Out and About STYLE Mag. Issue 4 Vol. 1

Issue 4 

Volume 1 

EXPLORE 

HIJAB 

AROUND THE WORLD 

& 

MEN 

MAKEUP? 

VISUALISATION: 

Discovering Mind 

Power For Success 

HIND 

EMIRATI INFLUENCER 

AL MADANI 

www.outandaboutstylemag.com

Quote 

of 

M onth 

the 

Don’t Let Yesterday 

Take Up Too Much 

Of Today. 

~ Will Rogers

Welcome back to Out and About STYLE Magazine. I’m still laughing 

at this one piece of feedback we received on the last issue: 

“Awesome work! Every section is eye-catching and interesting. I’m 

a grown man and have enjoyed most of this magazine. You’ve done 

a good job of catering to an array of people from so many walks of 

life. The “ish” is sexy, educational and sophisticated. Kudos!” 

Message 

EDITOR’S 

This meant so much on so many levels, but it’s also the most 

hilarious piece of feedback we’ve gotten so far. Thanks again, bro. 

We are absolutely over the moon because we are able to produce 

a publication that appeals to both genders! Watch this space for 

there is so much more to come. 

In this issue, we take another trip around the world. And this time, 

we are exploring “Hijab around the world.” You’ll also notice that in 

this issue, we are focusing on our hijabi fashionistas and women who 

are looking to up their hijab fashion game. We’ve given you a style 

guide as well as a few interviews with hijab game changers. The 

Emirati influencer, Hind Al Madani, talks to us about her personal 

style as well as what she thinks about the fashion industry’s take on 

beauty and style these days. 

The Behind The Brand interview in this issue is inspirational, 

aspirational and emotional. We talk to Dukkan Media’s Omar Tom 

— a young entrepreneur creating waves in the creative media 

industry. 

Inside, you’ll also find makeup ideas for men, a comparison between 

dry brushing and exfoliating, visualisation techniques, chia seeds 

recipes and a look into hybrid fruits and vegetables. 

Our fitness features this month includes Yummy Mommy and the 

pros and cons of hot yoga. 

In the section “For the Culture,” Jerome gives us tips on how to stay 

true to ourselves. Travel with Leela — our travel blogger and guru 

takes us to the Siem Reap Temple in Cambodia. And everyone’s 

favourite, The Cam, is back with Nailed it, Beard Gang Cam with a 

look back at fashion at the White Party 2019. 

Again, we want our magazine to be entertaining, informative and 

engaging, but above all, useful. 

I hope you will enjoy this issue. We would love to know if there are 

any topics you’d like to know more about. Please also send us your 

feedback and remember to share on your social media channels by 

using the hashtag #outandaboutstylemag. 

LOTS OF LOVE. 

Outandaboutstylemag 

Outandaboutstylemag 

OaASmag

www.outandaboutstylemag.com

CONTENTS 

FASHION 

1. Fashion feature — Hind Al Madani 

2. My hijab 

3. Hijabi style guide 

4. Explore hijab around the world 

5. The Cam: 

• Nailed It 

• Beard Gang Cam 

• Who wore what to the 5th Annual White Out Party 

BEAUTY 

1. Men and makeup? 10 beauty tips for men 

2. Dry Brushing vs Exfoliating 

BEHIND THE BRAND 

1. Omar Tom - Founder and Manager Partner of 

Dukkan Media 

LIFESTYLE 

1. Visualisation: Discovering Mind Power For Success 

2. 9 Amazing Chia Recipes You Should Try 

3. “10 Shockingly Man-made Fruits, Nuts and 

Vegetables We Didn’t Know” 

4. Hot Yoga? The pros and cons 

5. Yummy Mommy 

TRAVEL 

1. Travel with Leela - Siem Reap Temple 

FOR THE CULTURE 

1. Stay True To You (Me)

FASHION 

FEATURE 

AL MADANI 

Hindalmadani

Today’s women seek inspiration from a myriad of sources. 

A woman who has been a leaf of inspiration for many 

hijab-donning (and other) women out there is the Emirati 

style influencer Hind Al Madani. She has managed to 

capture hearts and fashion trends from around the world 

without ever having shown her face on Instagram. Let’s 

read her story and get to know why this style blogger has 

become such a hit amongst hijabi women:

1 

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. 

My name is Hind Al Madani and I am a passionate 

Emirati lifestyle blogger and style influencer. I have 

new fashion era called “modesty” and add it to 

their fashion palette. Many are now catering to this 

type of style. It was a very proud moment when 

an educational background in Fine Arts along with 

H&M decided to shoot a hijabi model and start 

an MBA in Business Administration. My love for 

their first ever modest fashion line. 

fashion and travel was the biggest motivation to 

start my blogging journey. Through it, I try and 

reach my goal of inspiring women across the globe 

through my day-to-day life activities. 

6 

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR FASHION 

INSPIRATION? 

When it comes to inspiration, it’s not a matter of 

who, but of what and where. I get my inspiration 

2 

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL 

STYLE? 

I describe my personal style as chic, elegant and 

from the most uncommon things anyone can think 

of. I always think of my style as special and unique. 

Instead of getting my inspiration from individuals, 

modest with a sprinkle of confidence. I always 

I elicit from objects and places. This could be a 

like to experiment with different types of fabrics, 

beautifully designed invitation box or even a garden 

patterns and colours which has really helped me 

of roses. Inspiration is everywhere and it is limitless. 

understand how to dress according to my body 

shape and size. I am not afraid to be a bit edgy as 

long as I stay true to my style and identity. 

7 

IF YOU COULD CHOOSE ONLY ONE 

ACCESSORY TO ‘SPICE UP’ YOUR OUTFIT, 

WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? 

3 

WHAT’S THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HIJAB 

FOR A MUSLIM WOMAN, AND WHAT DO YOU 

LOVE MOST ABOUT IT? 

I would usually say both a bag and shoes, but if I 

had to choose one item, it would definitely be a 

bag. Unlike many people who opt for shoes and 

Hijab is the ultimate form of modesty for a Muslim 

believe that it is the first thing someone will notice 

woman. It depicts both religion and culture. What 

about you, I feel that having a stunning bag that 

I love most about the hijab is that it adds to my 

compliments your outfit will give you more credit. 

identity. In today’s world, the hijab has evolved 

so much that it is now styled in many different 

ways without taking away from being modest. I 

personally love to experiment with different hijab 

8 

WESTERN MEDIA TENDS TO PORTRAY THE 

MOST FASHIONABLE WOMEN AS NON-HIJAB 

WEARING. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? 

colours and materials to fit my personal style on 

Although I see this as unjust, sometimes it does 

many different occasions. 

not bother me at all. Being fashionable was never 

about showing the maximum amount of skin or by 

4 

WHAT ROLE DOES YOUR CULTURE PLAY IN 

YOUR FASHION CHOICES? 

My culture fits perfectly with my fashion choice 

exposing your hair as an accessory to your outfit. 

It is more about an individual’s sense of style from 

head to toe, regardless of what is being exposed. 

and style. Ever since I was younger, my style has 

It is not about how little you wear, but more of how 

always been modest even before I decided to wear 

you wear it. We can’t change the views of Western 

the abaya. Coming from the traditional Khaleeji 

media about fashion. What we can do is surely 

culture, I decided to take it upon myself and use 

continue to excel in our own fashion sense. 

my Instagram page as a medium of show the world 

5 

that abayas can be stylish and modern too. 

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIMITED BY FASHION 

BRANDS? 

In the past, I felt very limited because most of 

9 

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED IN 

THE FASHION INDUSTRY? 

Now that there is an awareness, I would like to 

see more brands embracing the modest fashion 

line and acknowledge its power in the fashion 

the brands were Western and catered to Western 

industry. I also want to see more hijabi models 

styles and choices. But that is no longer an issue 

being used as a face for many different brands to 

for me, and for many women who fall under the 

represent the modest community internationally. 

modest category. Many Muslim Arab and non-Arab 

And lastly, I would really love if there was a fashion 

designers have emerged in the fashion market and 

show or competition dedicated to modest 

today, the choices are limitless. This has forced 

fashion and hijabis that is aired internationally for 

Western designers to acknowledge the birth of a 

the world to see.

HIJAB 

MARIAM 

SHAIKH 

mariamshkh

Mariam Shaikh is an Indian brought up in the 

UAE. She runs an Instagram page that talks 

about modest fashion and how to make it 

easier for women. Her minimalistic personal 

style is both elegant and classic, inspired 

by both her religion and culture, along with 

styles from many other people around her. 

Her shoe game is most important as it sets 

off a minimal look. 

However, she does feel limited by the choice 

of clothes in today’s market, but knows that it’s 

definitely not as difficult as it used to be earlier. 

Her thoughts on the Western media engaging 

in fashion stereotyping revolves around the 

current trend of “more skin, more beautiful, 

hence, more fashionable.” Fashion isn’t about 

the amount of skin one shows; it’s about the 

comfort zone — is an idea she affirms. 

She strongly believes that the hijab is an 

honour given to Muslim women, though to 

others, it may just be a piece of cloth. Mariam 

considers her hijab as her right, honour and 

a very important part of her faith. It gives her 

a sense of empowerment and confidence. 

And now, stereotypes are being broken as 

there are more hijabi women in the fashion 

industry, who show the world how capable 

Muslim women are when given the right 

platform and that the hijab doesn’t stop them 

from achieving anything.

HIJAB 

ALIFYA 

KOTHARI 

Alifya_kothari

Alifya 

Irfan Kothari is a chic 

Indian girl who loves her 

hijab. Ever since she began to 

wear one 4 years ago, the garment has 

become a part of her. She associates the 

religious headdress, the hijab with its 

literal meaning (‘to cover’) and believes 

it’s her protection. Alifya is amongst 

the many women who feel the hijab 

completes their outward appearance 

by encouraging them to dress more 

modestly and become a better version of 

themself. 

