Identity Magazine January 2018 Issue: Road to Success

JANUARY 2018 - 20 L.E., VOLUME 13, ISSUE 2 WWW.IDENTITY-MAG.COM

The Special Edition: Road To Success

Sharmoofers

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG.

OFFICIAL PARTNER OF LIVERPOOL FC

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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 .

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JANUARY 2018, VOLUME 13 ISSUE 02

FOUNDER & MANAGING EDITOR Rola Kamel

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Nawal Ismail

he older we get, the tougher life gets, and it seems like 2017 was a tough year for most of us.

But with all the problems we might’ve faced, as individuals and a country, we had many good and successful moments. With 2018 starting, we decided to adopt a new attitude and instead of focusing on the negatives, we’ll start acknowledging the positives. That’s why we decided to create a supplement dedicated to the “Best of 2017.”

Happy New Year!

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR Alia El Abd COPY-EDITOR Amina El Fayoumy SENIOR EDITOR Mariem Eltagoury SENIOR STAFF WRITER Amina Moustapha STAFF WRITERS Sarah Sorour, Salma Elfeqy, Rahaf Hesham FREELANCE WRITERS Amina Elghandour, Rana Ramez RELATIONSHIP EXPERT Marwa Rakha FASHION EXPERT Nahed Kazziha SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sandy Saied MARKETING & ADVERTISING MANAGER Riham Yehia

Rola Kamel

PROJECT MANAGER Ahmed Haitham Elassal DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Youssef Ali SOCIAL MEDIA EXECUTIVE Ragui Elissa 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 Contact us at: 26A Montazah St., Zamalek, Cairo-Egypt. Tel: 02-27361187 Mobile: 0122-9401071 email: sendus@identity-mag.com www.identity-mag.com

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IDENTITYMAGEG

CONTENT

JANUARY 2018, VOLUME 13 ISSUE 03

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ADVICE 6 8 10 11

Identity Picks Imperfect Love Four ways to Kick start your 2018 Quit the 4 defects to succeed

20 22

STYLE 12 14 16 18

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Makeup Hacks & Tricks You Need Every Day Easy Last Minute Heatless Hairstyle Ideas Glam up your winter look Five ways to style a leather jacket

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Winter Denim report On the Lookout: Designers to Watch in 2018 Sharmoofers... Uniqueness paves the way to success

INDEPTH Mariam Naoum: the marvellous story of a storyteller 40 Garo Varjabedian: a journey of ambition & dedication 42 Tarek Zaki, Hilton Zamalek General Manager 44 The untraditional fashion Founder: Mr. Frank Mesnel 45 Hamo Mohsen: An inspiring Success Story 38

46 Your ultimate guide to jogging in Cairo 48 Seven things you need to know about Dan Brown’s “Origin” 50 Venice: a story of transformation 52 Around the World this month 54 Holiday getaways

OUT & ABOUT

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58 Press Releases 60 Horoscopes

IDENTITY PICKS Travel Coffee Mug by Marketchino Because drinking tea should always be in style.

Leather Jacket

by Stradivarius Life always gets better when you put a leather jacket on.

Earrings

by Jude Binhalim Earrings have the power to be these little things that can make you feel unique..

Loafers by Elia Good shoes take you to good places, so let’s see where these loafers might take you...

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Comfy Armchair by Ikea Egypt A house that does not have one warm, comfy chair in it is soulless.

Wheel Pose It is a very good energy booster & it strengthens your arms, legs and back.

Blue Medallions Rug

by Kiliim Egypt The concept of harmony requires the colours of a kiliim rug.

WE’LL GET YOU WARM ON BOARD LE DECK

LADIES NIGHT EVERY THURSDAY Le Deck is offering every lady a complimentary cocktail starting 10 pm to 2 am

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT EVERY FRIDAY Strox , Hisham Blues , AWE starting 10pm

A good way to start the week-end, isn’t it?

FOR BOOKING CALL: 01141100012 Sofitel Cairo Nile El Gezirah: 3 El Thawra Council St. Zamalek, P.O. Box 732 El Orman - Giza 11518 - Cairo - Egypt Tel. +202 2737 3737 E-Mail: h5307-sb2@sofitel.com www.sofitel-cairo-nile-elgezirah.com

A DV I C E

disagreements, friction and arguments are bound to happen. There is no such thing as a conflict-free relationship. A conflict is resolved when the parties involved are mature enough to acknowledge its presence, and decide to talk about it.

How a conflict is resolved depends on how the conversation goes and on the attitude of the two parties. For example, a conversation with a lot of finger-pointing and blame will not end well. A conversation where no one is willing to listen will not resolve the conflict. A party who is only trying to prove his/her point is killing the dialogue.

IMPERFECT LOVE

by Marwa Rakha

Dear Marwa, I’ve been in a relationship for almost a year and everything is going more than perfectly with my boyfriend. The thing is that we only had one fight during that year! I’m not sure if I even have a right to complain. I just feel like he freaks out and avoids conversations that could lead to any tension between us (that happened 2-3 times). I just need to know whether this is healthy and normal or not. On a side note, our relationship is magical. We can talk about anything and everything and we have a perfect connection. I’m just a bit anxious about what could happen if we had a real fight later on.

Dear Anxious, When two people come together in a relationship – romantic, friendship, work or familial – 12 IDENTITY

The best way to deal with “issues” is to talk about them as they arise and to discuss them openly without aggression, insults or accusations.

Partners need to be open to listen to, and accept, their differences and varied points of view. Being keen on a win-win resolution, an alternative solution, a creative suggestion and a middle point to meet, are the best ways to actually reach an agreement, instead of pretending that everything is alright.

It is hard to believe that in a year-long relationship, the two of you never faced any difficulties, disagreements, or conflicts – even twins would have found something to argue about. I am worried that your boyfriend is choosing to deny his feelings and needs to avoid friction with you.

This is very unhealthy because faking perfection does not make a relationship perfect. Pretending to agree on everything does not make differences vanish. Avoidance is just as dangerous as denial.

One day, he will just blow up in your face! One day, he will feel burdened and overwhelmed with all the “sacrifices” he has placed on your altar.

I advise you to share with him your concern, and my response, and to encourage him to share with you his fears/thoughts. Assure him that you are mature enough to accept, and understand, an opinion that differs with yours, or a desire that does not suit your notions. Assure him that such differences between two people coming together in a relationship are normal, and healthy.

Sit together and set the rules of how to argue, how to differ and how to communicate.

Respecting one another is about respecting who you are, in accordance with, or in opposition to one another’s perspective.

Best of Instagram

Credits: Jessica Kim

Most popular articles

How to be the Perfect Girlfriend According to Guys

9 Signs That He Has Commitment Issues Check out identity-mag.com for more!

IDENTITYMAGEG

TIPS

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WAYS TO KICK START YOUR 2018

by Rana Ramez

Congratulations!

We have successfully completed another trip around the sun. You’re definitely not alone if you have ever set a New Year’s resolution only to give up on it a month later. This situation is caused by a rooted out recognition of the issue you’re addressing; a generalized solution for a generalized problem. So if you want to jumpstart 2018 and for a change stick to your resolutions, here are 4 easy yet amazing ways to make that happen.

1. Take a leap of faith Decide to do one new thing each month and commit to it the 30 days. This can be listening to only positive music for a whole month, meditating for 15 minutes 30 days in a row, exercising the visualization of your aspirations every day before sleeping, defining one thing to be grateful for every morning, showing appreciation or offering help to one person per day. During 30 days, monitor how it is affecting you and your surroundings and by the end of each month evaluate its impact on your life.

2. Keep a journal Used in documenting ideas, events, plans and inspirations, keeping a daily journal is a multifunctional technique. From keeping track of your daily habits and experiences, harnessing your creativity, activating your memory, clarifying your thoughts, recording your progress, to reporting your achievements and enabling you to reduce the negatives and increase the positives; a journal leaves you with a clear perception on your 14 IDENTITY

thoughts and feelings and offers you plentiful benefits to improve your life.

3. Create a vision board with an action plan Creating a sacred space with all your goals on it actually brings them to life. Make sure to set the board in a place you check on a daily basis.

This will push you to practice daily visualization exercises during the day; that’s the most powerful mind practice to achieve nearly anything. You name it: relationships, career, finances, personal growth, home or travel. Illustrate that with images, paintings or writings and hang it all on your dreams board and wait for the magic to happen.

4. Attain your financial goals In 2018, start assessing your expenses compared to your revenue. Set a certain level of savings goal that you want to accomplish by the end of 2018 and make a plan on how you’re going to achieve this goal by saving convenient amounts the next 12 months. Whether you want to start your own business, get married, do your masters abroad, buy a new car, go for vacations or even for emergency funds; saving money is always a wise choice.

levels of positivity and success in your life. Besides, you owe it to yourself to avoid toxic and negative people, because a positive life cannot be created amidst a negative environment.

