short. Even young artists are still rocking it on the red carpet, just like Lorde here!

IDENTITY 15

STYLE

2018

AUTUMN TRENDS

by Samar El-Swaify

Autumn 2018 comes with a huge variety, as it offers several color palettes not just those inspired by fallen tree leaves. It also introduces all fashion-holics to several prints, forming a meeting point between summer’s colorfulness and winter’s classiness. Isn’t that what winter is all about?

Natasha Schweitzer

Comme Des Garcons Girl

Blaze Milano

Sara Battaglia

HOODS

CAPES

Hoods are still trending this season, but this look employs hoods in a different way as they are mostly used as casual wear.

The animal print appears once again in Battaglia’s hood giving it a classic touch, with Prada pants and Christian Louboutin boots.

Capes are here again for this season since they were also trending in the last one. This look breaks the stereotype that capes are only made for classic looks.

M.I.H. pink skinny jeans and Valentino’s white sneakers give the Milano cape a casual sense.

16 IDENTITY

Prada

Christian Louboutin

M.I.H Jeans

Valentino

BROWN COLOUR Brown colour is autumn’s best friend, but this season it is an official trend.

You can give this brown belted hooded wool and cashmere-blend poncho a casual look by adding jeans and white flats to it.

Paper London

BRIGHT COLOURS This year’s autumn brings more colors to the game as bright colors are trending this season. London Paper brings this sweater and wide legged Jeans together into perfection, with a Rejina Pyo pair.

Goldsign

Theory Rejina Pyo

Paper London

Nicholas Kirkwood

FLORAL PRINT In a summery warm touch, comes the floral print this season. Erdem’s floral blouse completes your day look with Frame’s jeans.

H&M Moncler

CHECKS Checks are always an essential print for autumn and winter.

It appears in Moncler’s jacket and sweater in this casual night look.

Erdem

Frame

Tabitha Simmons

Goldsign

IDENTITY 17 The Row

Chloe’

Gucci

MSGM

GLOSSY

SILK Silky kimonos are here this autumn, offering a smooth covering in the semi chilly weather, just like how this kimono complements the jumpsuit.

We are Leone

Daniellle Frankel

Roland Mouret

A glossy outfit is a good outfit, I mean, we all love to stand out! And who wouldn’t stand out in MSGM’s elegant glossy dress with a Mouret coat for warmth?

Monse

LEATHER

Zara

As we are used to leather in jackets and pants, this season brings a new player, leather dresses. Marks & Spencer offers this full shiny leathery look.

Chloe’

Zara

ANIMAL PRINT Maybe animal print never left the fashion scene, but it’s coming back as a main print this fall with this leopard-print sleeveless round neck top featuring a matching bow appliqué at the waist. To break the dark colours pattern, you can wear it on white pants.

18 IDENTITY

Balenciaga

Tabitha Simmons

Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencer

FRINGES A woman always loves to add movement to her outfit. Fringes are trending this season to give women that sense of class in a Schouler dress, a Gucci purse and Birman’s shoes.

Sophie Buhai

METALLIC Let’s be honest, the fact that metallic colors are trending will not stop us from saying that they should not even be a thing. What is cool about walking while you look like a moving mirror?

Gucci

Norma Kamali

Alexandre Birman Proenza Schouler

Givenchy

SWEET DRESSES Dresses are always there for us in any season at any time of the year, but this season, it’s Sweet Dresses turn. And there’s nothing better than the feeling of the smooth fabrics of a Red Valentino with MIU MIU boots to fit the autumn look.

Balmain

James Perse

TWEED

RedValentino

Miu Miu

Guiseppe Zanotti

Tweed is an-every-autumn trend, but it can be tricky to adjust with other pieces. This look with Balmain’s tweed jacket and pants form a classic look that fits the autumn night life.

Balmain

IDENTITY 19

STYLE

Phoebe Philo

are women. Women who have a clear and concise point of view of what their peers need and desire. The overwhelming majority of designers are in fact men.

Not to belittle the likes of Oscar de la Renta or Karl Lagerfeld who afford women the opportunity to embrace their femininity alongside their toughness. There are many successful creatives with a keen sense of what women actually want and they have moved with the times to ensure women also get what they need. Although, there seem to be remnants of those who have not danced to the beat of the

ADIEU OLD CÉLINE

by Nahed Kazziha

Fashion is continuously evolving.

As a form of artistic expression, it mimics the moods and necessities of an ever-changing world. Dresses got shorter when fabric was scarce during WWII. Women donned slacks once society required their participation in the workforce. Textiles developed to cope with the hectic requirements of modern day. At times, expression took to more divisive issues, such as gender lines, rather than functional challenges.

Yet it seems that fashion, much like the rest of the globe, is prone to failures. In an era of women empowerment, where finding female voices is paramount, these calls for power have fallen on deaf ears. In an industry catering to women by and large, only about 40% of fashion designers

20 IDENTITY

liberating drum.

The most glaring example of disregard to the tone of trendy fashion is the rebranding of CĂŠline, which was debuted at SS19 fashion week in Paris. At the helm of Hedi Slimane, who was praised for his overhaul of YSL and reintroduction to relevance, the

Hedi Slimane

fashion house of Céline was figuratively demolished.

Adopting the same steps he once took at Yves Saint Laurent, Slimane neglected the Céline woman. While rebranding YSL to simply Saint Laurent was a risky move, it catapulted the brand into the contemporary era of fashion, moving from matron to rock star. The shock factor was restored. In the case of Céline, the accent was removed from the brand nameCeline. The mere abolition of an accent tore away the vestiges of inherent chicness embodied in the brand. What’s in a name, you may ask?

Apparently, a lot. So much that it prompted an entire “Old Céline” movement on social media, with influencers and fashion icons declaring their resistance by tagging the account Old Celine, dedicated to the Phoebe Philo era of glory.

The contrast between the Dior story and the Celine overhaul is stark, bordering on vulgar transformation.

Creating a tectonic shift for the Céline woman, the new Celine does not portray the easy sophistication the brand ethos once pioneered. The voice of these women was lost in the earthquake, amid the glitter and sequins and bold ruffles. Too much fuss for the Céline woman. It is worth wondering what happened to the voices of these women and one has to think about who will be catering to their aspirations, now that Philo is out of the picture. The rebranding comes at the most inopportune moment, when women everywhere are becoming more vocal about those sisters we have left behind, voiceless and aimless.

It is a cold realization that the fashion universe, a forum where all ideas and voices are seemingly heard, is also vulnerable to the ambivalence mirrored in societies of the world. There is a gaping void, where female ideas should be and in its place women are still expected to fit the mold of men, even when it comes to their own wardrobe choices and aesthetic.

However, the rude awakening will not be swept under the rug. If anything, it will encourage women to own their destinies, culminating in a more inclusive era of fashion and style, because in fact, women know exactly what they want.

While Hedi Slimane undertook the YSL revamp with a breath of fresh air and new lifeline for the fashion house, he alienated his main following under the new Celine.

A brand that exuded crisp lines and elegance was contorted into none other than Slimane’s go-to rocker chick.

Céline, once synonymous with effortless chic was twisted into a cheap remake of the party girl 2.0.

The fashion landscape is no stranger to change. Lest we forget, change is what pushes the arts forward. When you think of Dior’s resurgence under Maria Grazia Chiuri, she certainly did not regurgitate Valentino into her Dior collections. Delicately, Chiuri managed to weave her pattern into Dior’s garments, maintaining the avant garde explorer and romanticism needed to speak to Christian Dior’s loyal following. She embraced and built on the foundations set by Galliano’s innovation instead of erasing them. Now, here is a woman that understood what women want. She spoke to their desire for change and recalled their yearning for the past.

IDENTITY 21

REDEFINING Beauty

by Nahed Kazziha

The runway can be a dangerous place. A select few own the catwalk and captivate onlookers from magazine covers. For too long the icons have wielded their power over the masses, unwittingly performing a disservice to those cult followers. Models, in all their glory and perfection have served as a reminder to the so-called everyday woman of all the attributes she lacks. Body image has been distorted over decades, often forcing women to aspire to exemplary molds that their biology cannot support. So, it is no wonder that the winds of change have blown across the modeling course to bring about a new era of idols. Today’s models are pushing fashion forward in the most attainable way. They embody a new breed of inspirational ambassadors. They are real women who unabashedly embrace their stories and share them with their earthly fans. They are the heroes of the catwalk, proving that beauty comes in all shapes, shades and sizes.

Chantelle Brown-Young aka Winnie Harlow

Towering a 1.75 meters, the Canadian born model has taken over fashion shows at age 24. She is of Jamaican origin, but fashion aficionados have noticed her for her Vitiligo, a disease which causes de-pigmentation of the skin. Her white splattered complexion has not held her career back. Today it is hard to imagine that one of the women who are at the forefront of the black model movement, was bullied to the extent that she had to drop out of high school. As a child, her mother would conceal her depigmentation with make-up, but today Winnie Harlow wears her story on her face proudly. She lends her voice to those with Vitiligo, even encouraging young girls to make their own molds that fit themselves, instead of striving for perfection.

22 IDENTITY

Maeva Giani Marshall The 23 year old who made her breakthrough into the modeling world at SS19 fashion week looks the part. A beautiful French-American woman, tattoo clad with perfect bone structure. Her face splattered with adorable freckles. Those freckles are her battle wounds. At the age of 20, Maeva suffered a stroke, which left her partially paralyzed and in a wheel chair for 8 months. The freckles she wears so proudly are in fact a memento of her second degree burns, which were caused from a reaction to the post-stroke liver medication and sunlight. The breakthrough model had to subsequently undergo treatment for skin cancer. The young woman tells a story of perseverance and the search for finding what is truly important in life- an essence that cannot be purchased pret-a-porter.

Ashley Graham The US-born 30 year old supermodel is also known as a body activist.

She has been on the covers of Vogue, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and even became the first in her league on the swimsuit edition cover of Sports Illustrated. Her mission in life is to fight against an industry that defines perfection from the outside by creating a more body positive environment. In a swarm of size 00 models, Ashley unapologetically encourages body diversity, even rejecting the term “plus-sized”.

Arguably, one of the more important messages that need to be spread among a generation of aspiring influencers is namely that leading a healthy lifestyle trumps your size. What’s more is that Ashley Graham is outspoken against sexual harassment in her industry, having been through assault herself during her career.

IDENTITY 23

INTERVIEW

The Duo WHO SHAPED THE FUTURE OF EGYPTIAN COMEDY Location: MAGIC PLANET AT MALL OF EGYPT Photographer: AMR MEDHAT Stylist: NOURHAN HOSSAM Makeup Artist: KAREEM HADDAD FROM AL SAGHEER Hair: MOHAMED MAMDOUH FROM AL SAGHEER

by Raghda El-Sayed

In 2008, a movie was released with fresh faces and a sense of humour we never thought we’d see in Egyptian comedy movies. ‘Wara’et Shafra’ was born, as well as a new wave of humour. The movie became a cult favourite, and the stars behind it became comedy legends. Ten years later, we had the chance to speak with the men behind the movie – Hesham Maged and Hesham Mohamed A.K.A Chico, to discuss their past, present and future in comedy.

