On International Women’s Day, Mony Helal, Miss Egypt World 2018, entrepreneur and content creator, shared powerful words that celebrate female empowerment. Helal shared via Instagram a montage format reel, which celebrated her success as a woman through her various endeavors; humanitarian work, presenting for various broadcasts, working with children and animals, creating mood boards, styling, sewing, designing, public speaking at the World of Fashion 2020 and other events, accepting awards, and more. The montage was set to the song “I am Woman” by Emmy Meli, a song that went viral on social media in 2021 to express women’s empowerment, and celebrates the range of capabilities of the female spirit.
The inspiring reel demonstrated Helal’s immense range of talents, in fact it leaves the viewer with the impression, what can’t Helal do? In fact, this is the purpose behind sharing the reel; to imagine the immense innate creative potential of women. She shared an empowering question on another story for Think Smart Hub, “Why did I say a woman is a creator? If a woman holds the power to create life, can you imagine what else she can create?” An evocative question, suggesting the limitless potential of women.
She also shared a film directed by Egyptian Director Zeina Aref, and associated production. Akoon (translated to ‘being’ from the Arabic word أكون) is a celebration of, “Egyptian women and our expressive journeys towards reclaiming the spaces we rightfully deserve.”
“This project was driven by a sense of frustration towards the unjust reality that being a woman means so many things except the freedom to be one,” says Aref. “That frustration was channeled into creating Akoon as a means of occupying those spaces and showing that any woman—privately and publicly—can choose who they want to be.”
Aref’s work explores contemporary Egyptian identity and womanhood in times of cultural change. Akoon follows four fictional narratives profiling Egyptian women from diverse yet intersectional backgrounds. They dance in protest. They dance to reclaim their self and space in every desired space. “As a true celebration of the power of being,” says Aref, “Akoon is about the individual strength and collective unity to exist freely, despite the socio-political and cultural environment,” shares NOWNESS.
Against any existing cultural and socio-political limiting attitudes towards women, Helal takes a strong and bold stance on women’s ability to champion all endeavors we set our minds to, to be proud, and to reclaim and redefine our identity as powerful, capable women.