2. Self-victimize

by Rana Ramez

If you blame external circumstances on your situation and attribute your status to things out of your scope of control, then let me confront you with the truth: you opted for the path of self-victimizing. This process will deepen your chance of powerlessness, which could not be more false! How you respond to the uncontrollable is what’s controllable.

Rather than perceiving life as something that happens to you, be an active actor, step in and take part in creating it.

3. Pursuing happiness

Quit these Habits

YES! You read it right. It will leave you unhappy and feeling incomplete. As Buddha claimed, “There is no path to happiness, happiness is the path”. The trick is to realize that happiness is always with you. All you need to is alternate your conscious and choose to see it, detach your happiness from your achievements, appreciate your journey and enjoy every step of it. Moreover, it’s destructive and undoable to be constantly happy. Sometimes the downs are necessary for you to cherish the ups.

Beauty exists in the eye of the beholder, so does success. Success varies from one to another, based on different life perceptions.

It alters from having money, being the best on your job or even having a magical deepconnection relationship. It’s a single term with multiple versions. You need to define your own version of success, stick to it and identify the ways leading you there. To help you pursue 4. Procrastination your success in 2018, these are 4 major things Procrastination is to quit in order to succeed.

1. Ungratefulness Focusing on negatives will only duplicate them.

Based on the law of attraction, what you give attention to the most is what comes to life.

Consequently, the key to abundance resides in concentrating on the good sides of life. Start by counting your blessings which will stack you with gratefulness and will eventually unlock higher

the unwillingness to do something and choosing to do another thing.

To overcome it, you have to define the reasons behind your procrastination; lack of motivation, lack of interest, self-doubt, perfectionism or even fear of success. This will enable you to find the convenient way to get over that reluctant feeling by making an attitude adjustment, sensing the unrealistic high standards and abolishing them and knowing your self-worth. After all, life has a certain end in an uncertain time, thus tomorrow is never promised.

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BEAUTY

MAKEUP Hacks & TRICKS You Need Every Day

by Rahaf Hesham

We all want to look our best at all times. But not all of us have the luxury of time on our hands to prefect our daily makeup while rushing out the door. Follow these simple tricks to keep your makeup in check while still saving time.

HIGHLIGHTING YOUR LIPS

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For fuller lips, use a lighter lipstick shade (or lip gloss) on the centre of your lower lip and on the Cupid’s bow to give the illusion of fuller plumper lips. Highlight the top of your Cupid’s bow with a highlighter to create a definition to the vermilion border and draw attention to your lips!

COLOUR CORRECTING

2 USE LIQUID PRODUCTS Using more liquid products is much better than using powders.

Using damp powders instead of the regular ones helps you achieve a softer look, instead of having a cakey one. Liquid blush helps you get a more youthful, fresh look. Liquid highlighters give you a more glowy look, without looking caked up and making your pores stand out.

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Orange colour concealer cancels out all discolouration and dark circles under your eyes. Apply your foundation as you normally do then your regular concealer, and you’ll be amazed with the results. Apply green colour concealer on any red spots on your face before you apply your foundation and they will completely disappear!

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TAPE OUT THE CORNER OF YOUR EYES

Use a tape on both sides of your eyes before applying your eye makeup to make sure it gives you that cat eye look. It helps you create the perfect winged liner, helps you blend your eyeshadows and sharpens up your makeup look, giving it a sharp edge instead of having it messy and going all over the place.

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EASY Last Minute Hairstyle Ideas

Heatless

by Rahaf Hesham

Ever felt like trying a different hairstyle everyday but it always takes you a lot of time to figure out what kind of hairstyle you want to go for today? Your hair is not cooperating, and you don’t know what to do with it? Here are some cute hairstyle ideas to still look good when you're running late!

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FRENCH BRAID BANGS Whether you want to wear this hair-do on one side of your hair or both, it always succeeds in giving you a fresh, cute look.

French braid your bangs away and wear your hair either down or in a ponytail. You still get a stylish look in the end.

MESSY BUN You can never go wrong with a classic messy bun on a lazy day!

Start with a high up ponytail; twist it into a messy loose bun then pull some strands of hair around the front of your face. By doing so, it frames your face and gives you a messier look that you’ll love.

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HALF BUN Same steps as the Barbie pouf hair-do, but you need to secure the front sections into a ponytail and start twisting it into a messy bun. So next, you need to pull out the hair in the bun to make it look bigger and messier. Pin it in the position you like with some bobby-pins.

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BARBIE POUF Take sections of hair at the crown of your head and gently back comb them by pushing the comb down against the roots. As long as you’re gentle, it won’t damage your hair at all. Comb over the sections so they would look a little bit neater. Gather them back to create a pouf and then bobby-pin it in place.

BANDANA PONYTAIL Instead of wearing your normal ponytail and looking basic, if you want to look a little extra without doing a whole lot extra effort, try spicing the whole look up in a minute by throwing a stylish colourful bandana on! Pull out some strands of hair on both sides of your face, and you’re ready!

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STYLE

GLAM UP YOUR WINTER LOOK

by Rahaf Hesham

In the world of fashion, shoes are the ultimate empowering pieces that create a style. Matching your apparel with the right ones is a mission that should never be underestimated. The power of your shoes is substantial as they can definitely make or break your entire look. And boots are the essential pieces that can mate with your winter closet and make you want to step out every day of the season to show off your irresistible glamour that shines through your whole look.

LEATHER KNEE HIGH BOOTS When elegance and sexiness combine, leather knee high boots are your best friend. Don’t hesitate to give the leather look a shot this season as they rock your guise and make any look pop.

Keep it classic and pair them with a flouncy dress and a drapey jacket for an eye-catching yet simple look.

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DOUBLE BUCKLE ANKLE BOOTS The staple musthave style of the casual heeled ankle boots came in hot with a new style that changed the casual look game. With a double buckle on the sides or multi buckle, the metal touch added up a fancy hue and elevated the plain look into rock star vibes in a switch of a shoe.

VELVET THIGH HIGH BOOTS The subtle velvety fabric is striking back again this season.

From crushed velvet slip dresses, Juicy Juicy Couture tracksuits ensemble, to soft velvet thigh high boots that are taking fashion by storm and fulfilling your wildest dreams with a sexy daring look no one can resist.

SUEDE LACE UP ANKLE BOOTS Lacing up and covering up for a warm glamorous appeal that works with any cool weather ensemble.

When in doubt, complete your go to strolling outfit and opt for a pair of suede lace up ankle boots. Paired with your right fit trousers or a mini skirt, these trendy fashionable pieces will make your ensemble all fired up.

MID-CALF SOCK BOOTS For a casual vibe that also feels very modeloff-duty chic, keep it tight and go bold in a pair of statementmaking Yeezy inspired sock boots that will make you become the star of the season this year and put you up in a daring look. Whether you like to keep it matte or glossy, sock boots will always work their magic.

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WAYS to style A LEATHER Jacket

by Rahaf Hesham

Whether they’re genuine or faux, a leather jacket is an essential piece in your winter closet. Leather jackets are known for their ability to change and spice up any look.

You can throw them on literally anything and they can make your whole outfit a lot classier and put together. Here are some examples of how to style leather jackets!

CASUAL LOOK Whether it’s day or night, this casual look is the most wearable. It’s simply about a plain white tee, or a white basic top tucked into some jeans. Whether you prefer skinny jeans or boyfriend jeans, the leather jacket piece will make your whole outfit a little bit extra. Add your favourite belt on and don’t forget your favourite pair of footwear.

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ALL BLACK OUTFIT

FUR VEST A lot of you might have never tried this, but actually throwing a fur vest on top of your leather jacket can turn your whole basic outfit game around without being extra. All you need is your basic leather jacket look and a fur vest. It also keeps you warmer, makes your outfit look way more elegant and adds a classy spice to it.

Black is the king of colours. It rocks any outfit and makes it more elegant in one step. Start with a basic black top and throw your black leather jacket on.

Pair with some black pants or leggings, and black compact boots or black heeled ankle boots.

Whatever you prefer, it’s always going to turn out great because black simply never disappoints.

LAID BACK

CASUAL DRESS No matter if it’s a tight long or short bodycon dress, an A-Line dress, or a long dress with a side slit; a leather jacket can simplify the whole look, make it come together more and make it less edgy.

When it comes to chilly winter days, changing out of your cosy comfy clothes and styling something else gets hard. But if you didn’t know, you can never go wrong with the classic gray hoodie and sweatpants look. This is the most comfortable yet very stylish look and you can wear it to anywhere and still look presentable.

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Winter Denim REPORT

by Nahed Kazziha The Row

The essential to everyday wear that is not to be trifled withdenim.

We take our jeans very seriously, since they have become an integral part of our modern day uniform.

Navigating the extensive varieties and styles can be a daunting task. So, here is your roundup of this season’s what and how for denim!