24 IDENTITY

IDENTITY 25

26 IDENTITY

Hesham, who is a lovely host, welcomed us to his home, and a few minutes after, Chico arrived.

Everything went smoothly; it did not even feel like an interview, but rather a quiet gathering with friends.

Chico had previously told me that both he and Hesham were engineers before they started acting.

This was before the interview, which made me curious to know, how did they become who they are now? Was it a goal or an accident? And this was the first thing I asked them. “It was pure coincidence,” they both said.

“The three of us were together in university, and we loved doing pranks and practical jokes. Each joke could take up to a month; we’d pretend we’re drug dealers to our colleagues, for example, and they used to believe it,” said Chico.”It was very inhuman.

One of our colleagues in particular was the butt of all our jokes, and I’m sure he hates seeing us being famous now,” Hesham added. “He would lose it if he reads this interview.”

Chico then continued telling us about how they became who they are now. “We decided to take it to the next level, and started documenting what we do by producing movies. We generally loved parody movies, so this was our go-to genre. We started making parody movies about classical movies. During our first movie, we had very little equipment and little knowledge of what we were doing. Whoever felt like they were special at something, they did it. It was very basic, that even the soundtracks in the movies were played by regular cassettes while shooting.”

“We used to shoot these movies during summer and show them when we started university. We would then go to any café or restaurant with a projector and let them show the movies there. We would guarantee them attendance if they showed our movie. Our first movie was actually screened in Chili’s during one of our friends’ birthdays. We made three movies like that, up until our fourth movie.”

Their fourth movie was the infamous ‘Regal La Ta’araf Al Mostahel’, a parody movie that went viral in 2001 through VHS and CDs. Again, this was 2001 meaning YouTube wasn’t even created back then. This genre of movies was new to Egypt, which caused quite the trouble for the guys.

“This was a home movie, we never expected it to go viral. It was also a parody movie, which meant we made fun of specific people and used certain

“

We used to shoot these movies during summer and show them when we started university. We would then go to any café or restaurant with a projector and let them show the movies there.

- CHICO

“

We first met Chico in El Gouna Film Festival, where we approached him for this interview. He gladly gave us his number, and a few WhatsApp messages later, we were at Hesham Maged’s home conducting our interview.

language that, back then, was not typical to use in a movie,” said Chico about the movie.

Hesham then told us that the movie reached the authorities, and they wanted to interrogate them to know their intentions behind creating the movie.

“As soon as people knew we were wanted because of this movie, more people were curious to see it and it became an even bigger deal. We were young, and scared. We started to remove our phone batteries and look behind our backs for undercover cops – we did those cliche things people do. We were asked to stop releasing any movies, which we obliged by.

A few years later, we just couldn’t quit acting and ended up making a fifth movie.”

“We then met Mohamed Hefzey, the producer, who was just starting to make it in the industry. He asked us to write and present a new show he was producing.”

Since their graduation, and ‘Wara’et Shafra’, the guys had already kicked off their careers in engineering. “I refused the deal at first,” Hesham told us. “But Chico and Ahmed Fahmy kept insisting that we go for it. I was still hesitant, that they even did the first two episodes without me, and then I joined them.”

During that time, the movie ‘Awqat Faragh’ made its debut, and all the directors and producers wanted to jump on the “fresh faces” wagon. Maged, Chico, and Fahmy were the perfect subjects, and Hefzy asked them to work on a movie, after the airing of their show. They were asked to write and star in ‘Wara’et Shafra’, and they agreed.

This was the turning point in their career; they were going from homemade videos to the big screen.

Instead of adapting to the mainstream comedy, they stood their ground and let comedy adapt to them.

When asked if they expected the huge success of the movie, they said they didn’t have any expectations.

Hesham said, “We went into this with nothing to lose, and nothing to gain as well. We tackled it like any other movie we did and hoped for the best, but we had no expectations. All we knew was, we can’t

IDENTITY 27

28 IDENTITY

IDENTITY 29

be like everyone else. We needed to offer something new in order to stand out.”

It is now official; the engineers became actors. Then what? Chico resigned after the release of the movie, while Hesham did not resign until the release of ‘Samir w Shahir w Bahir’.

Chico spoke to us about his career prior to acting, “Everyone in my family is an engineer, and so was I. My father had an engineering company, and I started working with him so I can have more flexibility with my working hours, even though I refused to work with him at first.”

When we asked them if they ever regretted quitting their previous careers, they both said at the same time “Not once.” They both love being actors, yet Chico still expressed his love and passion for engineering.

Hesham, on the other hand, flat out said he hated it, even though he was the last to leave the field.

With acting being more or less an accident for them, it was time to ask the real question; is the film industry what they expected, or is it a lot worse? Surprisingly, they both agreed that it is exactly what they expected, and maybe even better.

With both of them having different visions for their future in acting, one has to ask, will they eventually stop working together? Hesham explained, “We don’t have any plans for not working together, but it’s bound to happen eventually. People might be bored of us acting together, or we may find that there’s nothing more we could both provide together.”

Chico then said the most friendship goals statement, “Why work with someone else when I can be working with Hesham?” Hesham agreed, and added, “Even if we have our individual movies, you’ll still find us making a guest appearance in each other’s movies.

We will eventually grow old and be 50 or 60 years old, and it will be very odd to still act together. Even throughout history, there were groups and duos performing together, and they eventually split – from Tholathy Adwa’a El Masrah to the Beatles.”

Chico then explained that their dynamics is what makes them stand out now, “Hesham and I have completely different acting styles, which makes what we do interesting because we balance each other out. That said; I personally feel like the audience is somewhat over the one-man show acting technique. It’s very difficult now to create balance in a movie all by yourself.”

Why work with We now know the future of the Hesham laughed about this and duo, but we wanted to also know someone else said “The industry was exactly about the future of comedy in what we expected, especially general. Where do they see when I can be the corrupt part of it. We knew it going? Hesham said that from the start that it is not all glitz are funny by nature and working with thatEgyptians and glam. It was even better than comedy will always remain the we expected, but that’s probably due main genre of cinema in Egypt. Chico Hesham? agreed, to the fact that our career took a shortcut “Everyone can now make jokes or and we didn’t have to struggle to be where we are now.”

- CHICO

Comedians are usually overlooked when it comes to acting skills, especially if they perfect the funny personas at all times. The public just struggles to take them seriously, and we wondered what they thought of that, and if they will ever consider taking more serious roles.

Hesham commented on that saying, “We are starting to consider this now, but this is something that has to happen gradually. In ‘Hamlet Freezer’, for example, we had a bit of action. In ‘Alb Omo’, there was a bit of drama. We can’t take this step suddenly, because our fans watch our movies expecting to have a laugh. We can’t give them something else right now.”

Based on his answer, we decided to rephrase our question and see if they would still go for it if the fans’ reactions were not a concern, and their answers varied. Hesham said he would, and assured that he is still considering other roles, Chico, on the other hand, wants to stick to comedy.

30 IDENTITY

memes that go viral on the internet. Memes and comics are everywhere, even I’m a meme.

Back in the day, indie creators struggled, we struggled. Now anyone can have a YouTube channel and produce a movie and publish it easily. You can start from one Facebook post, and this is a challenge for comedians.”

Hesham made an interesting remark and stated that what happens on the internet now is how they started but before the internet was even a thing. “It’s like a full circle now. The world is going back to the point where we started from, which is very interesting.”

They both agreed that the world is going digital, and TV is slowly dying. “There’s a whole generation that never watches TV. Eventually, the entertainment industry will have to evolve to suit their needs when they become the primary audience,” Chico added.

We started this interview as fans of their work and left as fans of them personally. They are just two down-to-earth men who want to entertain. Looking at where comedy is going now, it really does prove that these guys are pioneers in what they do, and they should be looked at with magnifying glasses.

IDENTITY 31

king ly. r o ot w entual n r fo ev ether, s n n e a y pl o happ ing tog e we n a ave ound t us act g mor h t ’ of thin don t’s b We r, but i e bored re’s no ether.

M tb the the tog SHA E H toge le migh nd that rovide p p fi o h y e t P ma ld bo e w or cou

32 IDENTITY

“

“

IDENTITY 33

A DV I C E

Insecurities vs. Love: Which Will Come Out As Winner?

by Marwa Rakha

We’ve all faced some troubles and situations, or lived through certain circumstances that grew into insecurities as we got older. Which is totally okay, we have all been there. We’ve all also waited for the right partner who is going to wholeheartedly accept our flaws and help us get over that nightmare –aka our insecurity- that has been chasing us forever. But like everything else, there’s a fine line between supporting, accepting and loving your partner with their flaws and actually starting to feel the toxicity leaking into your life because of their insecurity.

For instance: A girl who got cheated on in a previous relationship will always have trust issues towards her current partner. So here comes the dilemma. To which extent shall her partner put up with it, and go out of his ways to make her feel secure and loved.

And beyond which extent shall he leave without any sense of guilt that he left because of her ‘insecurities’.

That super fine line that you need to figure out in order to make a decision isn’t easily spotted, that’s

34 IDENTITY

why our Relationships Expert, Marwa Rakha, has your back and will tell you more about it.

How Can I spot my partner’s insecurity early on?

And how would that help?

In the beginning of a relationship, we all strive to leave a good impression. No one wants to come across as clingy or negative. Even the most careful of us will give off a few cues, and our partner can sense our insecurities.

Likewise, we can sense their fears and lingering demons. We can feel the skeletons that are hiding in the closet. We know … we just know … when something is off.

There is no recipe to follow when trying to dig up the buried bodies of a partner’s insecurities. Use your sixth sense and trust your instincts. If deep down you feel that your partner lacks self-confidence, then he/she does. If you feel that they are jealous but acting cool, believe it. If you feel they are lying, most probably they are.

Some issues are buried deeper than others, and you will only know them as you get to know your partner. The fear of being abandoned, for instance, only surfaces when you hear their stories about their parents and previous relationships. The fear of being cheated upon is one of the issues that does a very good job camouflaging into other things, like jealousy out of love.

Spotting insecurities early on in a relationship only helps you with one thing: to decide to stay or to leave. It is as simple as: Can I handle this? Am I willing to handle this? Is it worth it?

What is smarter or more beneficial to the relationship; ignoring the insecurity like it doesn’t even exit in order to avoid making the insecure partner uncomfortable and hence more insecure? Or acknowledging it and have a serious discussion about it?

If you do sense an area of insecurity or two, do not mention it. Wait, watch, observe, take mental notes.