Alifya started sharing her style with the 

world with the intention of expressing the 

fact that you don’t need to sacrifice your 

modesty to be fashionable. Her elegant 

and funky outfits show just that.

HIJABI 

STYLE 

GUIDE 

Wearing a hijab is more than 

just a trend. For many years 

now, different styles have been 

incorporated into this rather 

significant piece of clothing. Set 

the bar high as you take on one 

of these hijab fashion trends 

and utilise them to create your 

own distinct style.

WIDE 

PANTS 

FEVER 

Pull off your A game by 

donning a pair of wide pants 

that you can wear for work 

or on a coffee date. The best 

thing about this comfy clothing 

is that it complements any 

type of footwear — a pair of 

black stilettos, cool trainers 

or platform heels. Take a cue 

from this chic ruffle and wide 

leg combo that accentuates 

the hijab. The getup itself 

speaks a lot of your sense of 

style — simply sophisticated 

and stylish. If you want 

more drama, throw in some 

statement accessories or opt 

for a head-turner bag. And 

remember, it’s not too late to 

take your fashionable hijab to 

the next level!

Who would overlook this vibrant 

blend of cheerful hues? Starting with 

your bright hijab, be daring in your 

approach to playing with colours. You 

can opt for a monochrome top and 

a multi-coloured bottom. Or if you 

enjoy attention, don a fascinating 

print-and-pattern combo. This may 

sound challenging, but it actually 

works as long you know how to carry 

yourself! So go show your spirited 

personality to the whole world with 

beaming colours and bold designs. 

VIBRANT 

COLOURS & 

PATTERNS

PRETTY PASTELS 

& EARTHY TONES 

Pastel-coloured outfits are in vogue all year long. What’s 

beautiful about pastel and earthy shades is that they match 

a variety of skin tones, can be spruced up with a sprinkle of 

bling or accessories and go with both sultry and coral makeup. 

These shades also bring out the subtle feminine element in 

your attire and are perfect work and play. Light coloured 

blouses and chic pants also complement hijabs of various 

materials and shades.

STRIPES, 

STRIPES, 

STRIPES! 

It’s time to master the art of 

wearing stripes with ruffled 

stripe dresses topped with a 

plain hijab. Stripes, of course, 

is one of the most flattering 

patterns of all time. It always 

has a spot in the fashion scene 

because of its versatility and 

chicness. Whilst the most 

popular stripe combo is blue 

and white, you can definitely 

add more colours into the 

pattern for a more distinct 

look. Since the clothing itself is 

already a head-turner, you can 

tone down the hue and style of 

your footwear. A pair of single 

colour heels would do!

FANCY 

FLORALS 

For a more feminine touch, 

take your favourite florals out of 

your wardrobe and strut around 

in them for a while. Without a 

doubt, florals are a breath of 

fresh air, making it a sought-after 

style during spring or summer. 

These charming patterns 

complement a black, white 

or pastel hijab perfectly. And 

what’s more, there are heaps of 

floral styles to choose from. For 

an office-approved ensemble, 

grab your sophisticated floral 

top and pair it with trousers. 

Don’t forget your statement 

blazer! And if you’re just running 

your errands, then wear your 

simplest and cosiest floral dress 

with your hijab.

MONOCHROME 

MADNESS 

If you’re not a fan of mixing 

and matching, then you should 

try minimalist styling. This is 

probably the easiest way to 

loosen the burden of fashion 

uncertainty. Reality check — 

there are days when you don’t 

want to unleash your fashion 

genie. When that happens, you 

can always take a bit of style 

inspiration from this simple 

yet sophisticated attire. The 

monochrome wardrobe and 

neutral hijab are enough to give 

you those refined vibes.

SPORTSWEAR 

MANIA 

Loose shirt and black leggings have 

never looked this cool with a hijab! 

Gone are the days when the hijab is 

meant only for dresses or other superfeminine 

attires. Now, the fashion 

game has evolved, and you can pair 

them with sportswear and even baggy 

clothes. This ensemble is such a great 

fashion statement. And if you’re 

planning to rock this attire, opting for 

monochrome colours will be a perfect 

start! From there, you can work your 

styling skills and discover what fits you 

better.

DENIM 

CRAZE 

Of course, denim will never go out 

of style. And in recent years, the 

trend has embraced the old-school 

pair of jeans — when high-waisted 

and flared. This kind of style gives 

us the 70s vibe, where comfort is 

a top priority above all. Denim can 

be paired with almost everything 

under the sun — sweaters, blouses 

or statement t-shirts. Whatever your 

choice, you can still get that coveted 

comfort and chicness with denim. A 

piece of advice — if you want to rock 

your flattering silhouette, team your 

flare denim jeans with a slim-fitting 

top.

PLEATED 

SKIRTS 

Lately, fashion has been revolving 

around loose yet refined styles. For 

any self-confessed stylish trendsetter, 

pleated skirts are must-haves in the 

wardrobe. Say goodbye to pencil skirts 

and hello to these super classy skirts 

lined with delicate folds. Since pleated 

skirts exude an old age charm, stay true 

to its style by matching it with ruffles or 

bell sleeves. If you’re wearing a bright 

skirt, you may want to pair it with tonal 

or earthy hues for a better balance. And 

while recent trends have mainly focused 

on chunky trainers with your skirt, you 

can still pick the footwear of your choice 

as almost every type will go with it.

STYLISH 

CARDIGANS 

Cardigans are always on top of their 

game all year-round. These wardrobe 

staples complement your hijab like a 

pro. And if you’re unsure of the colour 

coding, a black and white combo with 

a hint of gold and silver is truly a quick 

wardrobe success! There’s something 

about monochrome colours that keep 

this accessory trending it’s classic, 

sophisticated and simple. Of course, 

you can still accessorise your pleasingly 

straightforward colour selection by 

selecting more refreshing accessory 

shades and designs.

HIJAB AROUND THE WORLD

UAE 

In the UAE, most women wear a large, 

silky rectangular scarf known as the 

shayla. The most common shaylas are 

of black colour, although there are 

others that come in different shades. 

When using the shayla, adding 

elastic hair ties, large clips, as well as 

headbands, create more volume to 

the way the hijab is wrapped around 

the head. This is a common way of 

stylising the shayla scarf while holding 

it steady at the same time. 

MALAYSIA 

Tudung or tudong is a Malay word, 

which means ‘cover or veil.’ It is one 

of the famous variations of the hijab 

in Southeast Asia. Some tudungs 

are decorated in several colours and 

panels, while others come in just one 

colour. The round panel that shapes 

the front side of the wearer’s face 

accentuates the facial beauty, thus 

making it a popular pick in Malaysia. 

Some Malaysian women prefer to 

combine two complementing colours of 

the hijab, along with an inside cap. This 

gives a clear, bright and feminine touch 

around the woman’s crown.

PAKISTAN 

Dupatta is a shawl-like vibrant scarf worn 

by women in the Indian subcontinent. 

Covering the head, neck, shoulders, 

depending on individual preference, the 

dupatta’s light material is what makes it 

so comfortable to wear. On its edges 

are gorgeous and intricate patterns that 

add to the scarf’s bewitching designs. 

Women like to harmonise their brightcoloured 

dupattas with vivid dresses. 

Plus, the rectangular fabric is usually 

embellished with accessories. 

KUWAIT 

Easy to wear and classy is what the 

Kuwaiti hijab truly is. This style consists 

of only one piece of cloth that secures 

the head in a form-fitting manner. The 

stretchable hijab is tied into a scarf 

that covers all the way down to the 

neck, and sometimes, even up to the 

shoulders and chest. Other styles, 

however, include putting the rest of 

the long scarf on one side and letting it 

flow at the back. The overall design of 

the Kuwaiti hijab is uncomplicated, yet 

remarkable and sophisticated.

JORDAN 

Jordanian women love to express both 

their faith and fashion through their 

hijabs. Some women are quite particular 

in choosing their hijabs as this becomes 

a part of their self-expression, without 

having to abandon the importance of 

their religious beliefs. They also like to 

pick their hijabs according to the colour 

of their dresses or shirts. The style of 

hijab in Jordan is quite similar to those 

in some other Middle Eastern countries. 

It is wrapped comfortably around the 

head and neck. 

SAUDI 

ARABIA 

Covering oneself head to toe and 

excluding only the eyes is how many 

women in Saudi Arabia wear their head 

attire. This veil, known as the niqab, is 

a long smooth piece of cloth that has 

a small slit for the eyes. Some women 

go for the half-niqab while others prefer 

the full-niqab. Either of these two veils 

mark the graceful femininity of women.

TURKEY 

Expressing one’s religious belief and 

modesty in clothing does not mean you 

can no longer be chic and stylish. In fact, 

Turkish women look extremely dashing 

in the silky, square fabric that covers 

their head and neck. This is known as an 

esarp, the hijab most common in Turkey. 

The secret to keeping the fabric in place 

is putting an inner cap before wearing 

the esarp, which helps accentuate 

one’s face shape and features. Wearing 

this fabric is also a way of celebrating 

Turkish hijab fashion. 

SUDAN 

Sudanese women wear different types 

of hijabs, but the rise of turbans has 

been a trending wave across the fashion 

industry. Most women prefer to lift their 

hijabs in the form of a turban to keep 

them comfortable in the boiling heat 

of the sun. The hijab can be curled 

on the side or in front, depending 

on preference. The fabrics also have 

detailed designs and glowing motifs. 

Because of the stylish effect of the 

turban, it has been adopted by many 

modern women as a major fashion 

statement.