What: BLACK Black on black is the ultimate femme fatale look for winter. No nonsense jeans that are sleek and slimming will not only do your figure a favour, but leave you feeling sophisticated and elegant.

H&M

Gianvito Rossi

How: Pair with full black or neutrals for effortless cool.

Ray Ban

What: EMBROIDERED Who doesn’t crave a little embellishment every now and again? Be it pearls, strass or sequins, these additions give jeans an extra oomph. But when it comes to embroidery, it is in a league of its owndelicate detailing that will add some colour to your denim.

Rixo London

How: Match with a flowy blouse to emphasize femininity.

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Mango

Rag & Bone

Illesteva

What: CLASSICS Classic denim is practically synonymous with Levi’s. This season, Levi’s has gotten a makeover by RE/DONE, modernizing the cult classic.

The vintage feel is anything but outdated, rather reinvented and perfectly worn into contemporary fitting.

Iro

How: Keep it simple, but don’t be afraid to slip on some statement heels.

Valentino Re Done

What: CUFFED If jeans could have a devil may care attitude, these would be it. Cuffed at the hem, this denim trend is casual and comfy.

The perfect upgrade to boyfriend jeans that will accompany you throughout the day.

Madewell

Acne Studios

How: Pair with metallic accents for a more modern feel.

JW Anderson

Current Elliott

Isabel Marant

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ON THE LOOKOUT: Designers to Watch in 2018

by Nahed Kazziha

The ever-evolving world of fashion has a way of ensuring its aficionados are constantly looking ahead. Staying current is key and 2018 holds a lot of promise in that sense. This year, keep an eye out for our roundup of fashion favourites making headlines in a big way.

MOHANAD KOJAK Unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple of years, you have already heard about Mohanad Kojak. The Egyptian designer has long won over the hearts and minds of locals and is now gaining international acclaim. A Project Runway veteran, Kojak’s collections conjure nothing short of drama and dreams. His fusion of baroque-inspired styles with contemporary silhouettes have made his designs permanent features on the red carpet.

MOLLY GODDARD The London-based designer’s eponymous label has become synonymous with yards of tulle. Goddard, Age 29, has celebrities flocking to her tutu inspired frocks. As a Central Saint Martins graduate, the designer’s creations are abundant with creativity, which one would expect. The quality that separates her from her trendy peers is that her clothes incorporate an element of fun and whimsy that is lacking from today’s serious business of fashion. Colorful and light, Molly Goddard even has her models partying down the catwalk at her shows.

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ISA ARFEN The fireball behind the label is none other than Serafina Sama, an Italianborn Central Saint Martins alumnus.

Sama enjoyed several stints as a freelancer for Chloe, Louis Vuitton and Acne among others, but it was not until 2011 when she launched ISA ARFEN. The label is a salute to Italian style with clean lines emphasized by vibrant flashes of colour. Sama’s bold palette choices, often involving clashing combinations, underpin the essence of bold womenswear today.

ARWA AL BANAWI Saudi-born and Swiss bred Arwa Al Banawi is yet another rising star of the Middle East. The ex-banker realized her alternative career in fashion through short courses at the London College of Fashion.

She had her beginning in the industry as a Jeddah-based blogger, but it wasn’t until 2015 when she debuted her first collection. Today, Al Banawi’s suits and shirts are best known for their bold structure with empowering messages emblazoned across, reminding women of what they are capable of.

EUDON CHOI Originally a Korean menswear designer, Choi made the shift into womenswear after obtaining his MA from London’s Royal College of Arts.

The designer is most hailed for his impeccable tailoring and attention to detail, which he applies to his androgynous namesake label today.

His creations showcased down the runway during London Fashion Week emanate power, structure and femininity all at once, juxtaposing male silhouettes with ladylike fabrics.

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INTERVIEW

Sharmoofers Uniqueness paves the way to success Photographer: AMR EL GOHARY Art Director: ALIA EL ABD Designer & Stylist: AHMED HAMDY Location: THE TAP EAST Special thanks to ABnG, AHMED HAMDY DESIGNS & The Tap East

From the minute we stepped into Sharmoofer’s studio, the fun has begun!

We were greeted by their two goofy dogs, Folla and Mickey, who also used our arrival as an excuse to sneak outside and dig up a fat hole in the garden, sending everyone running to save what can be saved. Loud laughter from everyone and excited barks from the two dogs all set the tone for the whole meeting. It was only one day before their scheduled shoot with Identity, and their excitement was radiating and infectious.

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Sharmoofers gained exposure following the release of their big hit single ‘Khamsa Santy’ in 2014; since then the award-winning band has been moving from one success to another.

Their music spreads happiness and sends positive vibes flying in the air whenever you hear them; that’s their secret charm.

After losing a couple of ping pong games to the band members, we sat down with lead vocalist, composer and songwriter Ahmed Bahaa, and composer and bassist Moe El-Arkan, and we talked music.

Let’s get into the song-writing and composing process. How does the process begin, and how does the final song take shape?

Moe: We literally have no rules. Sometimes Bahaa would begin a vocal line, then I would join in, synchronise a beat to it and we get going. Some other times, I would be building up a beat and then Bahaa would add a vocal melody. Or during our free flowing sessions, we would be jamming and then come across a music line that we like, so we go from there. We don’t have a specific approach.

ambience. The venue has to suit the need of the concert’s energy and the audience has to have a heads up of the experience they will go through; it will demand the creation of a certain mood. But this experience is worth all the sweat, because there are better feelings the audience can taste other that just applauding and cheering. The events that evoke strong emotions tend to be remembered better.

Bahaa: Also, the safety of our audience is our priority. We have to pick which concert, which audience can handle this type of experience. Every kind of concert has its rituals. We are well aware that the first time in a concert can bring out a certain type of adrenaline. If we know that the majority of the audience has never been to a concert before, we have to be careful. But if the majority are people who have been to many concerts before, we can play those types of games with. Moreover, the Egyptian audience is in constant evolution. A decade ago, in the music scene in general, it was next to impossible to have the audience clapping to the beat of a song. It used to be chaotic. As for now, people interact in a much better way. So, yes I guess the Egyptian audience will one day maintain this kind of discipline.

Bahaa: The topics depend on how we are feeling at that time, and usually our emotional states are so close. I don’t know if it’s by luck, or we pick up each other’s mood. It’s almost telepathic. Sometimes we are in a happy mood, so the song will be full of positivity. Other times we start to ask ourselves questions like, what concept would we want to discuss, or what is the core message the song must deliver? How will the message be expressed? Based on the answers to these questions, I start the writing process. There is nothing fixed, even the way we come up with topics. Sometimes I like the sound of a vocal line and the meaning behind it, so we create a whole song around it.

Tell us more about your new single, and your next project.

You have mentioned in more than one occasion that Bobby McFerrin is an inspiration to both of you. McFerrin is well known for his interactive concerts, where he orchestrates the audience to sing a whole song while he plays to their accompaniments. Do you think such a concert could take place here in Egypt? Would you want to do that in yours?

Moe: Bahaa plays the role of the worrier in our band when it comes to music, but in real life this is my role. He is the bold one.

Moe: To reach Bobby McFerrin’s level in concerts, where you break down the line between the performer and the audience, it requires a specific

Bahaa: Our newest single is called ‘Moftaked El Habibah’. It is the first emotional song for Sharmoofers. We can’t interpret the fan’s reaction to the song. Some people don’t like our music because it’s hard beat, and they want the lyrics to be more serious. The song is not that deep, but it’s relatable. It’s based on personal experiences, and the music is chilled and unrushed. We have been working on it for over a year and a half. Also in the song’s video clip, we will record live violin music. It’s a first for us, so I won’t lie to you I am a bit nervous.

We’re also working on a new album that will come out next summer. It is so distinctive. It will be called after a psychological disease like our previous album ‘Paranoia’. The idea behind the album is that in this era, everywhere in the world everyone suffers from stress, anxiety, grief… And we want to address this undeniable issue through our songs.

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In your songs’ music and lyrics, you are being purely who you are. Why is it so hard for people to be themselves? How can we liberate from the fear of being who we are?

Bahaa: In a world where we’re judged the moment we walk through the door, it is indeed a hard thing for someone to be him/herself. There are stereotypes that people often follow, and when you don’t follow the crowd and you try to use your own mind, you will be judged and ridiculed. The generation gap between parents and their children is also an important factor in this issue. The age difference between our generation and our parents’ is roughly 25 years and that is a long period of time. During this entire time, there were so many technological advancements, educational opportunities and society up-gradations that there is bound to be a difference in thinking and opinions between the two generations. Lots of parents don’t allow their sons and daughters the opportunity to be themselves or be different out of fear for them. So in order to protect them, they robbed them out of their freedom of making their own decisions.

As a result, when the children have the chance to do what they want, it usually happens in an unhealthy and weak act of rebellion; like a guy growing long hair because he knows his parents won’t approve, or a girl doing body-piercing or having a tattoo…

Moe: My parents expressed their fear when I decided to drop college and play my music, but they still supported my decisions because they know that this is my life. Parents are bound to want to protect their children, but they have to keep in mind that we are all different from one another, so support your children to be unique and not just going with the flow.