Try to keep track of the incidents that triggered that insecurity, the impact they had on your relationship, when and how your partner returned to normal after the “insecurity attack”, and what your partner had to say to justify his/her behavior at the time.

When you are certain, and fully equipped with evidence and information, choose a time when you and your partner are having an open conversation, a moment of spiritual intimacy, and bring up the topic. For example, “I noticed that you do not like my friend “Y”, every time he is around, I feel you tend to be quiet and distance yourself. What is it about “Y” that bothers you?”

Do not name the insecurity, do not blame your partner, and do not point fingers. Just bring it up as a feeling or an observation, and drill slowly. If your partner shuts down, leave it there.

Observe more, collect more data and incidents, then bring it up again later. One day, your partner will be ready to open up. Be careful! You are not a therapist!

You are not a savior!

There is a difference between the roles of a loving supportive partner and a therapist. Your role is to comfort your partner, and to rationally discuss the validity/invalidity of the issue, and its impact on your relationship.

Healing, treating, and mending a broken person is not your job. It is okay to recommend a therapist, to see one together, or to walk away.

Can someone actually make another person’s insecurity fade? Or at least help not to make it grow worse?

In a relationship, you cannot make someone’s insecurities “fade away”. The best you can do is to avoid triggering them, and to discuss them when they erupt. For example, if your partner has a fear of being abandoned, no matter how many times you promise to stay, how many times you prove to be available, and how many times you choose to stay when anyone else would have left, your partner would still fear the day you leave.

Another example, if someone lacks self-confidence, no matter how many times you reassure him/her that you find them perfect inside out, that you love their hair, face, body, etc., they would feel ugly and uncomfortable in their skin.

The worst part is that his/her actions would actually lead you to leave, would drive you away, would alienate you until you no longer could afford to be in this relationship. That is why recommending a therapist can save the relationship!

What are the red flags that can make a partner walk away with a good conscience, and without feeling like they gave up on their other half?

Walking away from an unhealthy relationship sounds like an easy thing to do, but when a person is involved in the relationship, he/she does not see that it would be wise to leave, especially when they are playing the role of the savior.

Here are a few signs that it is about time to end a relationship with an insecure person – no matter the reason of the insecurities: • You are always apologizing.

• You are always sorry.

• You are tired, exhausted, and bummed-out.

• You always have some explanation to do.

• Your partner is always crying, whining, and nagging.

• You feel stressed as if you are walking in a minefield.

• Your conversations and outings feel like therapy sessions.

• You are losing your friends because your partner does not like them.

• You are afraid to say/do anything to upset your partner.

IDENTITY 35

SETTING THE FUTURE

10 Ways to make a difference while you get on with your

Daily Life

By Amina El Ghandour & Life Coaching with MG

When we think of this phrase, ‘making a difference’, we usually contemplate heroic actions. Our minds roam to endless possibilities that mostly seem impossible, until we exhaust ourselves into the complacency of our ever demanding lives.

However, we can make a difference in the simplest possible ways, just as we go on with our hectic lives. Here is how...

1. Show up for what matters, to you Life bombards us with so many things; responsibilities, conflicts and challenges, but it’s always important to show up for what matters most. Pour your energy into what adds value to your life and do not get dragged into the unnecessary. And when you lead a life of value, you are more useful to yourself and others.

2. Make room for joy There are so many things in life that can bring us down and stress us out. This doesn’t mean we don’t savour every moment of joy possible. No matter what you are going through, never feel guilty to laugh, to dance, to enjoy the rays of the sun or the breeze of the sea. Whatever brings you joy reach out for it, with hunger. Joy is contagious and by harbouring it, not only do you heal but you also spread it to those around you.

3. Manage your thoughts Our thoughts are a powerful weapon, positive ones can uplift us and negative ones bring us down. Give in to positive thoughts and when negative ones seep in, remind yourself it is just a thought and keep it in that realm to avoid its toxicity. Thoughts dictate our behaviour, positive ones mean a positive attitude and negative ones result in toxic behaviour – and this impacts the environment and the people around us.

36 IDENTITY

4. Nurture self love There is no better place to act from than a place of love. And self-love is the source of every love in one’s life. When you nurture self-love, you are comfortable in your own skin and as a result you open up to others, with love and positivity – your energy becomes uplifting in ways you can never explain. There are many ways to nurture self-love; these include mirror work, exercise, self-care, and healthy choices – all these are messages of love to one’s self.

5. Have a habit of gratitude Gratitude and appreciation are intertwined. The practice of gratitude feeds on a consistent ability to see the good in others. When you constantly see ‘good’ in others you are happy; and when you express it to them you make them feel appreciated and happy too.

6. Make sure your choices are reflecting your growth not your fears Life needs thrill, risk and challenges – that’s how we can embark on journeys to grow. Fear results in stagnation and stifles any possibility of going forward in life. But that’s not the only problem, when fear dictates our choices we hold back from others and possibly hurt them; but as we open up to possibilities of growth we embrace more people into our lives. And it’s with others and through our interaction with others, that we grow most.

7. Put your humanity before your belief system As we go on in life we interact with people very different from us, in good and bad ways. Difference is not the problem but judgmental attitude towards differences is. Judgment keeps one confined to a limited place of perception and builds walls between human beings. Deal with others as humans first and foremost. Even if you think they are wrong, choosing to put your humanity above all will make

“

Joy is contagious & by harbouring it, not only do you heal but you also spread it to those around you.

“

room for compassionand compassion makes the other person feel accepted and may help them heal in ways you’ve never expected.

8. Be beautiful, on the rainy day more than the sunny ones All of us will face events in life that can bring us down significantly, but as we deal with our battles we need to remember to keep on living and celebrating all that is good about our lives. Embrace what you have of health, beauty, wealth and wisdom – and share it with the world around you. Be resilient in your darkest moments.

Cry all night if you need to, but show up for life the next morning in your best possible form. Nothing can be more inspirational than a passion for life especially as it hits us hard.

9. Strip down to your truth We all have weaknesses and fears but most of us bear them with shame. The reality is that there is nothing more inspiring and more truly human than

our vulnerable sides. Exposing our vulnerabilities to the world is an ultimate sign of strength that connects us most to others and inspires them to embrace their imperfections without shame.

10. Be a story worth telling You don’t need heroic deeds to make a difference; the simplest gestures can move mountains and bring down walls. Remember we are emotional beings, longing for real connections. Start today, with yourself. Become a better you, choose a life of value, love and responsibility. Go on in life with passion, compassion, grace and kindness and you shall touch lives around you in ways you never knew were possible.

IDENTITY 37

THE BEST WAY TO PREDICT THE FUTURE IS TO CREATE IT

by Amina Moustapha

The future… Such a scary word! Full of unknowns. Full of twists and turns. You don’t know which way to go.

You don’t know if the path is rosy or hazy. If it’s going uphill or down. You simply walk into a mystery, unsure of your steps, of whether you will reach your destination or not. But the thing is, this is perfectly all right.

Think of two persons in a river. One is just floating on a raft, unable to foresee what is coming, owning to the fact that they aren’t looking around and aren’t doing anything to move or navigate. The second person, on the other hand, is in a kayak, looking for the path they want, actively steering, pushing and moving themselves to that point. Which one of them do you think is more likely to be surprised at where they end up? The answer is quite clear.

As Abraham Lincoln said, the best way to predict the future is to create it. In order for you to reach your goal, you must believe wholeheartedly in remaining steadfast to your dreams, in staying persistent, and in never giving up, no matter what trials or tribulations might come your way.

Yes, there are times to relax, but there are also times to paddle like crazy. So don’t sit on your hands, and start creating your own future.

UNLOCK POTENTIAL THROUGH EMPOWERMENT Self-discovery often gets lost in the busyness of life. You might look at yourself every day in the mirror, but still fail to see you. Fail to see what you are really capable of. Too many people settle for what is easy rather than engage their energy and creativity to create something different and meaningful. People who take a reactive approach to growth and development will suffer the same fate as companies, managers and employees who let the markets, technology and competitors determine their destiny. You must unleash your full potential.

Determine your own destiny. Set your sight on what you really want, and then go for it. The game of life rewards aggressive players who leverage their energy, intelligence and creativity to determine and obtain the life that truly makes them happy. Fight off laziness, fear, self-doubt, and all those things that feed on us, and make us unable to use our full potential. No one is born feeling self-empowered.

Confidence is learned.

38 IDENTITY

REMOVE & IMPROVE “Nothing so powerfully concentrates a man’s mind on innovation as the knowledge that the present product or service will be abandoned in the foreseeable future.” [Peter Drucker, Innovation and Entrepreneurship]. Developing a process of systematic abandonment, and making it a regular part of our life plan to eliminate old habits, wrong

way of thinking, unwanted goals and to make room for the new is one of the most effective tools to reach the future you want. Get rid of plans that are leading you nowhere, habits that drag you away from your goal. Stop hanging on to what weighs you down; that’s how you clear the path for improvement, which leads us to the next point.

SHARPEN THE SAW Habit #7 in Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is called “Sharpen the Saw.” Covey uses the analogy of a woodcutter who is sawing for several days straight and is becoming less and less productive. The process of cutting dulls the blade.

So the solution is to periodically sharpen the saw, and instead of taking hours to cut one tree, the job can be done in one quick cut.

What draws a line between people who achieve what they want, and people who fail is how efficient these people are. As Covey stated in his book, it is all about having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual to help create a sustainable, long-term and effective lifestyle. Covey stressed that we should be feeding all of these areas in order to remain balanced and effective. So hone your skills.

Practice. Learn. Enhance. Creating a future requires hard work, yes, but you must be smart and efficient about it.

FIND YOUR AUTHENTIC VOICE

“

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.

“

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

J.K Rowling, Walt Disney, Michael Jackson, Naguib Mahfouz, from afar, these successful people and many more like them may seem like superheroes, people who achieved the impossible. They are indeed superheroes, but their achievements are possible, they did achieve it after all, how can it be impossible then? It’s simply that their superpowers come from their authenticity. They went much deeper than their life story, what they have been through, or the issues they have. They embraced their true self and their ethical values along with their weaknesses and used their strengths to their advantage without worrying about what others think. They made it a point to leave their mark in their field, because it wasn’t a matter of creating their future. They didn’t just create their future; they changed our future by opening new doors for us, by getting rid of invisible chains through their authenticity. If you want to create your future, if you want to make it a bright one, find your authenticity.

“Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” -Steve Jobs. And that’s how you create a future.

IDENTITY 39

Theatre Pioneers Who Changed The Egyptian

Theatrical Scene

by Amina Moustapha

“Theatre doesn’t last. Only in people’s memories and in their hearts. That’s the beauty and sadness of it. But that’s life. Beauty and sadness. That’s why theatre is life.” Sherie Rene Scott A magical experience, a place where art comes to life, the mirror of life, the greatest form of all arts, a spiritual and social X rays of its time; we can go on forever and never give this artistic adventure called ‘Theatre’ its due. It’s simply a manifestation of art beyond this world.