INDONESIA 

Doa Gaun is the most widely worn 

attire by Muslim Indonesian women, 

especially when attending worship 

ceremonies. As a full-body cloak, this 

veil reveals only the face while wrapping 

the head and the body. The cotton attire 

mainly consists of a headscarf as well as 

a gown, which women can wear over a 

dress. When tying the veil, an elegant 

ribbon can be used to bring out the 

snazzy element in this hijab. 

SOMALIA 

Women in Somalia style their hijab in a 

snug manner with the headscarf lifted 

above their necks. The turban wraps 

comfortably around the hair, exuding a 

simple yet modish look. How the turbans 

are knotted in this elevated manner 

varies — Some opt for the quick front 

swirl or the plain front tied versions. 

Because of the country’s hot weather, 

the turban is usually the first accessory 

choice for most Somali women when 

going out in the sun. The head wraps 

are commonly adorned with intricate 

designs and colours.

KENYA 

Like in most African countries, turbanstyled 

hijabs are a major style boost. 

And it’s the same for most Kenyan 

women. They like to match their hijabs 

with hoops and other dangling earrings 

to reveal the beauty of the elevated 

scarves. The best and simplest ways of 

tying a hijab are the milkmaid, wrap-turn, 

criss-cross and floral styles. Aside from 

the turban, they also love wearing the 

traditional hijab that flows extensively 

below or till the knees. niqab and burqa 

are used by some women and school 

girls. 

EGYPT 

A choice for some women in Egypt is 

the minimalistic design of khimar. Only 

one colour is usually used for hijab. 

Beginning from the head and going 

all the way down from the neck to the 

shoulders, the khimar drapes smoothly 

around the lower part of the body. This 

becomes an almost full-body garment 

that can match your chosen outfit.

IRAQ 

The sophisticated element of black or 

a mix of colours is the winning factor 

of this traditional garment known as 

the chador. Iraqi women often clothe 

themselves in this sleek and flowy robe 

that slides loosely from their head to 

feet while attached to a small headscarf. 

Since chadors don’t have any buttons, 

women are to hold the fabric in order 

to wrap it around their bodies. This 

is a full-body fabric that leaves an 

effortlessly stunning and enigmatic 

look, symbolising the wearer’s pride, 

honour and faith. 

INDIA 

The most striking thing about the 

Indian hijab style is its rich colour 

combinations. Muslim women in India 

wear the hijab with the sari, where a 

collision of patterns and colours light 

up their ensemble. Some decorate the 

hijab with clips or pins when tying it up 

while others simply let it stay loose. The 

conventional style adopted by Muslims 

in India is usually the full-body length 

hijab that is carried with their hands. 

However, newer generations now 

welcome hijabs covering only the head 

and neck.

KOSOVO 

Although the colours and styles of 

hijabs used in Kosovo largely vary, the 

sight of soft hues is easily noted as a 

favourite by women. Kosovar women 

usually prefer cream or pastel colours, 

which is a great way to match dresses of 

darker colour. Some are stylised in floral 

patterns and others in vogue designs. 

Using a coloured inner cap also makes 

the hijab more secured and shapely. 

This hijab is either shoulder-length or 

free-flowing atop their dresses. 

ALBANIA 

Like most hijabs, the type worn by 

the women in Albania is made up of 

a light material, which is mostly silk. 

What makes the Albanian style of hijab 

interesting is the beautiful blends of 

the headpiece. Accessories are added 

as a part of the traditional clothes 

worn by Albanian ladies during special 

ceremonies. Tied to the cloth are circleshaped 

ornaments that dangle and 

match with their earrings and the colour 

of their hijab and dress.

NAILED IT

PRAJVAL JAGIRDAR 

BEARD GANG

Check out the all white fashion at the 5th annual 

WHITE OUT DAY PARTY 

at Mad on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Don’t miss this 

event next year on Friday April 17th, 2020. 

For more information 

like and follow JS Entertainment on Facebook 

Facebook.com/jsentertainment81/

SEASON 8 S/S18 | 5 TH – 6 TH JULY 

2019 DUBAI, UAE 

International Fashion Week Dubai 

(IFWD), organised by Opulence Events 

LLC, has announced that the next edition 

of the globally famous fashion event is to 

be held at the Sofitel Dubai, The Palm 

Resort and Spa from 5 th to 6 th July 2019. 

IFWD Season 8S/S8 will keep with 

the trends and will, once again, bring 

together designers and exhibitors 

from around the world for yet another 

successful and diversified show. Always 

aiming to bring different trends and 

fashions together, this season will also 

showcase the best of designers with their 

outstanding collections. 

The MD and founder of IFWD, Ms. 

Cheryle Dias, mentions that Dubai is 

quickly growing into an international hub 

for fashion and business. For designers 

to focus only on their fashions, the IFWD 

becomes the biggest opportunity to 

participate and receive wider exposure 

and branding in local and international 

markets. The event will also add 

marketing value to their products by 

introducing them to various buyers. 

The IFWD has set a benchmark in the 

fashion industry of Dubai. It has also

attracted various international designers to the city to 

explore the market and set up businesses there. The 

event also gives opportunities for international and local 

designers to showcase their latest collections and attract 

buyers while also sustaining and branding themselves. 

The fashion week will feature fashion shows and showrooms. 

In these events, 15 established and emerging designers 

will participate and showcase their latest collections. Many 

exhibitors will be branding their products at the exhibition. 

Over 20 media partners, bloggers and influencers will be a 

part of this great event. There will also be the International 

Fashion Awards and the Emerging Designers competition 

with top models from various nationalities stealing the 

runway. 

The event will be attended by many from the fashion 

industry and society such as the royals, ambassadors, 

dignitaries, people from councils and fashion universities, 

influencers, bloggers, Chambers of Commerce 

representatives, entrepreneurs, fashion buyers and media 

from all across the world. 

Season 7 of the IFWD was very successful with designers 

having participated from France, UK, Italy, India, Syria, 

UAE, Poland, etc. The event was attended by prominent 

members of the royal family which included H.H Sheikh 

Mohammad Bin Maktoum Bin Juma Al Maktoom, H.H 

Sheikh Obaid Bin Suhail Bin Bati Al Maktoum, H.H 

Shaika Hind Bent Mohammad, H.H Sheikha Majd Al 

Qassimi, H.E Hind Al Habtour, H.E Sheikh Mohamed 

AlShalan, H.E Dr. Mona Saqra and H.E Laila Rahhall El 

Atfani (Ambassador of Goodwill). The fashion week was 

inaugurated by the chief guest H.E Suhail Abdullatif 

Galadari, the owner of Khaleej Times and a renowned 

UAE businessman. A lot of international and local media 

covered the event, along with many bloggers and 

influencers spreading news about it. Awards were also 

given out for various categories at the event. 

IFWD is ranked as the top and most sustainable fashion 

week, not just in Dubai, but in the world as well. It has 

already launched its brand in Milan (IFWM) on 23 Feb 2019 

with massive success and will be launching in Paris (IFWP) 

on 29 Sept 2019. The year 2019 will also be very huge for 

IFW as there will a launch in Cannes during the Cannes 

Film Festival as well as in London and New York along with 

the subsequent seasons in Dubai, Milan and Paris. 

Fashion brands and accessory designers are welcome to 

participate in the fashion shows, and all other brands are 

welcome to participate in the exhibition. 

The IFWD sustainability and credibility in the international 

and local market is very strong. Since 2015, the event has 

captured international and local media attention which 

gives it a huge marketing value, equal to the PR value of 

1.5 billion USD. 

For fashion show or exhibition bookings, sponsorship or 

any other enquiries, contact: 

info@opulenceeventmanagement.com

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M A K E U P 

M A D N E S S 

WITH 

MEN & 

MAKEUP? 

10 BEAUTY TIPS 

FOR MEN! 

Yes, you read that right! Today, we are diving face-first 

into the most controversial and widely acknowledged 

subject in the beauty world till date — Should a man 

wear makeup? And if so, how can he wear it without 

going full-on glam? 

Well, my answer to both questions is definitely 

Y-E-S! Now hold up… I’m not suggesting that you 

pull a Bretman Rock on us, even though he slays his 

makeup every day. All I am saying is that you can 

add a little something here and there to step up 

your male grooming game. So, let’s explore the top 

beauty products for men in the list below: 

01 

FULL-COVERAGE CREAM OR LIQUID FOUNDATION 

Danessa Myricks Beauty basically handed out the keys to 

‘complexion’ heaven when they launched their all-in-one foundation 

and concealer (Velvet Cream Cover) for EVERY skin tone out here 

on the street. This buildable duo only requires you to place 3-4 dots 

of the cream, starting from under the inner tear duct of each eye 

and following the pattern of where an under-eye bag would rest 

itself. Use a damp beauty blender or sponge to properly blend in 

the cream. Then, build a clean even look by adding more product 

based on your desired facial outcome! You now look refreshed and 

awake!

02 

BROW TINT 

Believe me or not, there are MANY products available 

for men to tint their moustaches, beards and sideburns. 

So why not take it a step forward and tint those brows 

while you’re grooming? I’m just saying, if you are going 

to go as far as to tint your beard, then why not make the 

carpet match the drapes and tint those BROWS?! As a 

woman, my brows set the tone to my face which in turn 

makes my makeup look awesome. Think of it in the same 

way for a man. Even if you have the most desired haircut 

and a facial hair trim to match, wouldn’t everything just 

look so much better if you also kept those brows of yours 

in check? You’ll thank me later. 

03 

SETTING POWDERS OR LOOSE POWDERS 

Set that concealer, boys! You have already taken your beauty 

routine to the next level. So why not make sure it lasts all day? 

Use setting powders by Makeup Forever, 

Laura Mercier or my personal favourite 

cruelty-Mercier or Beauty Bakerie, to 

lock that concealer in and minimise 

shine along those T-zone areas. 

04 

COLOUR CORRECTORS 

Now, this is where beauty products can become a bit complicated to use at the beginning. So, let 

me break this one down for you. 