As for how to liberate yourself from the fear of being who you are, I succeeded in doing just that when I noticed that when I am really being myself in our songs people are happier, and can relate to what we are presenting to them. So I decided to keep on doing just that, and I didn’t spare a single thought to anything else.

The lyrics of your songs address the Egyptian audience; don’t you think this can get in 34 IDENTITY

the way of expanding to the Middle East or internationally?

Moe: We counterbalance that with our music.

The tunes and melody lines of our songs are not Egyptian. Let’s take a song like ‘Despacito’ for example. It is a song by Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi featuring Puerto Rican rapper Daddy Yankee, and it’s in Spanish. Despite all that, it succeeded worldwide and became the biggest hit of 2017. We can add many songs to this list, like ‘Gangnam Style’ by the South Korean musician Psy, and ‘Alors On Danse’ by the Belgian musician Stromae. We all love these songs even though we don’t speak these languages. It’s the music that moves the listener by communicating feelings and moods. Music can travel through the barriers of language and culture; lyrics can’t do that all the time.

There is freedom in your songs; it’s not verse– chorus, verse–chorus. Do you aim to change the song’s structure or it just happens?

Bahaa: It just happens. If the song came out in a certain way, we leave it as it is. If while composing a song or rehearsing, a tune line or a vocal line popped into our heads we use it. We could change a part in the song in order for it to fit or we could even take it and start a whole new song with it, forgetting all about the song we were working on in the first place. It’s messy. We are aware of that but this spontaneity could give birth to five new songs or even more, so why would we want to give up on that?

The theme of our issue this month is “The Road to Success”; what do you think are the keys to success?

Moe: Be true. Believe in what you do. Work hard.

No regrets.

Bahaa: Failure is an essential key to success; it helps you grow into a better version of yourself. It is impossible to live without failing at something, and if you kept on stepping back from your dreams because you’re afraid to fail then you will achieve nothing, which means you failed life by default. So take risks, learn from your mistakes, and remember that for every up there is a down.

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“

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Failure is an essential key to success; it helps you grow into a better version of yourself.

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the music that “ It’s moves the listener

by communicating feelings and moods.

Music can travel through the barrier of language and culture; lyrics can’t do that all the time.

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MARIAM NAOUM: The Marvellous Story of a Storyteller

by Amina Moustapha

Mariam Naoum is the gifted scriptwriter behind numerous outstanding popular TV series including ‘Zat’, ‘Segn El Nesa’, ‘Taht ElSaytara’, ‘Sokout Hor’, ‘Wahet El Ghoroub’ and many other successful works. But let’s rewind the tape and listen to Naoum’s story right from the very beginning. In 1996, Mariam Naoum was pursuing her Economics degree in Paris, but her love for cinema, movies, books, and above all writing, made her pack her bags and head back to Egypt to study screenwriting at the High Institute of Cinema.

While in my freshman year in college in Paris, my sole source of happiness was going to the movies. I would do that about four or five times a week. I was working while studying only to earn money and go watch movies. During that year, 1996, the exhibition “Egypt: One Hundred Years of Cinema” was held at the Arab World Institute.

They displayed many Egyptian movies such as ‘ElMomya’, ‘Ya Donia Ya Gharamy’, and ‘Hysteria’.

I used to skip college to go attend these movies and the seminars they held to discuss them. At that time, I decided that I wanted to study cinema.

I took the decision to go back to Egypt, and get enrolled into the High Institute of Cinema.

She debuted her profession as a screenwriter with her critically praised movie ‘Wahd Sefr’, and then her bright career kicked off from there. We sat with Naoum to listen to the story of an incredible storyteller.

“Wahd Sefr’ is your first big hit, tell us more about it.

First of all, what inspired your creative passion for writing?

I always held an endless love for books, for reading, and for watching movies and TV series.

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While working on my graduation project with director Ossama Fawzi, he introduced me to director Kamla Abou Zekry. She asked me what I would like to write about. I told her that I wanted to work on a project that will be a true reflection of Egypt. In addition, I wanted the movies to be a narration of one day in my characters’ lives, with one main event at the background. At the

time, the only thing that connected Egyptians and made them all come together was football.

In 2004, the writing process began, with an illusionary match as the background event of the movie. The problem was that there was no production! In 2006, when Egypt won the African Nations Cup, I adjusted the script to revolve around this match. The script was ready, but still no production! In 2008, Egypt won once again, so I rewrote the script, and I submitted it to the Sawiris Scriptwriting Competition. Wahid Hamed was the head of the jury. He liked the scenario, and he was the one calling Mahmoud El Lessy, letting him know about it. The funny part is I only knew about this when I met Wahid Hamed recently.

Some of your scripts are adapted from other novels or other artistic works. Obviously you can write your own plot, why do you still prefer this strategy?

Since I am a bookworm, I adore literature. Each time I read a book, I visualize it inside my head in pictures and little stories. I figured that I love when reading a story, to drag another story out of it. For that reason, most of my adapted works are so different from their originals, because I tend to take the story to a whole new place. I only registered recently that I was unconsciously following this technique in my projects in the Institute of Cinema. Three of these projects were adapted from other short stories. I came to the conclusion that I am inclined toward this strategy.

I don’t know if I follow it because I love it, or because that’s how I started writing in the first place. I might never figure out the answer.

Your main character was once a girl in the 60’s/70’s, a drug addict, a prison guard, an autopsy examiner, a woman who suffers from mental disorder... You haven’t experienced the lives of these characters, so to create and write about them, is it through intensive research or pure imagination?

Both. It starts with the imagination. I start thinking that I want to write about let’s say a prison guard.

In order to do that, I have to know all the features of this character. I therefore start my research. I interview prison guards; the ones still working and those who have retired, because they will provide you with more specific information now that they are out of the service.. When I was writing ‘Bl Shame3 el Ahmar’, for instance, I visited

the morgue more than once. I like to study for my characters. Maybe that’s what attracts me to pick these characters; they will help me learn something new. I have this motto in life, since I am a writer whose job is to extract stories from within me to the outside world, if I quit on learning new things, my soul will empty out.

During the writing process, do you ever find that your characters start to speak for themselves? Who was your toughest character so far?

Yes, actually this is something we scriptwriters had learnt, and we are passing it on to the younger generation. A character has to take the wheel of its destiny in a story. The ultimate goal a writer has to reach is to be able to build a character that is real and can determine its own fate. Since I am someone who loves to have many characters and to get deep into their background story and their life, I would say that they were all tough for me.

If you’re to write a scene between two of your characters, which two characters would you pick?

Zat, from ‘Kesit Bent Esmaha Zat’, and Catherine from ‘Wahet El-Ghoroub’. Two different worlds, two different times, two different cultures and two very different life experiences. I would be curious to see what I would write about the meeting of those two unique worlds..

The theme of our issue this month is ‘The Road to Success’. In your opinion, what are the keys to success?

Persistence and perseverance, without them you will achieve nothing.

What is your next project?

I have a new TV series airing next Ramadan. It’s adapted from Ezz Din Shokry’s novel ‘Abou Omar El Masry’, starring Ahmed Ezz and Arwa Gouda, directed by Ahmed Khaled, and produced by Tarek El Ganainy. A young writer called Mohamed El-Masry is also joining me in the writing workshop of the script. I’m so excited because it’s a brand new experience for me.

We thank Mariam Naoum for quite an inspiring interview and wish her best of luck on her new project!

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GARO VARJABEDIAN: A Journey of Ambition & Dedication

by Amina Moustapha

Garo Varjabedian (Egyptian/ Armenian) is the founder of the illustrious events management and production holding company, Events Plus Egypt, founder of the renowned New Year party brand ‘Soirée’, co-founder of the authentic Italian restaurant ‘Pepenero’, and the exquisitely themed 1920’s restaurant and bar ‘Nineteen Twenty Five’.

Varjabedian studied Electrical Engineering and photography. He is also a board member of the Egyptian Basketball Federation (Cairo sector), the Armenian Sports Club and the Armenian Community in Cairo Executive Board of Directors.

You’re the mastermind behind one of the most inventive and original event planning companies, how did your amazing career begin?

Actually, my career started in a different direction.

The family business (Studio Garo since 1946), which I am third generation in, is photography, so I studied photography in parallel to Electrical Engineering. After graduation, I started working as a professional photographer specialized in portraits, commercial photography, resorts photography, etc. I wanted to expand so I established a video shooting company. Later 44 IDENTITY

on, one of my client, Mousa Abo Taleb, and a friend, Mohamed Abo Elezz, came up with a very nice idea, to partner up together and publish a sports magazine. My role was to cover all the photography part of the magazine, while they took care of the sponsorship & content part..