It’s hard to find one definition for the theatrical world, it’s richer than words, but we can safely describe it as a collaborative form of fine art that uses live performers, typically actors or actresses, to present the experience of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The place of the performance is also named by the word “theatre” as derived from the Ancient Greek ‘théatron’, which means a place for viewing, but does that mean that theatre emerged from Ancient Greece? Not exactly.

The Greeks may have believed that they were the inventors of theatre, but, depending on how one defines “theatre” and interprets ancient records, it can be claimed that the Ancient Egyptians, while they did not construct special venues for their plays, preceded the Greeks in the public performance of shows. The Ramesseum Dramatic Papyrus, Isis & The Seven Scorpions, The Triumph of Horus, and many more are considered the earliest recorded quasitheatrical events in history. Theatre is rooted in our Egypt, but it took years for it to bloom back in our lives, and when it did it was extraordinary.

The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty, and since people are the foundation of anything let’s honor the actors whose lives were the first stones of our theater.

NAGUIB AL REHANY “Al-Rehani was not just an actor who earns his living from the acting profession. He was a philosopher and artist, an authentic artist who lived only for

40 IDENTITY

his art, and suffered persecution, deprivation and hardship for his ideals.” Badeih Khairy A great comedian both on stage and in films, and also considered until this very day “The Father of Comedy” in Egypt.

Rehany led a very successful life as an employee in the agricultural bank, but the thirst to act, to perform took over him, and despite his parents’ disapproval, he followed what he liked to call ‘the siren song of acting’ and quit his job.

In 1916, Rehani was out of job and penniless, and one night, he came up with an idea for a play. ‘Kesh Kesh Beh’. He got excited with the idea, and fought so hard to find a theatre where he can perform his play, not knowing what a big hit it would become.

Few years later, he established his own theatrical group, in Cairo, and partnered with his lifelong friend, Badeih Khairy, in adapting several French theatre hits to the Egyptian stage.

Later on they started to create authentic plays that reflect the Egyptian society and led the way to a major success. With more than 20 plays under his belt including Taaleeli Ya Bata, Law Kont Malik, Hokm Karakosh, El Setat Ma Yearfoush Yekdebo; Rehany left his mark in our theatrical world, and no matter how many years go by, nothing can ever change that!

FOUAD EL MOHANDES “The theatre for Fouad is a holy place, as if it’s a prayer that will be invalidated by any recklessness toward the audience, or by lack of focus for even just a moment.” Mofid Fawzy El Mohandes started his acting career by joining the acting team at university, and one night, Naguib El Rehany, El Mohandes’ idol, attended one of his performances. Rehany was dazzled by him, and asked him to join his theatrical group. El Mohandes definitely took the opportunity. El Rehany passed away, but after he passed the torch to his student.

He joined the radio program ‘Sa’a li Albak’ in the early 1950s. The episodes of the program got recorded on stage and in the presence of an

audience. It was all the introduction he needed to the world of acting.

Even though El Mohandes starred in more than 70 films, theatre remained his first love. He believed that he had to deliver a message through his plays. In ‘Hala Habibity”, he highlighted the abuse of children in orphanages. He also presented the dilemma between parents and their kids, especially daughters in ‘Sok Ala Banatak’. His plays were breaking through glass ceiling.

Nothing can showcase his love for theatre more than what happened while performing ‘Enaha Haka’an A’ala Mohtarama’; El Mohandes was suffering from a blood clot in his heart, and was advised by his doctors to take a break from work, but he didn’t listen and kept the play running as usual. Shortly after his clot was gone, the doctors didn’t have any medical explanation other than that his passion for his work had cured him. El Mohandes’s love and dedication to theater is unquestionable, and his plays will keep delivering the messages he wanted to pass on to every new generation.

MOHAMED SOBHI “He is one of the greatest actors I have ever known, and I’ve known a lot of actors!” Gamil Rateb It seems that the birth of Mohammed Sobhi near Mohamed Ali Street, which was dubbed “the street of art” in Egypt, provided him with artistic genes since he was just a young boy, until he became one of the most important pillars of the Arab and Egyptian theatre.

His first breakthrough was when he played the doctor character in ‘Hello Shalaby’, even though the role was quite small, and even though big names such as Abd El Moneim Madbouly and Saeed Saleh were present alongside him, Sobhi still managed to catch the audience’s eyes.

Sobhi kept joining plays with outstanding actors such as Farid Shawky, Hassan Youssef, Mohamed Awad, and with each new play his role got more significant. He shifted his attention to cinema for a while, but got back to theatre with one of his most iconic plays ‘Intaha El Dars Ya Ghaby’ and that was when he established a name for himself in the world of theatre.

In 1980, Sobhi founded a theatrical group called ‘Studio 80’ with his friend, Lenin Al-Ramli, an Egyptian writer and television and theatre director.

The duo succeeded in writing a series of the most successful plays of the time, reminding the critics of the duo, Naguib Al-Rehani and Badeih Khairi.

‘El Joker’, ‘Enta Hor’, ‘Takharif’, ‘El Hamagy’ and many more masterpieces can testify to what a great duo, Sobhi and Al-Ramli were and recognize their contributions toward theatre. Sobhi’s plays created a revolution in both the Egyptian and the Arab theatre.

These great actors are the pillars of theatre and acting in our country; they carved their names in our hearts and their legacy will live forever.

IDENTITY 41

12

Professions at Risk of FUTURE EXTINCTION

by Rana Ramez

Change is the only constant of the world we’re living in. A simple look at the labor market can confirm that many professions went the way of dinosaurs.

Obsolete jobs from video store owners, chandlers, lectors, and book peddlers to telephone switchboard operators, washerwomen, airplane listeners and pinsetters for bowling are only proof of how far we’ve come along. The thing is the process is still going on and we are about to lose some more! So take a deep breath and hope that you don’t find your own profession among the following list.

1. CASHIERS We’ve already started witnessing the disappearance of cashiers in big grocery chains and large department stores around the world. The process will be that clients will scan their coupons, input their own purchases and pay a machine. Since 10% of all cash transactions handled by humans result in an error, this can be perceived as good news.

2. TEACHERS Shocking, right? In Ernest Cline’s novel “Ready Player One”, the author had described a vision of schools as virtual reality guided programs that can be conducted and used at home. Personal computers, ipads and many other technologies can be used to teach children as well as humans through engaging applications and programs.

8. BARISTAS There is a big possibility that coffee shops can become coffee stations in the very near future where coffee drinkers may have their perfect coffee pumped out from a machine. With the evolution and advancement of espresso machines, having a handmade cup of coffee can be a thing of the past.

3. POSTAL WORKERS With the invention of electronic delivery, it’s only a matter of time before the home mail delivery becomes a thing from the past. The delivery of paper mail has been declining for the past few decades, which is only logical. Why spend on paper costs, cut more trees and risk lost mail when you can use email?

42 IDENTITY

4. DRIVERS This includes car drivers, taxi/Uber drivers, train operators, metro drivers and truck drivers as well, who may lose their professions to automation. Apple, Tesla, Amazon, Ford and some of the most important leading businesses in the world are currently investing in self-driving vehicles. This will affect driving instructors too given that our future kids won’t even need to pass a driving test with the autonomous cars.

11. SEWING MACHINES OPERATORS Remember Yasmine Rais in the movie “Fatat el Masnaa”? You can now say goodbye to that profession too. The technology is highly affecting the clothing manufacturing industry with sewing robots that are able to perform several production tasks like sewing seams and quality inspection. Not to mention the increase in production compared to human sewing lines.

5. TRAVEL AGENTS Do you use applications and online websites like Booking, Travelstart, Kayak, Skyscanner or Trivago? If your answer is yes, then you’re participating in ending the industry of travel agencies. This long-established profession was indispensable for travel planning in the past. Now who needs to pay a travel agent when he can get the cheapest flight ticket, the most suitable hotel room and the perfect travel itinerary?

12. PRINTING AND PUBLISHING WORKERS Wait, that’s us! So apparently we won’t be the survivors here after all. Unfortunately the printing and publishing industry is endangered after the introduction of technology to this field, which resulted in the rise of digital publications and e-books.

Old ways of publishing will very soon be outdated.

6. SPORTS OFFICIALS AND REFEREES Watching the latest FIFA World Cup in Russia, we were all introduced to the new technology of Video Assistant Referees or VAR. Artificial Intelligence would be more effective as a sports referee, since humans can always make mistakes. A robot won’t be influenced by the crowd, the players or the coaches and can have a just judgment. How much time do you think we have until we see machines taking over the whole domain of sports?

At the end, there is no need to panic, at least not yet. These changes and replacements will take many years to happen and will most probably affect future generations. In addition, it’s true that technology is the main reason behind the extinction of many professions, but in parallel, it’s also the prime cause behind the creation of new ones like mobile app developers, social media content creators, cloud computing specialists and virtual assistants. It’s true that whenever a door closes another opens.

7. DATA ENTRY CLERKS There is no doubt that the accumulation of enormous amounts of data and information generated from companies and individuals is getting more and more important. But what’s in decline is paying an hourly fare to someone in order to transmit the data from one format to another or compile all the data into one place. That’s a repetitive task that a machine can perform perfectly without making any typos.

9. PILOTS A considerable number of planes run entirely on autopilot mode with the existence of a pilot in the controlling seat just to make sure everything is going as planned. In the future, it’s highly possible to have these systems completely controlled by a computer which means pilots can go extinct. And as handsome as pilots can get, this will eliminate any chance of human error and any hostile takeover possibilities.

10. BANKERS According to some estimates and studies, 30% of banking sector positions will be taken over within the next decade, especially bank tellers and financial analysts. The main task of bank tellers is to process the transactions of the bank clients, like cashing checks, depositing money and collecting loan payments.

Online banking is already replacing the traditional duties of tellers. Financial analysts may also lose their professions to A.I. with the fast ability of computers to spot patterns and make trades.

IDENTITY 43

15 Innovative Enterprises

SETTING THE FUTURE

by Rana Ramez

The Egyptian economy is currently witnessing an entrepreneurial revolution; the country has climbed 10 spots and now ranks at 95 on the Global Innovation Index for 2018 and is the most improved in MENA region. The growing trend is highly forming the future of Egypt and is believed to be the core of its upcoming growth. Thus, IDENTITY has gathered a list of 15 enterprises and startups that are not only uniquely innovative but are also setting the future.

1. ELVES Elves is a mobile application that enables its users to text an AI powered person who will help them in finding, booking, buying and delivering stuff everywhere. Based on the term of the concierge economy, the personal little helper app is a chat based platform that pairs up people with an assistant who gets to know them, do the search for them and facilitate purchases.