A good colour corrector guide should always remind you of a colour wheel. We use complementary 

colours to neutralise each other when they are mixed. The goal is to create a more even-toned skin 

colour as follows: 

Peach: 

Green: 

Yellow: 

Blue: 

Lavender: 

Use to eliminate or minimise dark circles and 

discolouration 

Perfect for disguising redness 

Most popular because it reduces the shade of 

under-eye circles 

For yellow patches of skin 

For yellow undertones

HOW TO USE COLOUR CORRECTORS: 

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 

Apply a colour 

corrector 

from the 

Urban Decay’s 

Naked Skin 

collection 

after primer, 

right before 

applying 

concealer. 

Next, apply 

your colour 

corrector 

with a beauty 

blender, 

applicator 

wand or by 

simply using 

your fingers. 

Blend! 

Blend! 

Blend! 

This is where 

your concealer 

has the chance 

to make its 

entrance. Don’t 

forget to set 

everything you 

have just done 

with a good 

setting powder. 

05 

BEAUTY BLENDER AND SPONGE 

Now, this right here is a beauty must-have for every 

man, woman and child. None of your foundation, 

concealer or corrector application matters unless you 

understand the importance of a good BLEND! And 

the best way to do this is to use a Beauty Blender. 

Their website has some amazing tips on the best 

ways to get the most out your Beauty Blender. 

06 

RETINOL + SUPER C + HYALURONIC ACID 

If you have absolutely no clue as to how to use these 

three skincare ingredients, let me school you really 

quickly — retinol helps to softens and often times, 

eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots 

from acne scarring. Super C Brightening Serum 

by Urban RX is the definition of ‘youthful skin in a 

bottle’. Softly rub this serum over your face and neck 

areas before you apply any other facial moisturiser. 

lastly, hyaluronic acid is hydration for the skin. Your 

very own skin cells naturally produce hyaluronic acid 

to maintain any sort of natural moisture you may 

have. Apply a single gram of hyaluronic acid onto 

your face and it equates to SIX litres of water. Yeah, 

that’s right. Try it and thank me later.

07 

BODY FOUNDATION 

Body foundation helps to give an even-toned skin 

from the face to the body. If you are often shirtless or 

happen to rock open chest shirts a lot, and your body 

and face skin tones vary by 2 to 3 shades, then this 

might be the solution for you. Granted you can get a 

simple spray tan, but if you don’t want that hassle and 

prefer immediate results, try Dior’s Backstage Body 

Foundation. There are a total of 40 shades to choose 

from! Apply a small amount of primer on the clean 

skin of the area you wish to cover. Then place a drop 

or two on the back your hand or onto a beauty mixing 

tray. Use a damp Beauty Blender to start applying and 

blending the body foundation onto the desired areas. 

I would recommend setting this with a setting spray of 

your choice to reduce shine and make it last longer. 

08 

EYELINER OR GUYLINER 

If you want that gazed-smudgy-sexy eye look, then rock 

some guyliner! This male grooming practice dates as far 

back as Egyptian times. And I highly doubt it will ever go 

away. Any eyeliner from a beauty brand of your choice will 

help you achieve this look. Check out some options from 

Men’s Makeup UK. 

09 

TINTED LIP BALM OR LIP OILS 

If you want to avoid looking like you have applied 

lipstick, then choose a colour that is natural or clear. 

Burt’s Bees has an amazing selection of sheer light 

colours that are 100% natural. Coconut oil also helps to 

keep your lips moisturised throughout the day.

10 

LIP SCRUBS 

Lip scrubs are a must have! Use Beauty Bakerie’s Vanilla Sugar 

Lip daily to secure soft lips for a long time. It’s simple to use 

and feels so good afterwards. Apply this scrub to your lips each 

night in a circular motion to remove dead skin that create a 

chapped and flaky dry lip. Add this step to your nightly facial 

cleansing routine and wake up with kissable soft lips. 

Katrina Long is the owner and Creative 

Director at The Beauty Studio, Middle East, 

a design and branding company. She is 

also the owner of several brands including 

Kemet Lash Co., Melanin Deep Beauty, the 

Nail Hustle and Style Addicts Confidential. 

She is an African-American Texas native with 

a collegiate and professional background in 

government financial audit. Katrina is a shoe 

aficionado and owns over 200+ pairs.

DRY BRUSHING 

VS EXFOLIATING 

Getting smooth and glowing skin is an exciting yet tiring process! And it 

doesn’t just happen overnight. We’re pretty sure you may have already 

tried dry brushing, exfoliating and other methods of taking care of skin. 

Today, we’ll bust a few myths about skin care and give you tips on whether 

dry brushing or exfoliating is right for your skin. 

So here’s a way of getting things done — one scrub at a time! 

Exfoliating and dry brushing are two skincare techniques that have lasting 

effect on your skin. But using both the techniques together might not be a 

good idea. Instead, choose the right one for your skin and enjoy its benefits 

better. If you’re having some thoughts about which one is apt for your daily 

skin care routine, continue reading...

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? 

Since it’s your skin’s welfare that’s on the line, knowing 

which method works best for you is a top priority. Now, you 

may have heard about the benefits and miracle stories each 

method has brought to many. Understanding the nature of 

exfoliation and dry brushing firsthand is the springboard to 

knowing what these methods actually do to your skin and 

reaping the benefits of each one. 

ABOUT EXFOLIATION 

To be pretty simple, exfoliation refers to the daily process of 

scrubbing your skin until all the dead skin cells are removed. 

Sometimes, you do this out of habit every morning or with 

the conscious intention of pampering your skin. Exfoliating 

is done with the help of any exfoliating tool. 

Brushes, washcloths as well as creams suited to your skin 

type are the most common exfoliating instruments you 

can find at almost any store. While you’re in the process 

of exfoliation, you must always have plenty of supply of 

one particular lubricant for casting off dead skin from the 

surface, i.e., water, which is not so the case when it comes 

to dry brushing. 

one is more effective will have to depend primarily on your 

skin type. If you have sensitive skin, dry brushing may not 

be the best technique for you. Exfoliating is a lot better for 

those who have fragile or thin skin. For people with oily 

skin, on the other hand, dry scrubbing is a great option as 

there’s no need to fill necessary moisture to make your skin 

smoother. 

Next off, the climate also contributes to how your skin will 

react to both processes. For some folks, winter season 

basically leads to drier skin. Dry brushing is a good 

option at that time. Pull out the best dry scrubs you own 

and sweep it across areas which need most tender care 

during this season. However, other people also opt for wet 

exfoliation since the cold climate can react to their easilyirritated 

skin. Again, your skin type is something you need 

to consider. Either way, both methods work effectively. And 

for those in places with a humid climate, dry brushing is 

not just practical, it’s also in vogue. 

WHICH IS A GENTLER APPROACH? 

Although dry-brushing has been very much in fashion, 

there are still a few things that you need to be wary of. Dry 

brushing is more abrasive in removing dead skin cells when 

ABOUT DRY BRUSHING 

About the only difference dry brushing has from exfoliation 

is that it does not involve water. Although dry brushing is 

still a form of exfoliation, this method only involves a long 

dry brush that easily reaches any part of your skin. 

WHICH METHOD IS MORE EFFECTIVE? 

To make things clear, both methods have a great 

impact on the appearance and texture of 

your skin. However, judging which

compared to exfoliation. Choosing a brush that is made up 

of strong, rough bristles is more like attempting to light a 

fire on your skin. There’s just too much friction going on. It 

will only take a while before your skin will no longer be able 

to handle so much irritation. 

Besides, remember that when you dry brush, your goal is 

to remove dead skin and prevent it from having that dry 

look and feel. However, if you’re not attentive enough 

when dry brushing, there’s a fat chance that you may leave 

more harm than good to your skin. Shredding your skin, 

leaving cuts on areas that are much too delicate, acquiring 

skin infections and making your skin even drier are the last 

things you want to deal with in your skincare routine. 

Exfoliating, on the other hand, lets you avoid these risks. 

If you’re looking for a more gentle method, exfoliating 

definitely tops the list. In this way, you can prevent irritation 

especially in sensitive areas, and yet make your skin shiny 

in the long run. 

WHICH IS A MORE BENEFICIAL TECHNIQUE? 

Dry brushing is preferred by women these days a reason; 

there are a lot of good things that it really brings. Aside from 

the fact that it actually softens your skin, reduces puffiness 

and makes your skin less flaky, dry brushing also has other 

health benefits. Doing this technique daily has helped in 

relieving stress and has even become a form of meditation 

for some people. Other claims have also pointed out its 

benefits to the lymphatic system and blood circulation. 

On the whole, dry brushing doesn’t just target your skin’s 

wellbeing, but also your system’s in general. 

IMPORTANT SKIN CARE TIPS 

Final notes on this big skin care regime — you need to 

settle for nylon, non-toxic and natural bristles so that you 

can rub more gently and smoothly on different areas of the 

skin. Plus, following the proper way of stroking with the 

scrub when you’re dry brushing is very important. Moving it 

in a smooth upwards manner is the best way to scrub. Note 

that some skin problems pretty much lie in the quality of 

your brush and in your way of brushing. 

CONCLUSION 

At the end of the day, it’s all about the method that provides 

more protection and glow to your skin. So which technique 

won your heart? With the help of this list and your practical 

experience, it’s your call to decide the best exfoliating 

technique you can incorporate in your ritual to give your 

skin the best therapeutic treatments!

GOING GLOBAL 

They aspired and chased opportunities. 

NOW THEY ARE AN INSPIRATION! 

10 

MEN. 

STORIES. 

PERSPECTIVES. 