Surprisingly, in a year and a half, the magazine called ‘El-Estad’, boomed and we started to get offers to cover and organize sports events. This led to us to eventually get into the business of planning corporate events.

Tell us more about how Event Plus kicked off.

In 2005, we came across our first challenge, the opportunity to organize an event with the German rock band, the Scorpions which was a

great successful concert. Financially, the event was a huge loss for us, to the point that we were contemplating closing down the company, but we stood our ground and learnt from the hard lesson. Following that, we started organizing some corporate events for big telecommunication companies. From 2006 to 2009, we started our own production and branding company. We partnered up with the musician/artist Ousso, and started SOS Music Festival. West El-Balad, Cairokee, Massar Egbari, and all the underground bands that became big hits and are doing great now were first hosted and introduced to the crowd through SOS platform. Succeeding that we started doing our own gigs, like Julio Iglesias at the pyramids, Tiesto, and many other international acts.

The 25th of January Revolution was a very hard period for us because everything was on hold; similar companies in the field decided to quit and moved to Dubai. So we had a choice, either to do the same especially that we had a lot of connections in Dubai, or just to wait and have faith in the country that everything would settle again. We chose the second option, and thank God it paid off. In 2012, We structured the company that’s when Ahmed Khattab, the GM joined me.

We became quite busy with corporate event and international gigs like Armin Van Buuren, Kelly Rowland & Future Sound of Egypt with Ali & Fila ( at the Great Pyramids of Giza & Karnak Temple ).we also hosted Football celebrities such as ;Ryan Giggs, Carles Puyol & Patrick Kluivert & UEFA Champions League Trophy Tour. We also have our own Ramadan Tents which we partner up with our sister company.

How have you built such an excellent career in the event industry?

The most important thing is reputation. In order to maintain a good reputation, first off respect your employees. I tend to think of them as the kitchen behind cooking any successful event. You have to show them respect and create a bond between you all. Here in our company, no one works for someone. We all work together, and the company reaps the benefit of this spirit. Secondly, you have to choose the best suppliers. Don’t be greedy and pick average suppliers in order to save money, always get the best. It will reflect the quality of the event. Also, the chemistry between the company and the suppliers plays a major role in our success specially with our clients. I make it a rule that all the suppliers get paid on time, and if it happens that I get paid from the client earlier than planned, we call them on and ask them to come and collect their money earlier than the payment

due date. This builds a bridge of trust between us and these people. So when I have a packed week, like having four or five events at the same week, and there is a cash flow problem, the suppliers always say yes when I ask them if I can postpone the payment, because of the trust between us.

This is how you build a good reputation.

What are the event industry’s biggest problems today?

I wish to see more specialized departments in the government; an entity that understands our business, who would be fair and square about the approvals and disapprovals of events, instead of haphazardly rejecting events. Luckily this has never happened with us ,as we are on the ‘green list’ ,but a lot of agencies in the business suffer from this issue. Their events can get turned down because of problems that happened in similar events. When it comes to taxation, there are big improvements lately. Few years back there was a lot of corruption, but now actually they are doing better, I can’t really complain. They equally need to have some fixed and clear guidelines in the Musicians Syndicate. For example if today I hired a DJ/artist for an event and I paid ten thousand pounds, the next month I might pay twenty thousand pounds to hire the same DJ/artist We are in the desperate need of guidelines.

The theme of our issue this month is ‘The Road to Success’. You already mentioned what the keys to success in the event planning field, but what are the keys to success in life in general?

My Motto is ‘Respect to be Respected ‘ Again it is all about reputation; your relationship with your family, with your friends, with your neighbours, with your coworkers. I don’t work hard in order to have a good reputation, but I work hard to avoid making any mistakes that could ruin it. You have to work on yourself, always find what you’re missing and improve it.

For instance I was one of the candidates in the Armenian Sports club’s election for the new board; I got almost 95% of the vote. Of course I was very happy and grateful for the people who voted for me, but I couldn’t help but wonder why the remaining 5% didn’t! I wanted to know why they think I wasn’t fit for the position, in order for me to work on myself and earn these people’s votes in the next election. Furthermore, respect people. That’s what I try to teach my kids, to always respect their friends. They are still too young to understand that, but I’m planting the seed inside them. These are my keys to success.

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Tarek Zaki, Hilton Zamalek General Manager: Distinctive Leadership Makes The Ordinary Extraordinary Tarek Zaki is an experienced hotelier who brings along a wealth of knowledge and distinctive leadership skills acquired over the years through his hospitality career in Egypt and abroad.

He was the Director of Operations at Hilton Cairo World Trade Center Residences. He has had an outstanding track record in the hospitality industry for over 20 years. Following receiving his higher education in London he started his hotels career in the UK for 3 years, then moved to Egypt where he joined the Hilton family. Tarek worked in the F&B department in various Hilton hotels in Egypt. From Egypt, he then moved to Kenya and the UAE, and then returned back to Egypt.

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How did you get started in the hotel and hospitality world?

It all started when I moved to London and joined Thames Valley University (currently called University of West London) to study Hotel Management attaining their Higher National Diploma curriculum, followed by acquiring BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management. I have chosen the field of tourism, as I had an uncle who worked in hotels and consequently had a passion for the hotel business since a young age. The idea of “people serving people” in the hospitality industry was my driver to join the hotel sector.

While studying in London, I worked on part time basis in various roles within hotels to practice my theoretical knowledge. This has helped me later on in my career.

You have a lot of experience working in areas such as Nairobi and Al Ain, how does running a hotel in Cairo differ from these previous hotels you have worked at?

The hotel industry is all about ‘people serving people”, accordingly being culturally aware and adaptable is key to success. Each destination within Egypt or abroad has its own culture and background driven by its team. Thus it is important to take time at the beginning of a new assignment to know the team in person, and get familiar with the challenges and opportunities for improvement in order to decide on the approach and work on a list of priorities to pursue success.

Please, tell us what inspires you most in your job?

The sense of achievement and working on team cohesiveness and development are my key drivers. Every day, I am inspired by the team’s extraordinary service delivery stories, and our esteemed guests gratitude and positive feedback.

How is the Hilton Cairo Hotel positioned in the competitive Cairo market?

Hilton Cairo Zamalek Residences is positioned among the top within its competitors, given its prime location on the exquisite island of Zamalek and overlooking the Nile River. The hotel offers guests rooms and spacious suites suitable for short and long terms guests. The variety of rooms and suites also appeal to both leisure and corporate

segments. We have an attractive selection of Food & Beverage outlets including; Nile Breeze Restaurant offering a sumptuous breakfast buffet and an international a la carte menu throughout the day, Swimming Pool Terrace for a relaxed snack/meal in the open air overlooking the Nile, Abu Ali Café offering an oriental theme with shisha, and our Tea Time lounge with comfortable seating and magnificent views of the Nile River.

For wellness and fitness fans, we have a health club that includes a fitness centre, sauna, steam room and massage facilities in addition to our heated swimming pool and Jaccuzi. In Hilton Zamalek, the team and I continuously strive to improve and diversify our services and products on offer to our esteemed guests, with an aim of exceeding their expectations to win them as repeat guests and spread the positive buzz around.

What makes a hotel a consistent leader and what are the characteristics of a great hotel today?

Characteristics of today’s great hotel in my view are speed and consistency in service delivery, great product diversity, continuous innovation and improvement, as well as personalized service.

This is what current travellers are looking for.

What has made the food and beverage component work so well at the property?

Key to success in Food and Beverage is the dynamic approach and being up to date with current trends. Continuous innovation and improvement is an important factor along with personalized service and consistency in quality, taking into account the time factor in today’s fast world.

Globally, Hilton has received so much positive feedback and is known as an iconic property in Cairo. Is it tough to guard against complacency?

How do you continue to improve when you’re already on top?

It is important to stretch yourself as a leader and consequently the team to reach better heights by setting the benchmark higher and higher. By continuously challenging the team and yourself, you will be able to improve further by bringing the best out of the team to break the records and achieve better results.

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The Untraditional Fashion Founder Mr. Franck Mesnel

by Mariem Eltagoury

It started as a students’ joke on the Eden Park rugby field, New Zealand, when the French team walked out to the game wearing pink bow-ties. It became a media favourite, an icon, later to become the logo of a fashion brand inspired by the sport. After years of success, founder, Franck Mesnel, finally brings his cotton fibre for the knitwear; we manufacture fashion brand to Cairo. these fabrics in Italy. Today, the price competition Why the choice of the bowtie as a logo?

The first game was played in a beret in the south of France and then we did our jokes step by step.

We used to play in berets and golden shoes, but it was THE final, so we said ok it is an event. It’s like a party, so let’s play with just the accessory (the bowtie). We decided to have it in pink, since we were wearing pink shorts and our mascot was the pink panther. I think our coaches understood that it was a very good source of motivation.

Egypt is mostly a football nation. How do you intend to market your rugby inspired brand to a populace whose sole focus has always been football?