2. MOVIE PIGS Totally dedicated to Arabic independent films, Movie Pigs is an innovative two-sided platform for streaming and crowdfunding independent films.

Founded by Perihan Abou Zeid, Movie Pigs allows filmmakers to crowdfund their projects, besides giving the audience the opportunity to watch indie films from around the world. It is now available in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia.

3. SOLARIZ EGYPT Solariz is the leading solar expert company in Egypt that offers a better, cheaper and cleaner source of electricity to the commercial, industrial and residential sectors other than the conventional energy. Starting off in 2013, the company designs, installs and commissions Photovoltaic solar power plants. Achieving the energy independence of Egypt is Solariz’s ultimate goal.

4. RECYCLOBEKIA Based in Egypt, Recyclobekia is the first of its kind company in the Arab world that provides green recycling of electronic waste and safe data destruction services. The electronic waste recycling company serving the MENA region has the mission of leading the region towards the culture of e-waste recycling.

44 IDENTITY

5. EDFA3LY Starting off in 2010, Edfa3ly is an automated personal shopper service that has figured out a solution to the issue of online shopping in Egypt. The platform offers its customers the chance to shop products worldwide and have their items delivered right to their doorstep without paying excessive shipping fees. The startup is highly and quickly spreading across MENA, Asia & East Africa.

6. WUZZUF Wuzzuf is an online employment platform founded

by Ameer Sherif in 2014. The website offers innovative online recruitment solutions for top enterprises and organizations, and what makes it remarkably distinctive is that it tackles every aspect a recruiter may search for in a resume. Wuzzuf is expanding their work to the UAE, Qatar and other Gulf countries, based on their proven success.

7. TAGADDOD With the aim of being the leading renewable energy provider to businesses and households in the Middle East, Tagaddod is all about producing biodiesel from used cooking oil. Based on the belief that renewable energy is the way forward, the renewable energy and waste management company focuses on the production of the most used alternative biofuel around the world, biodiesel.

8. VEZEETA In 2015, Amir Barsoum founded a digital healthcare platform connecting patients with healthcare providers and health services. With the main office based in Cairo, now Vezeeta is also working in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon. The digital cloudbased solutions allow end users to search, compare and schedule healthcare providers online for free and provide them the ability to a better access of healthcare.

9. INSTABUG Starting in 2012, the co-founders Omar Gabr and Moataz Soliman have developed the in-app feedback and bug reporting for mobile apps software; Instabug. From SoundCloud, Samsung and Paypalto eBay, Yahoo, Evernote and Buzzfeed; the technology company based in Egypt has been inserted in 26 of the top 100 apps globally with over 800 million devices.

10. AGRIMATIC FARMS Attaining food security through the pursuit for sustainable and innovative soilless farming is the core of Agrimatic Farms. The company is devoted to overcome the global challenges of the rapidly expanding global population, limited fertile land, water scarcity and slow agricultural development by tailoring innovative system designs based on solid scientific foundation and research.

13. UP-FUSE Founded by Yara Yassin and Rania Rafie in Cairo, Up-fuse is one of the leading eco-design studios in Egypt that designs and produces environmental and socially responsible products. The lifestyle brand, promoting a sustainable and eco-conscious lifestyle, has developed techniques to upcycle plastic bags transforming them into high quality handmade bags and accessory products.

11. TRIPDIZER Founded by the world traveler Sameh Salah, Tripdizer is an online interactive customized platform that uses technology to tailor personalized trips and maximize the travel experience of its users. The website and online application guarantee that planning trips will be hassle-free; booking fights/ hotels/local transportation, arranging visits, reserving activities, calculating budgets and sharing experiences are now all under one roof.

14. MUMM Waleed Abdelrahman founded an online market place that connects talented home-based cooks with customers to give them access to wholesome fresh homemade food, from the home chef’s kitchen. The online platform empowers stay-athome housewives, mothers and refugees to have a sustainable source of income by selling their homemade meals alongside with improving the underserved market of homemade food.

12. FIXAWY From plumbing works, electricity, carpentry, plaster works, air conditioning to gypsum board, aluminum works, tiling works, satellite technicians and painting works; Fixawy is a search engine for home service craftsmen in Egypt. The application matches users with the best, nearest and most qualified craftsmen while offering a fixed pricing system and a fixer rating for reviews and post-service feedbacks. Hiring fixers is now a piece of cake.

15. YAOOTA Yaoota is an Egyptian search engine built to help consumers to save money and is considered as MENA’s premier shopping search engine. The online price comparison platform for products sold online provides users with the chance to choose the most suitable products based on the best up-to-date prices, deals and product information from serious, trustworthy online stores.

IDENTITY 45

H E A LT H

Exercises

your Future Self will Thank you for!

by Sandy Hossam

Want to feel better, have more energy and even add years to your life? Just exercise. That simple. Futureproof your body through exercising! Just 30 minutes of exercise a day should help you hold on to muscle mass, maintain your natural range of motion, avoid back pain, and lower your risk of heart problems. If you’re bored of the regular exercises, and want to up your game, kettlebells are the answer for you.

What is the kettlebell?

Kettlebells are cast iron weights ranging from 5 lbs to over 100 lbs, shaped like a ball with a handle for easy gripping. This type of exercise gained lots of popularity lately because it targets almost every aspect

46 IDENTITY

of fitness; endurance, strength, balance and cardio tolerance. It also increases bone strength for daily tasks, improves back pain, and it’s simple!

• The only time the arm is straight is at the top and

It could be tough for beginners, because swinging a kettlebell isn’t where they want to start. They should build a strong foundation before testing their balance and core strength with a heavy weight.

However, you can use a dumbbell instead. 5-10 Lbs weight is perfect for beginners.

3. SINGLE-ARM SWING WITH CLEAN AND PRESS I mean, who doesn’t want to get rid of his all-time nemesis which are calories? If you’re fed up with diet plans, basic and boring exercises, this one is for you!

The single-arm swing with clean and press spots calories and works on destroying them.

What are the best 5 exercises for the Kettlebell?

1. PLANK WITH KETTLEBELL PULL- THROUGH We’re all familiar with the Plank, the very well-known exercise. But did you know that Plank, if combined with the kettlebell, can be your anti-rotation core exercise which can prevent any back problems in the future? Start with a light weight in this exercise.

The further you place the kettlebell outside your frame, the more difficult the exercise will become.

• Begin in a natural High Plank position with a

kettlebell by your left side.

• While working to keep your chest parallel to the floor and resisting movement throughout the rest of your body, slide your right arm underneath you to grab the kettlebell handle.

• Remaining in a good Plank position with your bottom down and core engaged; pull the kettlebell underneath you to the other side.

• Continue to pull the kettlebell to alternating sides until the set is complete. Sets/Reps: 3x10-12 total reps 2. THE SNATCH If you don’t want to jog or go for a walk, especially if you’re bored with these two standard workouts, did you know that you can replace them with a kettlebell exercise? This exercise helps in increasing your heart rate significantly, so it ranks as a legit cardio move as well.

Hold the kettlebell handle by the inside corner.

• Start as with a Swing but keep the kettlebell close as if facing a wall.

• At chest height pull the kettlebell towards you and then push the hand up and through.

• Don’t wait for the bell to flop over, beat it around.

• From the top position flip the kettlebell over leading with the elbow, keep the kettlebell close.

• Absorb the kettlebell weight at the bottom as with a Swing and repeat.

bottom.

• Use snapping hips for power as with the Swing.

• Hold a kettlebell in your left hand and bring it to

the center of your body. Throughout this movement, be sure to keep your abdominals braced and your gaze straight ahead.

• Begin the movement by bending at the knees then driving yourself up as you pull the kettlebell up. At the top, rotate the wrist so the kettlebell flips to the other side of your hand.

• Bend at the knees again with a slight lowering of the hips then drive yourself back up to create momentum. Push the kettlebell straight overhead.

Carefully bring the weight down and repeat.

4. THE GOBLET SQUAT Who doesn’t know about squatting? But what about kettlebell being newly married to squatting? This goblet exercise isn’t just a normal leg exercise; it’s a workout that develops leg strength and mobility.

• Stand holding a light kettlebell by the horns close to your chest. This will be your starting position.

• Squat down between your legs until your

hamstrings are on your calves. Keep your chest and head up and your back straight.

• At the bottom position, pause and use your elbows to push your knees out. Return to the starting position, and repeat for 10-20 repetitions.

5. KETTLEBELL LUNG PRESS If you’re an old athlete, this exercise is excellent to add full-body strengthening to your workout routine. It engages the back, shoulders, arms, leg and core; making it an amazing strengthening exercise.

Stand up straight while holding the kettlebell in front of the chest with two hands, arms bent and palms facing each other. Lunge forward with one leg while raising the kettlebell overhead (raise the roof!).

Return to standing while returning the kettlebell to the chest. Try for 10-15 reps on each leg.

At the end of the day, we can’t really promise that exercising will be the best part of your day. But, we can assure you that it’ll be the most rewarding one. It will be stress-free, helps you stay fit, and most importantly, will let your future self thank you for taking care of it the way you should. Don’t forget yourself. Your time is yours. And remember, it’s never too late to begin NOW! IDENTITY 47

REVIEW

In The Dystopian Novel ‘Vox’ Women Are Silenced After 100 Words!

by Shorouk Mostafa

W

hen asked to give one label to describe her novel, Christina Dachler dubbed it “Women fiction, dystopian, political, commercial thriller, it’s a combination of them all.”

And she couldn’t be more correct!

to reconsider every word that comes out of your mouth! Learning that words have value, a price, and that you shouldn’t be wasting them or taking them for granted.

Vox follows the story of Jean, a woman who woke up to find a newly enforced law by the government that allows women to speak only up to 100 words a day (the average person speaks 16,000 words a day). Every woman is forced to wear a bracelet that does her word count, and gets electrified when she exceeds her daily word allowance!

Throughout the whole book, Jean’s main trigger behind fighting and rebelling was her non-ending concerns about her daughter, Sonia. She couldn’t comprehend how her daughter will receive her basic rights to learn when she can only utter 100 words a day. We witness through the story what a mother is willing to do in order to provide a good, normal life for her daughter; to what extent Jean will go in order to guard her daughter from this crazy law.

Vox is a novel frizzling with courage, rebellious attempts and mother-daughter love. Christina Dachler takes us through a highly questionable, nerve-wracking journey that questions how a woman will ever be able to express herself, communicate and raise her kids voicing only a maximum of a 100 words per day. Here are some of the things we absolutely loved about this bold novel, and reasons why it’s definitely NOT a book to miss out on!

Reflecting a Reality That We Unfortunately Live In True that the world we live in hasn’t yet reached this level of oppression and women-silencing and probably such a law (of 100 words per day) will never make its way to reality. Yet, higher authorities have forever been trying to take away women’s voices, sugar-coat them the title of ‘housewives’, and demotivate them from reaching higher positions and receiving higher quality education.