1 RESOUNDING 

THEME… 

ORDER NOW 

‘Going Global: The Life Changing 

Experiences of 10 Courageous Black 

Men’ was released to the world on March 

1st 2019. Read stories of a diverse blend 

of educated career men as they share 

their experiences living and working 

abroad. You are sure to be enlightened 

and empowered to live boldly beyond 

boundaries. Join the conversation by 

ordering your copy today! 

@going.global.book 

Going Global - Book

Behind 

the 

Brand

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF 

My name is Omar Tom, commonly known as ‘OT.’ I’m 

the managing partner at Dukkan Media which is a multiplatform 

content creation company as well as a creative 

marketing consultancy. 

My expertise pretty much started in the advertising industry 

where I was working as a strategist — which is a fancy way 

of saying I get paid for my opinion. I would do a lot of 

quantitative and qualitative research and get to understand 

a marketplace, city or country with the people in it, their 

behaviours, their do’s and don’t, cultures, subcultures, 

traditions, routines, etc. I’d take all that information and 

develop a strategic opinion based on it. That then gets 

taken in by the creative team and they develop advertising 

based on what I shared. It’s like a glorified anthropologist 

in a way, which is cool. 

Before that, when I was in university, I worked in the radio as 

an RJ. I was a co-host and learnt to work the radio systems. 

I didn’t DJ, but most of the people there were DJs. 

At the time, I was in the US, living in the Bay Area in 

Oakland. I discovered podcasting out there. There was 

no red tape, rules, regulations and hierarchy in the radio 

business in the US. I could just create my own show and 

express myself truly. And I love that idea! So I packed my 

bag, moved back to Dubai and decided to launch the 

podcast, which was the Dukkan Show. And that eventually 

elevated itself to becoming a full business. 

DUKKAN MEDIA — HOW DID IT ALL START? 

It started with the podcast, the Dukkan Show. ‘Dukkan’ 

means a small shop, a corner store or grocery. The reason 

why I liked the name was because I believe that the dukkan 

is the cornerstone of a community. Anywhere in the world, 

the shopkeeper will know everybody in the neighbourhood. 

It’s the place where people come and hang out. A hair 

salon is where girls get together and talk. A barber shop 

gives the same experience. In that sense, the grocery store 

is the essence of community, development and growth. In 

every community, you’ve got one. So for those of us who 

are an ethnic minority, that’s the place we felt like home. 

This thought was the birth of the show. It developed while 

I was working at the agency and pitching for a mega 

project. I was the lead strategist then. Throughout the 

project, people didn’t buy into my idea, but I stood my 

ground. The reason why people were hesitant was that my 

entire strategy was built off a 3-minute conversation I had 

with a guest on the podcast. They were hesitant because 

it defied all the research that was already available online 

done by other people. 

My inspiration was a Saudi Arabian YouTuber, Fahad 

Albutairi, known as the Seinfeld of Saudi Arabia. The 

beautiful thing about his comedy was that it’s very society 

dependant. He picks up these little nuances based on 

what he sees on the street. I thought that was just beautiful 

and built my entire strategy on this 3-minute conversation. 

Luckily, we ended up locking a $5 million business. That 

achievement meant that what I have is worth a lot more than

what I’m getting paid for there. So I decided to quit. When I made that 

decision, my business partner Reem had a video production company. 

She decided that she wanted to invest and become a partner, which I 

thought was the perfect match. 

We started the business in 2017 and been doing it ever since. I still 

do the consultancy on one side. On the other, we develop original 

content, our own intellectual property. We also run a show called 

Raghud Qahwa which is an Arabic show, with a completely different 

theme. The host of the show, Maya, is a television anchor, an 

editor-in-chief and a producer who’s been in the game for 25+ 

years. In the show, she has one-on-one conversations over coffee 

(as the name of the show translates to ‘coffee pot and in Arabic 

tradition, coffee is in everything). On the show, they have 

these conversations with spectacular Arab women who have 

changed the landscape of the Arab world like the first ever 

female Supreme Court judge in Jordan, amongst others. 

The other show that we’ve created is called “Switch Flix” 

which is a film review show. It’s hosted by a very talented 

top of the world also when being an 

entrepreneur. 

The hardest thing about running 

businesses is burnout. Burnout is when 

you don’t realise you suddenly can’t 

think anymore. You feel emotionally and 

mentally defeated. 

In a 9-5, when you leave the office, you 

are done, physically and mentally. You can 

have fun with family, watch a show, go out... 

I don’t switch off because I’m still consumed 

by work thoughts all the time. The only times 

I actually disconnect are when I do Bikram 

Yoga or go running. For a business owner, the 

chances are that for the rest of the day, workrelated 

thoughts are always in your head. So 

learn to be comfortable with the discomfort of it. 

Another thing is to celebrate all your wins, no 

producer and director duo who screen a movie every 

week, deconstruct it and then, have a debate on it. But 

the trick is they switch between pros and cons so fast that 

it becomes a hilarious conversation. 

Another show that we’re currently working on is a 

podcast for MENAbytes, by partnering with Zubair 

Naeem Paracha. We have a video series called 

“HighPlus” which deconstructs trends and why 

they’re so popular in sneaker and hip hop culture. 

We present it in a fun and entertaining way. We’ve 

got a bunch of other shows that we’re unlocking. 

And the thing about our shows is that they are 

designed to be ground-breaking revolutionary 

pieces. The other side of our business is not 

public-facing as it’s mostly consulting. 

matter how small or trivial they may feel. Keep 

in mind that you are one of the very few who are 

actually doing this. I’m lucky that I don’t have a 

family at this point. I’m self-reliant. Thankfully, my 

parents don’t need my support. So financially, I was 

in a much more comfortable place to take the step. 

Those who have responsibilities of other people relying 

on them and still do it, then kudos! I’m glad I don’t have 

those responsibilities as it would have made things more 

difficult. Some people do it with that weight and they do 

it amazing. For some people, that’s their inspiration. 

Also, find a mental outlet for you, whether it’s running, 

bodybuilding, painting, baking — anything. Find a space 

where you can let that anxiety out. It should have nothing to 

do with your work so that you are completely disconnected 

from it. Find a hobby that doesn’t make money, where you can 

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO 

just be comfortable. 

SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO LEAVE THEIR 

9-5 TO FOLLOW THEIR PASSION? 

For those who are looking to leave their jobs 

and start their business, first and foremost, 

WHAT’S BEEN YOUR BEST ACHIEVEMENT AND YOUR 

LOWEST LOW? 

My best win is the internal win of realising that I could do this. 

it’s not for everyone. That’s always 

If you’ve always worked for somebody, always an employee, you 

the first thing I tell people because a 

business owner’s levels of stress, anxiety 

and feelings of being defeated and 

questioning themselves are so much, 

it’s very difficult to deal with. I struggle 

with it. I have moments when I can’t 

face it at times. But I feel there are 

times when you feel like you’re on 

don’t know that you can find other means of income. Once that’s 

taken away from you, you have to suddenly figure out ways to make 

money. Now, I learnt a way to sell and make money. 

For the business, the biggest win was last year for locking the contract 

with Nike where we launched a Nike store in Dubai Mall. That was a 

massive project and they are a great team. 

A low point would be last year, around this time, I was just so focused 

on the business. And my lifestyle took a hit — my diet, emotions, mental

state. I had a surge in cholesterol and blood pressure. 

Being a post-kidney transplant, my health was in a really 

bad state. But thankfully, Reem and Akkaoui motivated me 

to train. And they started dragging me off every morning 

to train, exercise, go for a run, do yoga, attend spin class, 

hit the gym and do weights. This became a trajectory 

which I somehow found myself sticking to. Now I love it. 

It’s been a year now and I still do it. I’m very proud of that. 

From last year to this point, I’m down 15 kilos, I’ve reduced 

my blood pressure. I don’t have cholesterol problems 

anymore. Everything regulated and back to normal. 

I had another low point which was dealing with anxiety. I, 

unfortunately, had such aggressive anxiety that it became 

borderline paralysis. I couldn’t move, think or work. There 

were family and business pressures that all hit at the same 

time. I felt incredibly defeated. Coming out of anxiety 

doesn’t necessarily have a clear path — you have to push 

through it. 

5. HOW ARE YOU DEALING WITH YOUR ANXIETY? 

For me, it was figuring out the cause. How did I get 

here? Why do I have such high anxiety like I’ve never had 

before? I’m still on that journey of figuring out what it is. 

Every day, I’m in the journey of discovering something 

new, unlocking and dealing with what I’ve found... And I 

started journaling. 

6. HAVE YOU EVER MADE A LIST OF ALL THE THINGS 

THAT ARE BOTHERING YOU? 

I just started writing. In the journal, I record thoughts 

about gratitude. Every day, I have to find 10 things that I’m 

grateful for. Every morning, I have to ask myself, “What am 

I grateful for today?” — and just keep listing everything 

that comes to my head. Then, I go through it multiple 

times during the day. I don’t think I’m going to stop having 

anxiety. I’ve realised that it’s something I’ve got to learn 

to live with while managing the level of stress that comes 

from it. 

7. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE DUKKAN SHOW? 

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS? 

I’ve got multiple roadmaps. Essentially, they’re the same, 

each for different things. For the business specifically, I’m 

trying to build the most unconventional creative solution 

business of our time. Where it is going to go and what 

it’s going to manifest itself into are things unheard of. I’m 

confident in our capabilities. 

I would like to sell a part of the business and get venture 

capitalists involved. I have products specifically designed 

to be sold. 

And also, I’m a Sudanese, living in the Middle East and 

there are lots of global socio-political impacts that slow 

me down. My fight is to win against them, but also to 

create something that nobody could doubt or question. 

As a Sudanese, I have Sudanese citizenship. Not American 

or European like most people in this industry. So I need to 

apply for visas every time I travel. My biggest concern is 

healthcare and being temporary in a place. My intention 

with this business is that it becomes so successful, I 

wouldn’t have to worry about these issues anymore. I can 

afford to buy what I need. The business will get to a certain 

place, whether financially or with reputation. And then, the 

success will speak for me. 

8. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU? 

For me, there was always this notion of owning narrative 

and telling our stories before it’s told to us. That was what 

helped me kick start the show. Moving into the business, 

my motivation was heavily on fighting stereotypes and 

building businesses that are — I’m not going to call them 

‘diverse’ because that is the norm. In its essence and 

nature, it is like that — diverse, and that is the minimum 

expectation. It’s a business for talented individuals. It 

doesn’t matter who you are, or where you come from. All 

you need is to have something the world deserves to see. 

There’s a podcast called ‘The Dropout’ which focuses on 

the journey of a woman known as Elizabeth Holmes. She 

built a tech company designed around a medical solution 

which needed just a prick of blood at the fingertips instead 

of the exorbitant amount of blood asked by labs. She had 

these boxes at Walgreens where people can come and get 

their tests done. In reality, her company and product didn’t 

exist. She ran it for 12 years and after 9 years, questions 

started popping up. But she had gotten so much publicity

with magazines and television interviews, 

even landing an interview by Bill Clinton on 

his show. She got that far. 

Because she was so successful, people 

compared her to Steve Jobs. People said 

she’s going to be the next biggest thing who’s 

changing not just the US, but the world. She 

was godsent and became a billionaire. Her 

company was valued at billions worth of 

dollars. People wanted to believe the dream 

she had shown them, but they didn’t realise 

that they were being duped. 

I want to fight stereotypes and grow real 

businesses. I can’t fight fire with fire. All I can do 

is prove people wrong every step of the way. 

The idea of being underestimated is always 

attractive. You hear a lot of Sudanese jokes 

about our people about being lazy. And every 

time someone jokes about it, I refuse to laugh 

and ask them to point out a lazy Sudanese 

they know. Because I, for a fact, know that I will 

outwork anybody out there. I don’t take these 

jokes very lightly because they are offensive 

when people think they’re not. In a way, this 

is how we change stereotypes. We outgrow, 

outbuild and move faster than anybody else 

to get to good places. 

9. WHO INSPIRES YOU? 

I have a lot of mentors who I’m thankful for — 

people who have done amazing work in their 

spaces whom I go to for advice and guidance. 

But true inspiration for me goes beyond just 

business. People inspire me for different 

things. 

I’m inspired by Reem, my business partner, by 

her aggression and vision. 

My mom is just and fair. She passed through 

a religious journey after our grandfather died. 

And she’s very religious and conservative. But 

she’s also non-judgemental. People gravitate 

towards her, whether they are as religious or 

plain liberal. She makes it easy for people to 

talk to her by being welcoming, loving and 

open. I find that to be powerful — the idea 

of allowing yourself to be non-judgmental, 

for allowing people to be who they are with 

their faults or whatever issues they have. 

Understanding that we’re not the same and 

that’s okay. Being understanding of people’s 

differences is so powerful. 

My dad is a by-the-book kind of guy (which 

I’m not!) who clearly believes that ‘if it’s the 

law, then it’s the law.’ I love how fair he is and 

how he puts everybody else’s needs in front of 

his, whether it’s his family’s or of his extended 

relatives. He’ll drop everything to go support 

people. He supports people on their job 

just because they have a family and kids and 

other dependencies, and not because they 

are good for the job assigned. To me, that 

would feel like it will make the business bleed. 

But being able to see the good in them, that 

there’s something else. I deeply respect that 

and wish that I can get to that point where I 

look at someone and be so accepting. 

10. IF YOU WERE OFFERED A LARGE SUM 

OF MONEY TO TAKE ON A 9-5, WOULD 

YOU CONSIDER IT? 

Even if any salary Would be that big (and 

my business cannot afford to pay me that at 

this moment), I won’t take that job, for two 

reasons. One is I know the business is not 

going to be here for long. The whole point 

of business is growth. If your business is not 

growing, it’s flatlining, which means it’s dead. 

The focus of businesses is always growth. 

Growth indicates that I can make that much 

money. 

Two — my worth is not just my worth. It’s the 

worth of the business. So I’m worth a lot more 

than what I was before. 

Business is also freedom — of schedule, of 

having the power of saying no, and choosing 

who to work with. In my previous company, 

some of my clients were tobacco and alcohol 

businesses that morally I don’t like to promote. 

If it were my business, I can decide that don’t 

have to work with them. So that sense of 

freedom and power of decision making — 

there’s no 9-5 that can give you that.

VISUALISATION 

DISCOVERING MIND 

POWER FOR SUCCESS 

If you dream it, live it! So if you want success, 

you have to claim it. A strong mind attracts the 

things you want in life. That’s the power of the mind 

possible through visualisation. 

Visualisation is an effective technique used by 

successful people to create their desired results 

— first in their minds, before in reality. For ages, 

this practice has helped achievers get positive 

outcomes. With it, they’ve created the life they 

want by accomplishing one goal at a time with 

confidence (to their abilities) and focus (in the now). 

Visualisation lets you focus and direct your thoughts 

towards what you desire — daily! Positive people 

direct their thoughts towards their end goal. 

Unfortunately, many of us are yet to discover, 

practice and harness visualisation to our advantage. 

Little do we know that the rich, the inventors, 

the athletes and all the rest of the world’s most 

powerful people have been visualising their desired 

outcomes. And you have that power to visualise 

such goals just like these successful people. 

By visualising your dreams as if it’s happening now, 

you can accelerate and achieve your ambitions, 

dreams and goals faster. Let’s look at what the 

benefits of visualisation are for us: 

VISUALISATION TO MANIFEST DESIRED 

OUTCOMES 

Constant visualisation can activate your creative 

and powerful subconscious mind by generating 

ideas. It can programme the brain to perceive and 

acknowledge resources towards realising those 

dreams. 

Then, visualisation activates the Law of Attraction 

that draws those resources along with the needed 

people and circumstances towards you. 

So without even saying, “What your mind can 

conceive your body can achieve.” 

Simply put, you attract what you want in your life. 

And this is how the universe works. This makes it 

important to attract positive energies into your life. 

If it is trash you feed your brain with, your life will 

move towards that trashy direction. 

DEVELOPING MOTIVATION 

Another benefit of mastering visualisation is 

developing your internal motivation. With 

proper and constant visualisation, you will find 

the motivation needed to realise your goals and 

ambitions. 

Without even saying, you don’t leave all the work 

to the universe and do nothing — but in fact, it 

becomes the exact opposite. 

Visualisation helps us create the realities we want to 

come our way by first visualising images, things and 

places and so on. And this gives us the motivation 

to do what it takes to succeed and keep going until 

we do so. 

“BUT, MAYBE VISUALISATION ISN’T FOR 

BEGINNERS.” 

Actually, it is. In fact, visualisation is simple and for 

everyone. 

All you have to do is to sit still and calm in a 

comfortable position with your eyes closed and your 

mind visualising a powerful scene. For instance: 

you with your family living in a beachfront house 

and breathing cool and fresh air with morning sea 

breeze hitting your faces….. 

As you imagine the circumstance, you begin to 

visualise images with as many vivid details as 

you can possibly cook up in your mind’s eye. You 

visualise being in that moment — at that desired 

result of all your hard work.

IT’S A LITTLE TRICK FOR YOUR BRAIN! 

Claiming that you’re already in that moment with your goals 

achieved is a mental trick that conditions your brain and body 

— to live and feel that glorious event or achievement as if 

it’s happening NOW. Whatever it be, whether it’s winning 

a boxing match, acing an exam, becoming a top company 

executive, establishing a successful business… Visualisation 

will make it come alive in more ways than one. 

BUT IT IS NOT MAGIC. SUCCESS WON’T HAPPEN 

OVERNIGHT. 

Like all things in life, you need to keep working hard towards 

that vision until you get there. This takes time, effort and 

focus. You have to define the success of what you can 

achieve. 

Remember, whatever you feed your mind with, you can 

achieve — and that’s how powerful the mind is. 

[So always, be cautious…. Be careful what you visualise. 

Avoid negativity.] 

EASY AND SIMPLE VISUALISATION TECHNIQUES 

For this mental practice, you don’t need to spend much time. 

All you need are a few (undisturbed) minutes. The most ideal 

time for visualisation is when you are most relaxed, like upon 

waking up, after prayer, meditation or BEFORE BEDTIME. 

IMAGES 

This simple yet powerful visualisation technique works by 

creating a photograph or image of oneself already with their 

goal — as if it’s achieved. For example, you have this dream 

house. Take a photo of yourself with it on the background 

as if it is yours. 

Or, perhaps, you’re dreaming of seeing the Northern Lights 

yourself. Print a photo of the lights from the internet, cut a 

photo of yourself and place it into the first picture. Keep it 

within sight. 

For every goal, create an image or a photo representing 

it. You can do this practice for every aspect of your life. 

For each goal like learning a new skill, starting a career, 

business, managing finances and so on, have its own visual 

representation. 

HOW ELSE CAN YOU VISUALISE YOUR REALITY? 

USE INDEX CARDS. 

Are you working on a couple of goals right now? Write each 

of them in an index card, and always take them with you. 

Every morning, go through each of those goals and close 

your eyes while imagining that goal completed. Repeat it 

with the next set of cards. 

SUPPORT VISUALISATION WITH AFFIRMATIONS 

Feel and live the life you want and claim the success you 

envision for yourself. Use affirmations. 

Examples: 

• I am running a successful company, working from 

anywhere, happily exploring cultures and meeting 

new people while travelling the world. 

· I have a happy family with two lovely kids and a 

supportive husband. We’re living in a beachfront 

property and have a simple country life. 