We are sportsmen, so we are all sharing the values of sports. I mean we are selling a fashion brand, but the values are coming from sports. In the presentation done here in Cairo and all our stores, we are showing a Parisian brand more than sports fashion.

Your website mentions that you use Pima cotton with its extra-long Peruvian fibres. Have you considered using Egyptian cotton? Do you plan on extending production to use Egyptian fabrics?

I’m very open and careful about the quality.

Of course, the Egyptian cotton is a fantastic reference. My idea is to use this cotton more and more, especially on shirts. We use the Pima 48 IDENTITY

is very hard, but we are still extremely careful about quality. And when you talk about quality, Egyptian cotton is coming under discussion all the time.

It’s not because we are in Cairo that we are going to use Egyptian cotton, it’s because Egyptian cotton worldly speaking is a very nice preference that we are maybe going to work on. But I don’t choose my countries to manufacture, I choose the factories. I don’t care to manufacture all over the world; I’m not pushing any special countries.

But as soon as I can technically find a reference like Pima from Peru or Egyptian cotton or Italian fabric, I use it.

The company has set up a foundation called ‘Les Papillons du Ciel’, a charity dedicated to supporting and developing projects in the field of education. Do you plan to support underprivileged children education in Egypt?

It’s a charity organisation. We decided to build a school from A to Z in Madagascar, because I had the fortune to go there and saw that the kids needed to have a school. They were living on an island and were commuting for more than 2 hours and a half to get to school. So, we decided to build a school for 100 kids.

We are thinking to do other projects in different countries; it could be with the fortuity to do something here.

Hamo Mohsen: An Inspiring Success Story

Mohsen’s story is one about hard work, ambition, and a dream. He always dreamed about having his own salon, and here he is, sixteen years later after his career commenced, he is one of the biggest names in the field, working with the stars, and shining. Mohsen’s journey is an inspiring one, so we met up with him to hear all about the hard work that cleared the way for his success, and also to get some hair tips.

1. Tell us how your amazing career kicked off.

I have always been a very adamant follower to all what was new on the beauty scene, and back in 2002 my professional career got going, with my eyes set on being unique, distinctive and offer something a little bit extraordinary. In 2007, this dream of mine started to bloom, and I opened the first branch of my salon.

2. You have worked with so many celebrities, what are the highlights and the challenges of these experiences?

Working with stars is always a challenging experience but nevertheless exceptional, it is full of learning lessons, and many great moments. I am always on the look for artists I admire, and feel like I can add a new touch to her natural beauty.

I worked with a lot of big names in the showbiz industry, such as Samira Saied, Nelly Karim, Latifa, Ganat, Shams the Kuwaiti singer, and many more.

If I am to talk about highlights I would talk about Samira Saied, because I am a huge fan of hers. I wanted to feature her in a different style in the 57357 Hospital commercial last Ramadan. In spite of the little time we had, we still came up with a chic, simple concept for her that everyone loved.

3. What are the new 2018 trends in bridal hairstyling?

The Chignon… the chignon shall remain on the throne of bridal mode in 2018, besides the simple hair-dos like the all-down or half up, with a few different touches and hair accessories, but still very simple.

4. What are the new trending hair colors you recommend for your fans?

The main colors are here to stay in 2018, and shall become even trendier this year. Those include ash-brown, all shades of brown actually, also ashblonde, including its different shades. I depend mostly on my client’s looks; her skin tone, her hair condition, and then I decide what color suits her best. If these trendy shades suit her, of course I encourage her.

5. Tell us more about your workshop. What would people gain from it?

The workshop is an opportunity to learn new things while practicing them; you get to rehearse and polish your technique with a professional eye right beside you to guide you all the way. I love learning new things, and I believe people should help one another; that’s how the idea of the workshop came to me, to help people learn new things. The workshop consists of 3 parts, haircuts, hair dye, and hairstyling. They’re the most essential skills any hair artist should master. We decided to split them so that the attendees can benefit as much as possible, and we can best deliver the information that they want to learn about. I hope this workshop will be a fruitful, constructive learning experience to everyone involved.

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H E A LT H

YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO JOGGING IN CAIRO

by Salma Elfeqy

Running is one of the tricks that people use not only to stay in shape, but also to relieve their stress and escape from reality for a while. However, many people feel reluctant and de-motivated to even start taking those tiny first steps of living a healthy life because of the immense feelings of boredom associated with the treadmill.

In order to maintain running as part of your daily routine, you need to have a strong connection with your running environment and select a specific running route that would keep you committed and motivated.

We decided to give you the push you needed and make your life a bit easier by providing you with the different routes that would make you fall in love with running while discovering Cairo’s hidden beauty.

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THE AMAZING STREETS OF ZAMALEK

ALL AROUND ARKAN – 6TH OF OCTOBER

Zamalek is known to be one of the safest and cleanest areas in Cairo, where many of Egypt’s upper class and expats reside. Wake up in the early morning and enjoy an early jog along Abu el Feda Street before the traffic and noise hit. You will get the chance to run by the Nile and enjoy its magnificent view while feeling the fresh morning breeze across your face, leaving you energized for the whole day. A good route would be to start from Sequoia restaurant all the way to El Ahly club and then all the way back; it is almost a 6Km run.

For the 6th of October residents, don’t worry we got your back. Running all around Arkan early in the morning is how you should start your day.

You’ll be able to run 5.5kms while enjoying the weather; grab a drink or treat yourself from any restaurant or café right after. You could also be part of October Runners, and enjoy participating in a marathon for a change.

RUNNING TRACK SURROUNDING GEZIRA CLUB - ZAMALEK This track is located in Zamalek, separating El Gezira Club and Markaz Shabab El Gezira. What makes this track so special is the fact that you can go jogging in the company of your dogs, and that’s what makes it a great social spot for dog owners. The track is almost 2kms, which is a good range for different fitness levels.

Right after jogging you can grab a bite and enjoy the sun at the club. One downside is that you need to be a member in either clubs; otherwise you won’t be permitted to enter.

DEGLA EL MAADI One of the amazing things about Maadi is the greenery; it’s like trees grow on trees there. Wake up early in the morning to enjoy the sunlight and the breeze, while walking through the different parks of Degla El Maadi. This area is identified as the one of the most affluent places to reside in Maadi, so the safety and the cleanliness of the streets are a given.

You’ll find a whole community of sports enthusiasts and dog lovers, either walking their dogs or even having their own planned spinning classes, which is really encouraging. You don’t need to stick to a certain route, as you can walk through different streets all around the Cairo American College (CAC) and stop whenever you feel like it.

CHILD PARK - NASR CITY Most people would tell you that it is almost impossible to find a decent place for running in Nasr City, but this place has been known to be a great running spot for decades. Hadiqet el Tefl is located on Makram Ebeid Street, which is one of the most decent places in Nasr City. You would find people of different age groups running and jogging all around the park early in the morning; which makes it even easier to have a jogging buddy. You are in full control of the number of kms you run as it all depends on the number of laps you complete.

COMPOUNDS Living in a compound gives you full access to mesmerizing scenery of parks and lakes. In addition, your safety is taken care of, thanks to the security men working around the clock to keep you safe. If you’re lucky enough to be one of the few Egyptians residing in a compound, then you don’t even need to step outside the gates.

Call your neighbour and arrange for a timing that suits you both. Go run by the lake, park or even across the streets and make the most out of it.

We really encourage you to pick a running route that is close to your home, so that you wouldn’t give yourself a good enough reason to be lazy. Finally, if you are one of the avid joggers and want to be part of a running marathon, we urge you to check The Tri Factory’s training program and register in their yearly competition at Sahl Hashish.

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REVIEWS

7

Things You Need to Know about

Dan Brown’s “Origin”

by Rana Ramez

Following the series that started in 2000 with Angels and Demons, gained popularity with the gasping revelations of The Da Vinci Code in 2003, succeeded by the horrifying government conspiracies of The Lost Symbol in 2009 and finally 2013’s Inferno, Dan Brown never fails to impassionate readers’ hearts and minds.

He released his 2017 science fiction mystery thriller novel “Origin”, the fifth installment of Robert Langdon series. Subsequent is a list of 7 unveiled facts that you need to know about the novel “Origin”:

1.

In its first three days of sale, “Origin” has sold more than 104,000 copies, comparing to the second bestselling book that sold 8,000 copies. The Washington Post described it as “Another thriller so moronic you can feel your IQ points flaking away like dandruff.”

2.

Leaving Roman domes and churches and Parisian museums behind for the vibrant confluence of Spain in “Origin”, one of Brown’s greatest all-time achievements consists in describing a city as an ancient creature that has always been breathing, evolving and hiding secrets. The events of the book occur in four different cities of Spain: Bilbao, Seville, Barcelona, and the country’s capital Madrid. Due to its setting, the book is perfect film material, same as the previous three Robert Langdon Hollywood films featuring Tom Hanks in the title role where they used to be box-office hits.