It Will Teach You The Value of Words From the very early moment of reading the synopsis until you turn the last page, you’ll be struggling with your choice of words and topics! You will start

48 IDENTITY

Mother-Daughter love

Sometimes You Should Take Matters Into Your Own Hands “And my fault didn’t start when I signed Morgan’s contract on Thursday. My fault started two decades ago, the first time I didn’t vote, the umpteen times I told Jackie I was too busy to go on one of her marches or make posters or call my congressman,” says Jean, admitting that doing nothing was the biggest mistake of her life. Throughout the story, you will watch how Jean became aware that if she didn’t stand up for herself and her daughter, they won’t stand a chance. The novel is a lesson on fighting for yourself, and those you love. Dachler’s favorite quote is “All that’s necessary for the triumph of evil is for good man to do nothing”.

Dachler Took Description To A Whole New level Dachler mastered her choice of words. She will grab your mind and heart, and pull you into her story. You’ll get to feel the pain sensation of getting electrified. You’ll get to live Jean’s frustration, as if it’s happening to you not to an imaginary protagonist.

You will feel the chain of this dystopian world through the struggles of the characters. Vox will become a real experience through Dachler’s words.

The Similarities & Differences with ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Despite The Handmaid’s Tale being published over 30 years ago, it still tops the dystopian genre since then. Due to some similarities in the protagonists’ lives and the flow of events in both books, you’ll

find yourself inevitably comparing this to that, here to there. You’ll start making your mind about who did it better, Dachler or Atwood. And honestly there isn’t a more realistic measure of a book’s success than antagonizing the reader to the extent where he/she grabs an old book and actually re-reads it to be able to make a decision!

IDENTITY 49

A RO U N D T H E WO R L D

Around the World this month

by Sandy Hossam

MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE When 22 November Where New York, USA Known as America’s most popular and extravagant celebration, watched by 3 million people and 44 million others live on television, comes “Macy’s Thanksgiving event, previously known as the Christmas day parade.

The parade features hundreds of cheerleaders, clowns, floats, marching bands, and renowned performers on the streets of NYC. This vibrant and colourful event is worth seeing in real at least once.

THE FULL MOON FESTIVAL OF CHIANG MAI, THAILAND When 21-24 November Where Chiang Mai, Thailand

50 IDENTITY

In old Thai traditions, the twelfth full moon of the lunar calendar is celebrated annually in North Thailand in a festival known as “Yi Peng”.The festival looks so extraordinary especially in Chiang Mai. You get to display beautiful lanterns or release them in the sky at night. Many believe that by launching these balloons into the air you can send misfortune and bad luck away. This parade also includes traditional Thai dance moves, live music and handicraft sessions.

PARIS PHOTO When 8-11 November Where Paris, France Calling on all photography enthusiasts to get ready to hop on the first flight heading to Paris as the Paris Photo annual fair returns on November 8th. Over 140 galleries from 33 different countries get to display their extravagant work in The Grande Palais. Around 1,300 artists have their work exhibited and over 170 exhibitors take part in the event, including publishing companies and many international art galleries.

SHANGHAI ART FAIR, CHINA When 9-11 November Where Shanghai, China Marking its 16th edition, this fair will bring public and private art to Shanghai. More than 1000 art galleries, organizations and agencies from around the world will participate in this fair where 21st contemporary art will be displayed to familiarize art lovers and big enthusiasts with the big changes which took place in this sector.

ARGENTINA OPEN POLO TOURNAMENT When November 10 Where Buenos Aires, Argentina As Argentina is the proud home to many of the world’s greatest footballers, it is no surprise that it also birthed some of the best polo players.

The annual Argentine Open in Buenos Aires is considered the most important championship worldwide. Indefinite crowds attend every year to watch the best players showing off their amazing skills in an unforgettable experience.

IDENTITY 51

T R AV E L

FALL

Getaways THAILAND

THE VILLAGE COCONUT ISLAND BEACH RESORT, PHUKET

8 Days / 7 Night Departs: Upon Request Starting from: 18,375 EGP Package Includes • International & Domestic Flight tickets including tax.

• 2 nights at private pool villa including breakfast.

• 5 nights at Phuket hotel including breakfast.

• Round trip transfers at Phuket (Airport – Villa – Hotel - Airport).

• Entry Visa.

For more information visit: qarenhom.com

SPAIN 9 Days / 8 Nights Departs: Upon Request Starting from: 29900 EGP Package Includes • Roundtrip economy airfare on regular flights including taxes.

• 1 night accommodation in Barcelona at a bed and breakfast hotel of your choice.

• 7 nights accommodation in one of MSC Splendida Cruises or similar on full board basis.

For more information visit: Travcoholidays.travel

52 IDENTITY

VIETNAM

LEGENDS OF THE EAST

9 Days/8 Nights Departs: 30 Nov. 2018 Starts from: 780 USD (excluding international flights & Visa) Package Includes • All accomodation.

• All transfers.

• All tickets and permits.

• Airport pickups.

For more information visit: Destination31.com

BALI & SINGAPORE INDONESIA, SINGAPORE

7 Days / 6 Nights Departs: Upon Request Starting from: 22900 EGP Package Includes • Roundtrip economy airfare on board regular airlines, including taxes.

• 3 nights accommodation in Bali including breakfast and taxes.

• 3 nights accommodation in Singapore including breakfast and taxes.

• Roundtrip airport transfers in Bali and Singapore.

For more information visit: Travcoholidays.travel

MALDIVES ISLAND 6 Days / 5 Nights Departs: Upon Request Starting from: 25900 EGP Package Includes Roundtrip economy airfare on board regular flights, including taxes.

• 5 nights accommodation including breakfast and taxes.

• Roundtrip airport transfers in the Maldives.

For more information visit: Travcoholidays.travel IDENTITY 53

OUT & ABOUT

TORAB EL MAS AND WAHET EL GOROUB WIN GOLD TROPHIES IN CDA 2018 Mahmoud el Esseily and Cairo Steps perform on the closing night of CDA

Cairo Design Award concluded its 3-day annual event with an award ceremony held at one of Cairo’s hotels where mega star Mahmoud el Esseily and Cairo Steps performed. Several celebrities such as Arwa Gouda, Ghada Adel, Edward, Engy Ali, Amina Khalil and Eman attended the event where CDA awarded excellence in 6 categories including Jewelry, Set Design, Interior, Landscaping, Product Design and Architecture. The awards were presented by CDA’s esteemed jury of pioneering Egyptian designers including Azza Fahmy, Amr Helmy, Onsi abo Seif, Kareem Mikhtigian, and Tarek Naga.

CDA 2018 also featured, for the first time in Egypt, the “Design Showcase” where more than 40 established and upcoming designers collaborated with leading industry suppliers to create more than products but in fact entire showcases with installations that displayed excellence and artistry and offered real messages.

The award ceremony honoured participating works in each category, with winners receiving gold, silver and bronze trophies. In the set design category, Wahet el Ghoroub, the famous Egyptian TV show featuring Khaled el Nabawi and Menna Shalaby, vied for and won the gold trophy whilst Torab el Mas from the silver screen, earned the same award for its exemplary set design.

54 IDENTITY

The Founder of CDA and Chairman of Mahdy Group, Hisham Mahdy, said, “It is great to witness such a successful event that is dedicated to the celebration of talents in the different design fields. We aim to extend this success in the coming years, to help generate exposure on the international level, for these exceptional talents, allowing them to get the attention and exposure their works deserve.”

The Cairo Design Award is an annual competition that seeks to establish a design platform that will enable designers in different fields to explore new opportunities for the expansion of their work locally and internationally. CDA also aims at setting and defining clear standards of excellence for future generations of designers to rely on and to support the growth of the industry at the global level.

BRUNCHING AT THE PALACE IS BACK Cairo Marriott’s Friday Brunch is finally back at the Garden Promenade as one of the hotel’s favourite moments throughout the years of creating brilliant experiences to its guests.

Brunch is like no other with families gathering together, kids playing around and friends chatting and having fun. The buffet is filled with an endless sushi station, Cairo Marriott’s kitchen signature BBQ specials carrying an array of Kofta, Burgers, Shish Kebab, Chicken Tikka and much more. It is the time for Italian cuisine lovers to find a huge variety of fresh pasta and Italian delis. For those craving sea food, a very special sea food station rich with fresh fish and shrimps is also part of the brunch buffet. Not only this, the brunch buffet has space for veggie people too with a lot of options found at the veggie station.

The mouthwatering desserts are not to be missed. A range of oriental and French pastries freshly baked are a must try. Adults before kids will enjoy an ice cream with their favourite flavours. For an ultimate ending, a chocolate fountain is there for everyone to pamper himself with a delicious treat.

Classical tunes are heard all around the palace as a Jazz band is playing a selection of 50s and 60s songs to take guests back to the golden era.

Brunch is served every Friday from 1 pm till 5 pm at the Garden Promenade. Book now and spend the weekend right at the palace!

IDENTITY 55

comfort. Combining true luxury with highly specified comfort; the modular spaces bring the outdoors inside by infusing raw punctuations from nature not only allowing light and greenery to unfold all around, but also transforming each home into an exclusive private island of utmost privacy.

SURROUNDED BY A PULSING DOWNTOWN DISTRICT BLOOMFIELDS combines the quality of living in a breathing green environment with the excitement of enjoying a central urban lifestyle; all seamlessly interconnected by linked activity bridges for homeowners to appreciate luxury living at varied heights. The Downtown Zone is the lively hub enjoying a direct connection to the lifestyle area at BLOOMFIELDS; from a cutting-edge business park, an assortment of recreational areas, quaint coffee shops, to contemporary fine dining experiences, a daily vibrant fix is only a few steps away from home.

Bloomfields - In the Heart of it All Savor the New Levels of Integrated Living

Purpose and versatility have never taken a better shape as BLOOMFIELDS shapes new standards of intentional living right at the heart of Cairo. Surrounded by the enterprising community of Mostakbal City, the dynamic community of BLOOMFIELDS is designed to offer something for just everyone in search for fresh, bold ideas with sweeping views over sunkissed parks, open-air galleries, top-notch education, a burgeoning cultural scene, world-class facilities, and a sustainable lifestyle. Set to become Egypt’s hotbed for startups, entrepreneurs, as well as makers and doers who wish to execute flawlessly in all aspects of their lives, the interconnected town is the ultimate place to grab a piece of the magic that balances the best of community living, education, and work.