Repeat the affirmation of choice a couple of times 

daily so that you can focus your goals towards it while 

programming your subconscious mind and developing 

motivation. By doing so, you’ll send a powerful message 

to the universe to help you achieve it. And with that, 

you can also train your body and mind to do whatever is 

needed to get it. 

VISUALISATION TECHNIQUES TO CALM YOUR 

ANXIOUS MIND 

In addition to manifesting our desired results, visualisation 

also silences our anxious mind and improves our performance 

through increased focus and confidence in ourselves.

THE STOP SIGN TECHNIQUE 

Intrusive thoughts can disrupt our daily lives and hinder 

in our performance, whether in school, work or play. They 

keep on whispering in our ears and meddling with our 

brains. 

This happens to everyone. We immediately start beating 

ourselves and go to the worst conclusions. To stop 

unwanted thoughts, use this technique: 

Imagine that you’re on an empty street with a stop sign. 

Look at and focus on the stop sign. Say and repeat the 

word “Stop” a couple of times. 

Using the stop sign technique, you can shoo away those 

anxieties and go about the rest of the day with a clear head. 

THE BALL OF YARN 

With our hectic lives, we find it hard to unwind after a long 

stressful day. So even when it’s time to sleep and recharge 

for the next day, it’s a big challenge for many of us. Here’s 

how visualisation can help you calm down: 

Sit down and visualise a yarn ball holding that tension. 

Find its tip and imagine the yarn unrolling. As the strand 

becomes longer while unrolling, you can feel the tension 

loosen up. 

THE QUIET BEACH SCENE VISUALISATION 

Your mind is experiencing a panic attack as you’re about to 

take off on a plane. It is too anxious about the things that 

can possibly go wrong. Sounds familiar? 

When facing such situations, to calm one’s mind, imagine a 

serene beach with you lying on the sands under blue skies 

and surrounded by breezy waves. Imagine and feel the 

sand’s warmth on your feet. 

Now, you can let go of the worries and tension, with your 

breathing going back to normal, synchronising with the 

water’s rolling waves. 

GET STARTED WITH VISUALISATION 

Activate and harness the power of your subconscious 

mind, work harder with more motivation and see how your 

goals get completed. 

Visualisation can help you get closer to your success. 

But don’t spend most of your day thinking about those 

aspirations and dreams. Otherwise, we’ll fail at living in the 

moment. 

Remember, visualisation is a guide, not a source of 

distraction. 

So once done visualising the reality you want, release 

and let go of those goals. Return to the present moment 

instantly to spend the rest of your day normally. Just as they 

say, “Today is a gift, that’s why it’s called the ‘present.’” 

So at the end of the day, use visualisation to achieve 

and focus on your goals. But also enjoy today’s gift for 

tomorrow’s magnificent results. 

After all, as we mentioned at the beginning, this practice 

can help you accomplish a GOAL at a time with confidence 

in your best abilities and by focussing on the PRESENT. 

Visualise. Live now. Succeed tomorrow. 

THE DOUBLE-PANED WINDOW 

With our anxious minds, we find it hard to sleep because they 

keep wandering somewhere else, worrying about tomorrow 

and unable to switch off no matter how tired we are. 

Whenever anxiety is keeping you awake, tossing and turning, 

unable to drift off into sleep, here’s what you can do: 

Imagine some people outside your open window chatting 

loudly. Instead of shouting at them, calmly and slowly close 

your double paned window. 

The noise is gone. You can now hit the hay sack and go to 

sleep in peace.

WIN 

DINNER 

FOR TWO AT Ba 

Check out @outandaboutstylemag on 

Instagram for details of how to enter. 

****Competition winner will be announced on Friday May 31st.

9 AMAZING 

Chia Recipes 

YOU SHOULD TRY

LEMON MUFFINS WITH HONEY GLAZE AND CHIA 

SEEDS 

Muffins are a favourite on any occasion because they’re 

comforting and filling at the same time. These lemon muffins 

are made more decadent and healthy with the addition of chia 

and honey. 

But to make these lovelies healthier, you can consider replacing 

white sugar with coconut palm sugar. 

Note that lemons are loaded with antioxidants and immuneboosting 

properties, making it one of the healthiest foods on 

the planet. It can help you reduce allergies, fight off cold and 

lose weight. 

Check this video for the full recipe. 

QUINOA AND CHIA PROTEIN BARS 

If you love seeds, you might want to try these protein bars that 

combine quinoa and chia. 

They’re better than those store-bought protein bars loaded 

with preserved and processed ingredients that are in no way 

good for our health. In this recipe, you can make protein bars 

really healthy. 

These treats are ideal for an on-the-go breakfast and also for a 

great afternoon snack. 

You can consider adding other seeds of your choice. You can 

also use honey for this recipe to reduce inflammation and 

supply your body with vitamins and minerals. 

Check out this video for recipe. 

PUMPKIN PIE OATMEAL 

We all love pumpkin pie, and we’d love it more if we use some 

oatmeal on it, right? Both the ingredients in this healthy chia 

recipe make it a nutritious breakfast loaded with fibre, vitamins, 

minerals and antioxidants. 

You can also add cinnamon along with all the goodness of 

pumpkin and chia, which will not only keep you fuller for a long 

time, but also healthier. 

The high amount of fibre in this oatmeal recipe will also 

stabilise blood sugar levels. 

**Do add more water in this recipe because the chia seeds will 

soak up water quickly. You can also get more creative and add 

in other nuts, fruits, seeds, or any toppings you have at home. 

Click here for the complete recipe.

STRAWBERRY CHIA JAM 

If you love jam, but don’t want a sugar overload, you can try this 

better version with lesser sugar and more nutrition, made from 

chia and strawberries. 

Chia seeds have the ability to form a gel-like substance, making 

it a perfect ingredient for jams. It is also one of my favourites for 

keeping the blood sugar stable. 

Alternatively, you can use other berries like blueberries or 

blackberries instead of strawberries if you want. You can also get 

creative and combine berries of different types. That’s up to you! 

Berries are high in antioxidants and chia seeds are great 

sources of fibre. The combination of this power duo can 

make you healthier with better ability in fighting free radicals. 

Additionally, berries work perfectly to slow down signs of 

ageing, hence are a favourite amongst men and women that 

want to stay wrinkle-free longer. 

Check this video for the full recipe. 

HEALTHY CHOCOLATE CHIA MILK 

This healthy and creamy chia milk shouldn’t be forgotten if 

you’re looking for good chia breakfast recipes. It will keep you 

energised and feeling full the entire morning without worrying 

about sugar spikes. 

Here is the complete video for the recipe. 

PEACH COBBLER 

Cobbler anyone? Make your own healthy version at home in 

a couple of steps as outlined in the video coming up. In this 

recipe, you add in ingredients like almond and coconut flour 

with chia seeds for healthy fats. Both fresh or frozen peaches 

will do just fine for this recipe. Alternatively, replace peaches 

with apples or mangoes or any juicy fruits of your choice. 

Here is the video for the complete recipe.

CREAMY STRAWBERRY CHIA PUDDING 

Satisfy your sweet cravings without the guilt! The perfect tandem 

of strawberries and chia in this recipe makes extra special. It is 

a great treat to yourself or your loved ones on a summer day. 

Swap processed bread or any other sugary pudding for this 

wholesome one. 

Chia gives its gelatin-like feel to the pudding and with 

strawberries, this dessert becomes more nutritious and yummy. 

Try this chia pudding and keep it fresh and light. 

It is one of our favourite chia recipes for a healthier alternative 

of dessert or an afternoon snack. 

Here is the video: Creamy Strawberry Chia Pudding 

APPLE AND POMEGRANATE CHIA PUDDING SLICE 

Another great pudding idea is the recipe that is packed with 

fibre, vitamins and minerals and antioxidants. 

It is not the traditional pudding we know of because it features 

the combo of pomegranate and apple with a host of nutrients 

along with our star of the day — fibre-rich chia seeds. 

Pomegranate, in particular, offers a host of benefits like antiageing, 

skin protection and enhancement which defies sun 

exposure that will otherwise lead to fine lines and wrinkles. 

Check here for the complete recipe. 

COCONUT CHIA PROTEIN PANCAKES 

I just love coconut chia protein pancakes versus the traditional 

refined flour based pancakes we’ve known since childhood. 

For sure, you’ll love the new twist of the addition of coconut 

flakes on this recipe. It adds that tropical flavour and a bit of 

texture in this staple breakfast food. It’s made healthier with 

whey protein and chia seeds that do not just enhance its 

character, but also increases its and protein content. 

So before heading for your day’s workout, consider planning 

for a really nice breakfast comprising of coconut chia protein 

pancakes. Alternatively, you can also add other ingredients 

like berries and nuts — the choice is yours. These pancakes 

can keep you focused and full until lunchtime. 

Check out this video for the recipe. 

Definitely, chia seeds are some of the most versatile ingredients around us that we can add in a wide range of recipes. No doubt, it is 

one of the planet’s superfoods. Chia is our ultimate source of fibre, vitamins and minerals along with a whole lot more of nutrients that 

can keep us young, healthy and fit. Try these recipes today!

10 Shockingly 

Man-made Fruits, 

Nuts & Vegetables 

WE 

DIDN’T 

KNOW 

Did you know that some of the nuts, fruits and 

vegetables we consume are not natural? Yes, you 

got that right! 

These are man-made hybrids created through a 

selective breeding process in which only favourable 

plants with good characteristics are replanted to 

reproduce and become food. But in some instances, 

insects like bees, are responsible for creating the 

hybrids through a process called cross-pollination. 

Let’s take a look at the most common hybrids found 

around today’s markets: 

BANANAS 

When and where bananas came from was the subject of 

an analysis of the evolution of this famous fruit. The study 

evaluated different findings to seek the truth. 