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3.

Firstly presented in the Da Vinci Code, “Origin” is the illustration of another battle engaging scientific enlightenment from one side and religious fundamentalism from the other side; central to the plot of “Origin” is the paradoxical interplay between science and religion. The book begins with a meeting held between the billionaire technology inventor, futurist and atheist Edmond Kirsch and three members of the famous Parliament of the World’s Religions: Roman Catholic Bishop Antonio Valdespino, Jewish Rabbi Yehuda Köves, and Islamic Imam Syed al-Fadl in Catalonia, Spain.

The forty year old billionaire informs them about his revolutionary scientific discovery that he plans to emit to the public soon challenging the fundamentals of religion and defying the core of human existence.

After revealing his intentions of ending the age of religion and declaring the age of science by uncovering a discovery he has made about the origins of life on earth, Kirsch was assassinated in the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao during his exclusive presentation as are two of the three religious leaders he consulted in preparing to go public, al-Fadl and Rabbi Köves. Ambra Vidal, the future king of Spain’s fiancée and the Guggenheim Museum’s director in addition to Kirsch’s former teacher and our old friend the heroic Harvard symbologist and religious iconology Robert Langdon were among the event’s attendees.

4.

Artificial Intelligence was portrayed in “Origin” through Winston; a personified Turingtest-smashing-supercomputer with a British accent who manages the plot of “Origin” by issuing instructions. Following the assassinate, Langdon is determined to release his discovery to the world by bustling from one iconic Spanish landmark to the next in search of Kirsch’s internet password with the assistance of the future queen of Spain, a Tesla self-driving car, his ever-reliable eidetic memory and “Winston”.

Thus, on a pathway marked only by enigmatic symbols and elusive modern art and with their lives under threat, Langdon and Vidal uncover the clues that will bring them face-to-face with a world-shaking truth that has remained buried, until now.

5.

Coming at the expense of Brown’s orthodox style of trademark symboldecoding and clue-solving, the new released book is characterized by its intellectual selectivity, life details richness and extensive research on art, architecture and history; varying from the 19th-century romantic poetry, the history of Spanish fascism, and the possibilities of artificial intelligence arriving to the 1950s organic chemistry, the Catalan architecture, and the rise of the Palmarian Catholic Church.

6.

Considered as Brown’s most politically charged book, the book represents a cosmic battle between the conservative forces of Spain still nostalgic for Franco and the enlightened forces of science eager to embrace the future. The Guardian said that “Whether or not we read his apocalyptic thrillers, we are living inside them.”

7.

This is considered as the first Robert Langdon thriller to feature modern art; it opens in the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, since Brown’s previous thrillers have all centered on classical art.

In the end, once the plot takes off, Brown’s latest offering becomes enjoyably interesting.

You’ll likely get hooked to “Origin”, if you’ve already relished Brown’s past thrillers. It is considered as a big step up from The Lost Symbol and Inferno, and more in line with Dan Brown’s first two Langdon books, Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code.

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TA L E O F A C I T Y

Venice

A STORY OF TRANSFORMATION From a Refugee’s Haven to a City of Marvels

by Amina El Ghandour

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Many of us visited Venice or at least know of it, ‘The Floating City’. Built on water and connected by waterways and canals, Venice has a unique and charming vibe. Its marvellous architecture and artwork attest to its rich history as a maritime power, and wealth as a gateway for trading with the East. Today a large part of Venice is listed as a world heritage and it has become a top touristic destination, but many don’t know how it started. In this article, Identity recounts the story of ‘The City of Masks’ and ‘The City of Canals’, Venice.

A REFUGEE’S HAVEN Legend has it that Venice was created by refugees who survived the destruction of the ancient city of Troy by the Greeks. However, historical evidence recounts a different story. It traces Venice back to the 6th century, the time shortly after of the invasion of Rome.

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only incentive – these religious wars in the East put Venice on the map like never before.

A TRADING EMPIRE The Crusades was another great opportunity for Venice to expand. Venetians helped transport crusaders in exchange for money and eventually when the crusaders raided Constantinople, it gained Venice much wealth and control in the Mediterranean. Venice gained control of a substantial part of Constantinople, along with Crete and other islands of Greece, expanding its ports and naturally its trade. Venice’s victory against Genoa, its rival trading centre in Italy in 1380, left Venice an unrivalled trading power in Christendom. Venice was the first international financial centre – tradable bonds were first used there. And it was the European end of the Silk Road trade route which moved goods all the way from China. Venice was no longer a trading city state; it had become a trading empire.

Every time I describe a city, I am saying something about Venice

Venice declined as a trading power around 1453 when Constantinople fell to the Turks and the Portuguese expeditions opened new trading routes in Africa. However, politically and culturally it was still booming.

It presented itself as a republic and strongly advocated secularism defying the Pope at the time.

The old city is made of a lagoon that is naturally shielded from outsiders; it cannot be easily penetrated by land because it is an enclosed bay, nor by water as ships can’t sail into its shallow waters. Initially, it was Marco Polo inhabited by a small community of fishermen. Then in the 6th century as the Roman cities were under attack by THE LEGACY Germanic tribes, it was sought by refugees from the neighbouring countryside.

Venice has a charming natural setting but on top of that, all the wealth it accumulated over A GATEWAY TO THE EAST the centuries had translated into spectacular architecture. The Doge Palace is a complex When Rome fell, Byzantium controlled parts of the building and an architectural masterpiece, and Italian lands including Venice. But in 751 when the St. Mark’s Basilica is one the richest churches Lombards took over Ravenna - the stronghold of in Europe. Besides this, there are a number of the Byzantine Empire in Italy - the Byzantine Ruler historical palaces, monumental houses – and became a Venetian Doge. However, it remained not to forget the traditional gondolas with their under Byzantine sovereignty and in return was marvellous designs. Music, art exhibitions and allowed exclusive trading rights with the empire. theatrical performances especially during the But as Venice grew in wealth, trading with both festival, have kept the city vibrant adding to its the Byzantine Empire and the Islamic world, it charm over the centuries. also slowly gained power and independence. Its independence as a city state was final by 1082. Venice was linked to the mainland for the first Later, when the Crusades took place, Venice was time in 1849 by a railway; it was flooded with a gateway to the East, but religion was not the tourists then – and it has been ever since.

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

Around the World this month

by Rahaf Hesham

CARNIVAL OF VENICE When January 27 - February 13 Where Venice, Italy The Carnival of Venice is an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. With lots of masked people everywhere and colourful decorated boats in the canal, the city comes to life with the bright colours of the festival and the masked balls.

The Venetian carnival tradition is most famous for its various distinguishing masks and the colourful bright historian outfit.

HARBIN ICE AND SNOW FESTIVAL When January 5 - February 25 Where Harbin, China

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With the freezing cold weather of Harbin city, it becomes a winter wonderland full of impressively amazing various massive ice sculptures, Russian influenced frozen buildings, neon lights and firework shows. It is a dreamlike winter paradise with thousands of ice carvings all spread over four parks and amusement zones.

UP HELLY AA FIRE FESTIVAL When January 30 Where Lerwick, Shetland, Scotland It takes place in Lerwick, Shetland, on the last Tuesday in January every year. The following Wednesday is a public holiday in Lerwick to allow for recovery. Up Helly Aa day includes a number of marches and visitations, reaching the peak in a fire-lit procession and the burning of a galley, followed by many performances and dances in halls around the city.

HOLY SHIP MUSIC FESTIVAL When January 6 - January 13 Where Miami, Florida, USA All aboard the Norwegian epic Holy Ship Music Festival voyage for an experience like no other. Enjoy the spa, casino, and specialty restaurants to take your trip to the next level. Music artists and emerging names in electronic dance music will be rocking the boat on two 5-day sailings from Port Canaveral to Great Stirrup Cay. Party on the boat, party on the beach and party in Miami before you leave. Just don’t expect to get much sleep.

LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL When January 10 - February 3 Where London, UK After celebrating 40 years in 2017, London’s longest established international theatre season will return in 2018 for a show-stopping lineup of live art, innovative physical and visual theatre from around the world. Theatrics, from slapstick to melodrama, circus and aerial acrobatics, with workshops, post show discussions, meet-and-greets and film screenings mixed in.

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T R AV E L

Holidays

GETAWAYS

MENDOZA, ARGENTINA 19 Days/ 18 Nights Departs 19/01/2018 Starting from: 4,800 USD Package Includes:

• Consultation on every aspect of preparation (physical and mental) • Hotel accommodation in Mendoza as indicated based on a double occupancy basis.

• 1 night of lodging in Penitentes (breakfast and dinner included) • Full board accommodation during the expedition (on the mountain) • Bilingual professional certified guide and assistants.

• All shared equipment for the expedition (Tents, stoves, cooking gear, radio...etc).

• Complete base camp services (dining tents, bathrooms, meals, storage...etc).