Tatweer Misr’s latest addition is nestled between New Cairo’s Golden Square, and the New Administrative Capital, within close proximity to road 90, and the New Administrative Capital’s Train Station and International Airport. The project also enjoys a strategic location just 45 minutes away from Ain El Sokhna, and can be easily accessed via the Middle Ring Road as well as the Regional Ring Road. Master-planned by world-renowned Italian architect, Gianluca Peluffo and Partners, in collaboration with internationally acclaimed Egyptian architect, Raef Fahmy, BLOOMFIELDS is inspired by the tree of life; artistically conceived to branch out, unfolding a fully integrated town. The project’s lively center is grounded by an impressive college town spreading out to boast a variety of gated residential neighborhoods clustered in the shape of a leaf reflecting an evergreen theme.

56 IDENTITY

LIVING WITHIN THE HEART OF INNOVATION With a breakthrough perspective on integrated living, BLOOMFIELDS unveils an innovative contemporary concept, streamlined to offer a variety of incredible amenities reflected in its mixed-use buildings. With an array of luxury homes ranging from extravagant villas, twin-houses and townhouses, to spacious lofts and apartments; the project is aesthetically designed to embrace cascading green terraces, floating pools, and interactive roofs, as well as breakthrough flying residences for homeowners to connect and relax. In addition to clean contemporary lines, and unadorned interiors with panoramic glass window facades; homes at BLOOMFIELDS are carefully planned to offer an abundance of private balconies, sundrenched open kitchens, and duplexes with linear double heights for mobile

A THRIVING EDUCATIONAL & ENTREPRENEURIAL DISTRICT IS THE COMMUNITY’S BEATING HEART Developing outstanding urban communities goes beyond urban designs and construction, to create a unique life experience for all residents. Developing an integrated urban community with the economic engine being the educational area represents original thought and a peerless sense of value. Boasting Egypt’s first entrepreneurial university and a lineup of internationally acclaimed schools the 90-acre educational district at BLOOMFIELDS will harbor the first global ‘Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship,’ providing first-class education focusing on innovation, entrepreneurship education and SME development. It will be the first college in Egypt to graduate the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Heineken® presented the best festival of 2018: Heracleion Festival in Soma Bay Festivals are the latest trend in Egypt, and we cannot help but love it. We have witnessed many festivals this year, but with that said, it is very rare that we find a festival that gives us a full experience. The highlight of 2018 in the world of festivals had to be, hands down, the Heracleion Festival in Soma Bay which was held on the 5th and 6th of October – presented by Heineken® so you can all “Live your music”.

Heineken® joined forces with Future Sound of Egypt and Events Plus Egypt who were proud to bring to the new concept; a deep discovery in the heart of Egypt with two special nights including FSOE550.

The multi-genre festival brought people together to dance and celebrate life on the White Beach of Soma Bay. The festival featured some of the

biggest names in Trance, Techno, Deep House and Progressive House; with headliners: Sasha, Aly & Fila, Ame, Artbat, Cosmic Gate and John 00 Fleming alongside support acts from all over the world such as Ferry Tayle vs Dan Stone, Gai Barone, Paul Thomas, Monoverse and Stoneface & Terminal.

The festival did not stop there; it also featured some of the top Egyptian acts A&Z, Amir Sharara, Ampish, Ashmawy, Fady & Mina, Hady Tarek, Hazem Beltagui and Philippe El Sisi vs Omar Sherif.

Heineken Live Your Music is a new experiential music platform built on the collective passion for experiencing music. It is a global movement born out of different music styles but with a shared love for music itself.

IDENTITY 57

Exclusive Cake Artistry Masterclass For Aficionados At Jw Marriott Hotel Cairo Gelly Kalouta, Resident Cake Artist from JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai hosts a unique workshop combining craft and culinary skill, showcasing the true essence of The JW Treatment JW Marriott Hotel Cairo was delighted to welcome Cake Artist Gelly Kalouta on 27 September, as the renowned artist hosted a masterclass that showcased her creative and bespoke culinary repertoire in designing wedding cakes. While resonating with local culture, the workshop demonstrated Chef Gelly’s renowned cake artistry techniques, the fine details and whimsical designs which have become her signature at La Farine CafÊ & Bakery, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai, where she is currently based.

58 IDENTITY

Le Meridien Hotels Across Egypt Celebrate World Coffee Day with European Inspired Coffee House Pop ups To showcase its commitment to coffee culture and promote its portfolio in the country, Le Meridien Hotels across Egypt came together with a unique celebration on International Coffee Day. The foyer of Le Méridien Cairo Airport was transformed into an interactive space housing 4 European inspired coffee house pop ups, each representing a Le Méridien hotel within the country namely, Le Méridien Pyramids, Le Méridien Cairo Airport, Le Méridien Heliopolis and Le Méridien Dahab.

Heliopolis Towers Hotel Brings the Freshness of Alexandrian Seafood to the Heart of Cairo!

Heliopolis Towers Hotel recently hosted a mouthwatering event bringing Alexandria to the heart of the Cairene capital. Celebrating the best of the Mediterranean city, the world-renowned hotel has pulled off an unrivaled seafood day under the theme of “a piece of home”, gathering celebrities and influencers originally from Alexandria to enjoy the themed seafood event and feel home again.

IDENTITY 59

Mercedes-Benz Egypt launches the new C-Class family range at the 2018 Automech-Formula Motor Show Mercedes-Benz Egypt displayed its outstanding 2019 model range throughout its strong participation at the 25th Automech-Formula motor show. This year’s motor show takes place at the Egypt international Exhibition center from September 26-30, 2018. In addition to displaying the brand’s impressive line-up, the Mercedes-Benz stand was nothing short of impressive as well, featuring new digital capabilities and options. The exciting participation of Mercedes-Benz Egypt at this year’s motor show truly reflected the Brand’s position as the number one premium brand worldwide in 2018.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo Heliopolis Cocktail Reception at Our Signature Restaurant Filini Radisson Blu Hotel, Cairo, Heliopolis held a Cocktail Reception at our Signature Restaurant Filini, which is characterized by its classic yet contemporary style and elegant décor with an open kitchen. The cocktail reception was attended by many singers, movie stars, public figures and famous businessmen.

All the Invitees were impressed by the Azmi Performance, a well-known violinist who played many well-known foreign and Arabic music. They also enjoyed the modern music presented by DJ Ahmed Oscar and praised the atmosphere of the place, its ancient form and distinguished service as well as the hospitality by the hotel management.

60 IDENTITY

Toilet Paper Innovation Sets Fine Hygienic Holding on a Roll The original patent for the modern toilet paper roll was made in 1883, with the standard design of a long strip of toilet paper wrapped around a paperboard cylinder remaining unchanged for over a hundred years. It seemed so simple and so effective a design that it couldn’t be improved upon.

Guillermo Del Toro To Make His Animated Feature Film Directorial Debut At Netflix With His Lifelong Passion Project Pinocchio Acclaimed Academy Award Winning Filmmaker Set to Direct, Write, and Produce Stop Motion Animated Musical Academy Award winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is making his animated feature film directorial debut at Netflix with his lifelong passion project, Pinocchio, which he will also write and produce as a stop motion musical.

In an unprecedented step in the field of digital banking services Emirates NBD - Egypt launches Smart Touch to carry out banking and financial transactions using fingerprint through a mobile application.

Mohammed Berro: The new feature enables customers to take advantage of a bundle of features using smart phone fingerprint technology.

In an unprecedented move in the field of e-banking, Emirates NBD - Egypt has launched a feature known as “Smart Touch” on its mobile banking application which enables customers to perform transactions and other services using their fingerprint.

Know Your Man ... Ismail Fouad Kassem’s Manual to Decoding the Arab Man and Win his Heart Ismail Fouad Kassem, Life Coach, Entrepreneur and Author, released his first book “Know Your Man” by Roznameh Publishing House. The book signing event took place in Virgin Megastore in the Fifth District yesterday in the presence of media, fans and followers of Ismail on his social media outlets.

Uber launches Safety Toolkit for riders and drivers Uber to double down on safety and roll out Safety Toolkit for riders and drivers across 38 countries Features to include Safety Center, Trusted Contacts, Share Trip, and Caller Privacy Uber today announced the new Safety Toolkit, which, over the next few weeks, will be rolled out to the millions of riders, drivers and couriers using the app across Europe, Middle East and Africa. The toolkit will introduce new innovative features which aim to raise the bar on safety, and increase transparency, accountability and peace of mind for all users.

Xiaomi announces Redmi Note 6 Pro in Egypt starting at EGP 3,777 The first Xiaomi smartphone to come with front and rear dual cameras also offers unrivalled performance and battery life in this segment Global technology leader Xiaomi announced Redmi Note 6 Pro today in Egypt starting at EGP 3,777, featuring dual front and rear cameras, the Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 636 SoC, a 4000mAh large battery, and a big, immersive display.

IDENTITY 61

SODIC Announces Intention to Acquire MNHD Sixth of October Development & Investment Company “SODIC” announced today that its board of directors has agreed that the company preliminarily intends to launch a mandatory tender offer on the shares of Madinet Nasr for Housing & Development “MNHD” through a direct share swap (a securities swap only), allowing MNHD to remain listed on the Egyptian Exchange. The swap ratio is preliminarily set at 2 shares of MNHD for one share of SODIC, provided that SODIC acquires a percentage not less than 51% of MNHD’s shares.

SoSPA in the City at Sofitel El Gezirah Sofitel El Gezirah held a very special celebration, with the revamp of our Fitness center “SoFit”, in addition Sofitel welcomed and introduced the new SPA Director Laura Celoria coming with a very extensive experience in SPA operations.

The night started with healthy organic snacks and cocktails at the swimming pool by the Nile, attended by SPA members, diplomats, Key Accounts “Corporate & Travel”, media figures in addition to a number of long staying guests

62 IDENTITY

Your happily ever after at Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir Steigenberger Hotel El Tahrir invites couples to say “I do” at Diamond Ballroom that is designed to accommodate up to 180 guests and create celebrations as unique and special as love itself.

Love birds can skip the stress and start celebrating with a special wedding package starting from EGP 55,000. This complete package that includes food, drinks, decoration, entertainment and a three-storey wedding cake will help couples sit back and watch their visions unfold as every little detail is taken care of by a team of professional event handlers.

Orange Money celebrates a decade of financial innovation in Africa and confirms its position as a major mobile money player Orange Money, Orange’s mobile money solution, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Launched in 2008, the service currently has 40 million customers and is available in 17 countries, reaching €26 billion in transactions in 2017.

Orange Money is now one of the Group’s leading growth drivers and continues to evolve to better serve people, companies, institutions and governments.

Hyundai Motor Wins “Red Dot: Brand of the Year 2018” Hyundai Motor has triumphed again in Red Dot Awards with the honorary title “Red Dot: Brand of the Year 2018”, adding to its five previously received Communication Design accolades for 2018 for its creative and innovative design.

The Red Dot Award is one of the most highly-respected international design competitions in the world, and the “Red Dot: Brand of the Year” is awarded to the brand that has come up with innovative and creative design on a particularly high level. This year it took into consideration Hyundai’s innovative design solutions, quality of design and brand management expertise.