• Mule transportation of the equipment to and from base camp.

• Permanent VHF radio communication.

• We provide all our guides with a professional first aids kits and pulse oximeter for daily updates of acclimatization progress.

• High altitude porters for common gear carries. One every four pax.

• Assistance with climbing permit procedure.

For more information visit: wildguanabana.com 58 IDENTITY

ROME, FLORENCE, VENICE 8 Days / 7 Nights Departs: 26/01/2018 Starting from : 12400 EGP (Excluding visa fees & transfer between cities) Package Includes • International flight ticket on regular flight • Flight could have a stop point according to flight route.

• Round trip transfer in Rome Only by private car in arrival from airport to hotel & in departure from hotel to airport.

• Accommodation in Rome for 2 nights on bed & breakfast basis at 3* hotel (SHG Portamaggiore Hotel or similar).

• Accommodation in Florence for 2 nights on bed & breakfast basis at 3* hotel (Galileo hotel or similar).

• Accommodation in Venice for 2 nights on bed & breakfast basis at 3* hotel (Piave hotel or similar).

• Accommodation in Rome for 1 night on bed & breakfast basis at 3* hotel (SHG Portamaggiore Hotel or similar).

For more information visit: dealandpack.com

DUBAI 6 Days / 5 Nights Departs: 23/01/2018 Starting from: 11700 EGP (Excludes visa) Package Includes • Roundtrip economy airfare on Etihad Airways regular flights, including taxes.

• 05 nights accommodation including breakfast and hotel taxes.

• Roundtrip airport transfers in Dubai.

• Tour leader with the group.

For more information visit: travcoholidays.travel

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PARIS 6 Days / 5 Nights Departs: 31/01/2018 Starting from: 14700 EGP (Excluding visa) Package Includes • Round trip economy airfare on EgyptAir regular flights, including taxes.

• 05 nights accommodation including breakfast and hotel taxes.

• Round trip airport transfers in Paris.

• Tour leader with the group.

For more information visit: travcoholidays.travel

BEIRUT 5 Days / 4 Nights Departs: 26/01/2018 Starting from: 7350 EGP (Excluding visa fees) Package Includes • Accommodation for 4 nights / 5 days at Orient Queen 4* hotel in Hamra or similar including breakfast.

• Charter international flight ticket • Round trip transfer in Beirut from airport / hotel / airport.

• City tour upon arrival.

For more information visit: dealandpack.com 60 IDENTITY

SOMA BAY 4 Days/ 3 Nights Departs: 25/01/2018 Starting from: 2475 EGP Package Includes • Stay 4 days / 3 nights at Caribbean World Soma Bay Resort 5* hotel.

• Accommodation based on soft all-inclusive.

For more information visit: dealandpack.com

HONEYMOON PACKAGE

BALI 8 Days/ 7 Nights Starting from: 26500 EGP per couple instead of 35500 EGP Package Includes • Hotel accommodation

• Free rafting trip • Airline tickets • Airport transfers

For more information visit: Triptanza facebook page IDENTITY 61

OUT&ABOUT

Hilton Welcomes the New Year Hilton celebrated another year of success in the Egyptian market with its valued media partners. Wrapping up 2017 in style Hilton hosted its annual end of year celebration at Conrad Cairo’s contemporary bar and lounge, Stage One. The media were welcomed

by Hilton’s senior management team, led by Mohab Ghali, Vice President of Operations for Egypt and North Africa.

BRAZILIAN BBQ “Churrasco” kitchen party at Aqua e Luce

Stadium: Cairo’s Ultimate Destination for Sports & Lifestyle Apparel. A Space to Step Up and Stand Out

Stadium touched down in City Stars on December, carrying many of the world’s most esteemed brands, latest drops and hottest styles in performance and lifestyle apparel and footwear ; including Reebok, Adidas, Nike, Speedo, Body Sculpture, Livup, Umbro, and more that are sure to up your style game. Stadium looks to empower, inspire, and inform shoppers throughoffering a platform for communities to merge in a motivational environment. It features The Cube, an activation area where customers can train and engage in various types of fitness and lifestyle activities, from yoga classes to nutrition sessions.

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Our love for the natural tastes of Brazil are the essence of our unique culinary voyage. Your journey to Brazil’s most authentic flavors begins here!

Aqua e Luce Restaurant at Heliopolis & Towers Hotel had the pleasure of inviting the city’s key media figures along with Egyptian actors and actresses for an authentic Brazilian experience.

Chef Eduardo was pleased to confidently satisfy the guests’ Brazilian food lust.

Blush your Brush event for the Charms JW Ladies Society event!

JW Marriott Hotel Cairo was honored to host an informative “Blush Your Brush” event focusing on glamour make-up and skincare for Charms JW Ladies Society.

Amid the sophisticated surrounds of the Cheops Ballroom, a group of ladies representing Cairo’s social elite came together to listen to professional make-up artist Amira El Malky discussing the importance of skin care as a foundation for any great make-up look, and offering her best tips and tricks for perfect makeup coverage.

L’azurde teams up with Superstar Nelly Karim for the launch of the their 2018 Collection L’azurde, the largest gold and jewelry designer, manufacturer, and distributor in the Middle East, has released their 2018 collection during an exclusive event at the JW Marriott, where they announced the Super Star Nelly Karim as their new brand ambassador.

For the fifth consecutive year and with the participation of more than 5,000 experts and participants PepsiCo Snacks Business Egypt participates in “Rise UP” Summit 2017 and empowers entrepreneurship with Chipsy Innovation Challenge

New Age in Healthcare Real Estate:. Redcon Medical Parks launches 2 billion EGP Alburouj Medical District spearheading the new standard of medical care in Egypt.

Wadi Food Hosts and Celebrates Egypt’s Annual Olive Harvest Festival The Festival Demonstrates Olive Handpick in Wadi Farms and Extracting the Finest Extra Virgin Olive Oil Wadi Food, the leading Egyptian agribusiness company, celebrated today Egypt’s annual Olive Harvest Festival under the slogan “From our Trees to your Table”.

El Mostakbal for Urban Development and Tatweer Misr Sign a Partnership Agreement to Develop 415 Acres in Mostakbal City with an Estimated Investment Value of 33 Billion EGP The Residential area investment amounts to EGP 28 billion and the Educational area investment amounts to EGP 5 Billion Area allocated to the Mixeduse residential development is 325 acres, and the educational project will be developed on 90 acres

During a press conference, held in Semiramis Intercontinental, Redcon Medical Parks, the newly founded provider for Healthcare Real Estate Development Services in Egypt announced the launch of its flagship project Alburouj Medical District.

Development of phase 1, for this state of the art medical park is under way, starting with 11,000 m2 fully finished building set to accommodate small to mediumsized polyclinics, flexible layout independent clinics, pharmacy, wellness center, gym, diagnostic center & lab, along with a lineup of restaurants and coffee shops.

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SIGNS

Capricorn Dec 21 – Jan 19

Strengths Liable, organized and self-restrained.

Weaknesses Unforgiving, distrusting and pessimistic.

Most Compatible With Taurus, Virgo, Pisces and Cancer.

Love Your new found love is just a beginning and you need time to study each other. Do not jump to any decisions. If you’re single, you will fall in love with a charming person and begin a new relationship. If you already have a lover, you may be tired of your relationship.

However, if you have any frustrations, the best thing would be to discuss them frankly.

LOVE COMPATIBILITY ARIES As a love match, their compatibility can be strong and unbeatable. It works at its absolute best when there is quite an age gap between you two.

TAURUS When these two come together in a love match, it’s a practical, sensible partnership. And with a little bit of work, they can make the perfect couple.

LIBRA The compatibility for Capricorn and Libra doesn’t scream “match made in heaven”, but it isn’t one that absolutely never works out either. But it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

SCORPIO At their best, with Capricorn’s sensual nature and Scorpio’s depth of passion, these two blend practical logic with intuition and insight, making for a dynamic team.

GEMINI Their compatibility is a challenging, awkward and complicated relationship. You’ll have to invest serious efforts to make it work.

SAGITTARIUS When Sagittarius and Capricorn join together in a love match, things may start slow. But their differences can actually forge a stronger relationship in the long run.

CANCER These two signs can create a very successful and secure connection. It grows from a strong foundation of material and emotional security.

CAPRICORN Their compatibility shows greater chances of success as both Capricorn man and Capricorn woman show earnestness in their relationship.

LEO It’s rare when a Leo is attracted to a Capricorn, but the other way round is more probable. They might enjoy the chase but won’t see their future together.

AQUARIUS You might not find each other that interesting to begin with. They can be very good friends if they manage to find the right way to communicate.

VIRGO When they get involved in a love match, there’s a pragmatic, smart relationship. Both signs are highly rational, and both have high expectations.

PISCES A Capricorn and Pisces love relationship may appear to be like opposites attracting. But this couple is honest, and can be very devoted to one another.

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