A Royal Winter Escape In Luxor And Aswan A winter vacation getaway should never be limited to beaches. Shake off the winter blues with a Winter Royal Escape at Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor or a Legendary Escape at Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Aswan. Enjoy the south warm climate, sunny atmosphere and explore the sights and sounds of the ancient gems. The two palatial hotels are the perfect place to enjoy five-star luxury and still be within a stone’s throw of some of the oldest antiquities in the world, creating favourite destination for families and couples.

Nozha Group Signs Partnership Agreement with Time Hotels to Manage Time Nozha Beach Hotel and Resort Ras Sudr

ALEXBANK Supports “Craffiti Egypt” Handicrafts Exhibition Through Its Flagship Initiative “Ebda3 Men Masr”

Nozha Group organized a ceremony for the signing of a partnership agreement between Nozha Beach, one of the companies of the Group, and Time Hotels for managing hotels and resorts, to manage Time Nozha Beach Hotel and Resort Ras Sudr. During his speech in the ceremony, Al Maghraby said that objective of partnering with Time Hotels, one of the renowned international hotels’ management corporations, aims to achieve a quantum leap in the approach of managing hotels and resorts in Egypt. This would be positively reflected on promoting tourism in Egypt and to transform Ras Sudr to a favourite touristic destination that attracts investments.

ALEXBANK continues its support to the creative economy and handicrafts industry in Egypt through its flagship initiative “Ebda3 Men Masr” by sustaining “Craffiti Egypt” handicrafts exhibition, organized by the Egyptian Export Council of Handicrafts and the Egyptian Chamber of Handicrafts, under the auspices of Ministry of Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Trade & Industry.

Cairo Marriott Hotel and Marriott Mena House Scooters Touring Egypt With Cross Egypt Challenge The Cairo Marriott Hotel and the Marriott Mena House, Cairo branded scooters were spotted in a number of cities around Egypt between October 11th and October 20th, 2018 as Cross Egypt Challenge riders were exploring the hidden gems of Egypt on their scooters.

Samsung Celebrates the Fifth Anniversary of its Bani Suef Factory

Promoting child health and development Unilever Mahreq joins hands with UNICEF Unilever Mashreq, represented

by Signal, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), launched the joint programme “Children’s Awareness for Water Conservation.

ESLA’s Mall of Arabia Grand Opening ESLA Fashion Wear in collaboration with Evepedia were glad to announce the Grand Opening for the its latest branch in Mall of Arabia. The event was attended by renowned influencers, bloggers and media people. Marselio, the violinist did an outstanding performance entertaining the guests along with the Mall visitors.

The factory has been supplying the local and regional markets with high-quality TV sets since its official inauguration in 2013 Samsung Electronics Egypt celebrates five years of producing “made in Egypt” high-quality TVs. This factory is Samsung’s first of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, applying state-of-the-art technologies to render cuttingedge QLED TV set

IDENTITY 63

associations such as Misr Al-Kheir, Gannat Al-Kholoud and Baseera for Visually Impaired.

She is actively supporting and bringing awareness to the first animal protection draft law in Egypt that will be soon discussed by the parliament.

Introducing the Nokia 7.1 to Egypt The first smartphone to launch PureDisplay screen technology for a superior viewing experience, and advanced imaging with ZEISS Optics HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, announced the Nokia 7.1 the first smartphone to come with PureDisplay screen technology, which will take your viewing experience to the next level due to its high contrast ratio, greater clarity and enhanced colours across all of your content.

The Nokia 7.1’s stunning HDR display lies within a masterfully crafted, gorgeous design and offers an advanced imaging experience powered by a dual rear depth sensing camera with 2PD and ZEISS Optics to ensure you never miss a moment.

Relaxed Chinese Sophistication at Chinoix Chinoix restaurant at Renaissance Cairo Mirage City is a destination to add to your ‘must try –feel good’ dining out list. You will simply be full of happiness! A true gem, Chinoix does not only present a wonderfully diverse menu with mouthwatering selection of authentic Chinese delicacies, it will blissfully indulge you with all that we love and adore about Chinese décor.

Cultural, yet modern in approach, Chinoix adds to each and every dining experience by allowing guests to relax and absorb a sincere mood with an enhancing & engaging atmosphere. The restaurant offers a variety of seating and table arrangements to suit all dining occasions.

The highly anticipated Miss World 2018 pageant is scheduled to take place in Sanya Island, China this December with the participation of 120 runners from across the globe.

Real Mark Developments Invests a Total of 750 Million EGP in West Mark Expected for delivery by 2020, the project is a mixed-use complex with a built-up area of 27,000 m2 within Iwan Development’s Jedar

Wadi Degla Squash player and World Champion Raneem El Welily wins US open 2018 championship for the first time Wadi Degla squash champion, World champion of 2017, and holder of No.2 worldwide title according to the PSA’s ranking, Raneem El Welily seized the US Open 2018 championship. ElWelily managed to snatch the championship’s title for the US Open 2018 by defeating the World No. 1 champion, Nour El Sherbini by a solid 3-0 win with a breakdown of 11-6, 11-9, and 11-8.

64 IDENTITY

Mony Helal crowned Miss Egypt 2018 Representing Egypt in the 68th Miss World Pageant in China Mony Helal was crowned Miss Egypt 2018 and qualified to the 68th Edition of Miss World Pageant scheduled to be held in China this December.

Helal is using her title to draw attention a number of charitable

During a press conference held at the Four Seasons Nile Plaza, Real Mark Developments, an integrated real estate company with a long-term approach to building premium residential and commercial developments, made its debut in the Egyptian market introducing West Mark. A mixed-use complex with a builtup area of 27,000 m2, spreading over 13,700 m2 of land, West Mark offers a new line of thought to office & commercial real estate in Egypt. Situated within the upscale community of Jedar, Iwan Developments’ newest project in 6th of October City, West Mark enjoys a prime location on a 10-meter elevation above the 26th of July Corridor.

Avon Announces 12-month Sponsorship Agreement with Gazelle Rally Team Avon Egypt, the world leader in direct sales of cosmetics, has partnered with the female-led Gazelle Rally Team in a year-long sponsorship agreement aligned with brand’s Beauty for a Purpose initiative, a global program to empower women around the world through beauty and financial independence.

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences Celebrates Travel with Purpose Action Grant with Egyptian Food Bank Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences has received a Travel with Purpose Action Grant to enable the Egyptian Food Bank organization to help families in need grow their own organic plants and vegetables on their roof tops.

The hotel donated the grant to the Egyptian Food Bank, building on the long-term partnership between the hotel and the food bank.

With The Presence Of More Than 400 Top Dermatologists In Egypt, L’Oréal Egypt Holds Its Annual Hair Summit For The 3rd Consecutive Year For the 3rd consecutive year, and with the presence of more than 400 top dermatologists, L’Oréal Egypt held its annual “VICHY Hair Summit” which intends to share the Knowledge, latest advancements & innovations on the hair & scalp health medical care sector. During the third edition of the Hair Summit, top international dermatologists shared experiences on the world’s latest scientific updates, in addition discussing modern trends for the advancement of knowledge in this field.

Huawei Releases 600G UltraHigh-Speed Optical Network Solution Industry’s Highest Single-Fiber Capacity Aims to Reduce TCO Huawei officially released a 600G ultra-high-speed optical network solution at the fifth Ultra-Broadband Forum (UBBF 2018). Based on Huawei’s latest OptiXtreme oDSP chips, the solution provides an adjustable single-wavelength rate of up to 600G and an industry-leading single-fiber capacity of 40T.

Widen Your World with the Galaxy A7 Capture the world as you see it with the new Galaxy A7, featuring a powerful triple lens camera Samsung Electronics co., Ltd. announced the Galaxy A7, the latest addition to the Galaxy A series family. With a powerful rear triple camera, sleek design and must have everyday features, the innovative Galaxy A7 is the ultimate device for life.

71st World Billiard Championship held at Marriott Mena House, Cairo Marriott Mena House Cairo, was proud to host the 71st world billiard championship which was held in the palatial ballroom Al Khalifa from October 2nd to October 6th, 2018. The championship consisted of 48 players from 23 different countries among them the World Champions Semih Sayginer from Turkey, Daniel Sanchez from Spain and Same Sidhom from Egypt.

IDENTITY 65

SIGNS

Scorpio October 23 - November 22

Strengths Passionate, determined, resourceful, independent and brave Weaknesses Jealous, stubborn, possessive, suspicious, intense, competitive and secretive Most Compatible With Cancer, Capricorn and Pisces Love Jupiter is in your sign most of 2018, and this is a positive sign that occurs only every 12 years. Jupiter boosts your confidence, personal presence, and likability factor. So, the odds are in your favour, do not fear rejection because most likely this person already likes you. Have courage, think that the universe is in your favour and go for it.

LOVE COMPATIBILITY ARIES This is the type of “opposites attract” relationship.

This match may outlast anyone’s expectations, regardless of the conflicts caused by the natures of the jealous Scorpio and the dominating Aries.

TAURUS This can be a real love-hate relationship. Both are very passionate and have so much in common but are also extremely inflexible and stubborn. A great relationship can be born in case of mutual tolerance.

GEMINI When it comes to love, both zodiacs speak differently.

This can be one of the best relationships with Gemini’s creativity matching up with Scorpio’s dynamism.

CANCER The many differences between these two actually complement each other. Their relationship is passionate with great depths and can be long lasting.

LEO This relationship transforms into a power struggle, since both parties are very dominant. If it works out, they share a long, loving and sensual partnership.

VIRGO It’s rather a good strong friendship than a romantic relationship. Restrained Virgo is mostly unable to understand the imaginative expressive Scorpion. But besides that, they are great in every other sphere.

66 IDENTITY

LIBRA This pair is too different when it comes to the fundamentals of creating a happy relationship. Both signs have to work jointly and carefully in order to avoid having an uneasy match.

SCORPIO The similarities between two Scorpios can be both a blessing and a curse. They can share an ideal loving connection in case of consciously accepting each other’s possessiveness and stubbornness.

SAGITTARIUS When the intensity of Scorpio interferes with the freedom of Sagittarius, their compatibility can dramatically collide. Only a perceptible mutual understanding can save the relationship. .

CAPRICORN It’s a promising match that can flourish into a long happy relationship, if Capricorn can accept Scorpio’s need to dominate from time to time. They make a good team and a passionate couple.

AQUARIUS A strong foundation can be created by this pair if they both proceed with love and understanding.

Scorpio’s imaginative side is balanced by the Aquarius’s wisdom and divine energies.

PISCES This pair implicates very successful relationships on all levels, due to the fact that they complete each other perfectly. Their needs and desires are ideally met in this union with their intense spark.

The new GLC CoupĂŠ & GLC SUV. Make the best of every terrain.

Visit us or call 16362