Long ago, wild bananas (the musa balbisiana) had large 

hard seeds. The tree didn’t bear many fruits. Today’s 

bananas are said to have evolved from the wild varieties 

— the Musa balbisiana and the Musa acuminata, that had 

small and okra-like pods. These were used in breeding 

seedless bananas. 

CORN 

Did you know that the corn that we have all summer long 

is actually a hybrid? Where it came from is unknown to 

many of us as shockingly, the biological origins of this 

food remains a mystery. 

Some experts linked corn’s existence to teosinte, a 

Mexican grass, which has skinny ears and few dozens of 

kernels inside its casing. Others regard it as a relative of 

rice, not maize. 

A Cornell University graduate, George W. Beadle, 

discovered that teosinte kernels pop. And the plant and 

maize appear to be having the same chromosomes. He 

later concluded that these plants were related and won 

the Nobel Prize for his “Genetics” work.

WATERMELONS 

Watermelons are one of the oldest foods on earth, 

having been around for over a millennium. In fact, 

archaeologists have found watermelon seeds at a 5000- 

year old Libya settlement. Watermelon paintings and 

seeds have also been found in Egyptian tombs that are 

at least 4,000 years old. One of those tombs was of the 

famous King Tut. 

In the past, watermelons used to have a more pale 

colour and more seeds. It turns out that watermelons 

didn’t have the red flesh they have now. The amount of 

flesh was also comparatively less. 

APPLES 

This fruit’s ancestors look pretty much the same as what 

we can now find in groceries and supermarkets. But the 

tastes are different. 

A native and wild apple found in Tajikistan, China, 

Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan known as the 

Malus sieversii, is one of the ancestors of today’s apple, 

according to the Global Trees Campaign. 

TOMATOES 

Today, we can find so many varieties of this nutritious 

fruit, loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and 

fibre. Some consider this fruit as a vegetable and it is 

one of the oldest veggies around. 

In fact, a herbarium sheet circa 1542-1544 shows the 

oldest conserved tomatoes of Europe. Long ago, today’s 

tomatoes ancestors had small yellow or green fruit. The 

Aztecs often used them in cooking. 

Eventually, explorers brought it to Italy and Spain. 

However, it was thought to be poison apple in the 

1700s because people thought the Aristocrats died after 

consuming it. It turned out later that they died due to 

lead poisoning that happened when the lead in the fruit 

leached from the pewter plates.

CARROTS 

Carrots have been around for quite a while and they are 

loved by not only just rabbits, but by children and adults 

as well. They were easy to grow even earlier, but they 

used to look quite different than what’s available in the 

market now. 

Did you know that they used to be purple or off-white 

instead of the bright orange as they are today? They 

were very thin as well. 

According to the virtual World Carrot Museum, Romans 

and Greeks grew the vegetables for food. 

PEANUTS 

Today’s peanuts are a cross between its ancestors — 

the Arachis duranensis (found in the Andean Valleys) 

and the Arachis ipaensis (native to Bolivia). As the 

plants are so far apart in the physical realm, they 

couldn’t have crossbred naturally. 

Later, researchers discovered that early settlers in 

South America brought the Arachis duranensis from 

the valleys when they travelled to modern Bolivia some 

10,000 years ago. But back then, the settlers didn’t 

know the new crop’s potential. It was a good thing that 

the bees did the cross-pollination between the two 

plants — resulting in the modern food, peanut. 

STRAWBERRIES 

This fruit is the smaller version of wild strawberries. Wild 

strawberries have a better aroma and flavour, but a 

shorter shelf life. 

Today’s strawberries were first seen in France in the 18 th 

century. But for this plant, the hybridisation programme 

started much earlier. French botanists began planting 

strawberries in the 1300s as soon as they realised that 

wild strawberries could reproduce through cloning. 

Shockingly, some didn’t produce fruits at all, while 50% 

of the ones that did could not be closed and stopped 

making fruits in the next few years. While the French 

were able to create wild strawberries, which were up to 

20 times their normal size, they were still tiny. 

Finally, Antoine Nicolas Duchesne, who crossed a 

female Fragaria chiloensis (from Chile) and male Fragaria 

moschata, created the first modern strawberry on July 

6, 1764.

EGGPLANTS 

Do you love the rich and deep purple colour of 

eggplants? We all do! But did you know that this veggie 

used to have several shades — purple, azure and even 

yellow? 

The vegetable got its name because it used to be round 

and white, hence similar to an ‘egg.’ Some of them even 

had spines. 

ORANGES 

While there are many varieties available now, all of 

them can trace their roots to the hybrid and manmade 

variety which resulted from the crossing of 

pomelo with mandarin. 

While some people believe that the orange is the 

ancestor of the mandarin, it is actually the other 

way around. 

And even if the history of the orange is unclear, 

many believed that the first one grew in 

Southern China. 

[Tidbit: A tangerine is unlike the orange and 

not considered as one because it evolved 

from the mandarin, only not from the 

pomelo.]

HOT 

YOGA? 

CHECK OUT THESE 

PROS AND CONS 

You probably have one or two friends 

who’ve been selling hot yoga to you, telling 

how great that is to sweat, lose weight and 

improve flexibility, to name a few benefits. 

But then, you might be sceptical, asking 

yourself how performing yoga poses in 

a room of at least 38°C can benefit the 

body. Well, you’re not the only one who’s 

confused whether to jump into this “hot” 

trend or stick with traditional yoga classes 

they know. 

Let’s dig into the real details of hot yoga 

and its pros and cons so that you can 

decide whether the workout is for you or 

not.

FLEXIBILITY 

It’s true that you can be more flexible when trying hot 

yoga in sauna-like temperatures of up to 41°C — with the 

humidity soaring to 60%. The warmth in the room allows 

muscles to stretch easier than in normal temperatures. With 

steamy and “sweaty” temperatures, you can increase your 

motion range, allowing for deeper stretches into each pose. 

So there, hot yoga actually does make your muscles more 

pliable, thus improving your flexibility in the process. The 

hot room temperature can also make you extend further 

than in a standard, cool yoga studio. And that is even 

without you knowing! 

INTENSIFIED WORKOUTS 

A hot environment is a challenge — as if working out 

itself is not a challenge enough. In hot yoga, the heat 

leads to a faster heart rate, resulting in faster pumping 

of the heart muscles. Consequently, more blood rushes 

to the skin to keep you feeling cool. So as the heart 

intensifies in its functioning, you’re also getting a better 

workout in the process versus what you’d get in a cooler 

room. 

STRESS REDUCTION AND BETTER BREATHING 

Kick the stress out the picture — faster! While traditional 

yoga already does well in this department, nothing beats 

a hot room when trying to focus better on our breathing. 

This focus due to the sweltering environment helps you to 

relax better and thereby relieve stress. 

LUNG CAPACITY 

Yoga in itself is good for improving lung capacity and 

health as it improves breathing. Okay, we know that now 

you’re probably thinking that breathing can be harder in a 

stifling room. But the truth is that you can train your lungs 

to keep more air because doing deeper breaths. This will 

help your lungs to expand, giving way for more oxygen to 

enter your bloodstream and reaching every single cell of 

the body. 

CALORIE BURNING 

Hot yoga can burn more calories. Just like other exercises 

and movements that increase the heart rate, eventually 

burning fat and calories that speed up weight loss, hot yoga 

is another useful weight loss tool. Studies show that it burns 

calories faster, that too, without involving any running or 

rapid movements. 

The temperature in a hot yoga studio alone is enough to burn 

calories. Did you know that you can burn at least 333 calories 

doing hot yoga? Try Vinyasa yoga to feel that intense burn. 

WHY HOT YOGA ISN’T FOR EVERYONE — THE 

DOWNSIDES 

Hot yoga isn’t an all-good workout despite all these pros. 

If you plan to try it, you should be ready to face some of 

its cons as well: 

EXHAUSTION 

Your blood pressure may drop, making you feel nauseated

and dizzy while doing hot yoga. There are many who have 

fainted in a yoga class due to the exhaustion. This is one of 

the realities associated with sweaty yoga workouts. 

To prevent this from happening: Listen to your body; how 

you are feeling after the first few minutes, especially if 

you’re new to hot yoga. Are you feeling drowsy or lightheaded? 

Or still stable and fit? Even if you’re feeling great 

and excited about the new exercise, do not ignore your 

body signs. Listen to them carefully. 

Tip: To keep yourself feeling comfortable and reduce 

exhaustion, wear sweat-wicking clothing because you’re 

going to sweat a lot in this class. 

from friends. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Hot yoga can burn more calories due to increased metabolism 

and heart rate. It can also improve flexibility, muscle tone 

and relieve stress. But while this form of exercise can make 

you feel better and healthier, it isn’t free from any drawbacks 

like potential injuries, exhaustion and dehydration. 

To prevent any such issues, don’t engage in hot yoga or 

any workout for that matter, without consulting your GP, 

especially if you have a medical condition. And when 

given the go signal, don’t ignore, but listen to your body. 

Stop when feeling dizzy or nauseated or if you’re feeling 

something’s quite not right with your body. 

DEHYDRATION 

The drawback of dehydration is another possibility, 

although it does not happen to everyone. The tendency 

to become dehydrated is high because of the large 

amounts of sweat produced. The body loses water very 

quickly in this process. 

So before beginning the workout, you need to drink 

plenty of water and keep yourself hydrated during the 

class in order to replenish lost fluid. 

Also, take note that the hot temperatures can lead to 

throwing up, cramping and fainting. Hydration prevents 

such issues. 

As a tip, you might want to load up on fluids, especially 

those high in electrolytes, until the day before a class. 

And for proper digestion, you should allow a gap of at 

least two hours between a meal and the class. 

POTENTIAL INJURY 

You might overdo and push yourself too hard in the 

workout due to the increased muscle flexibility, but you 

really shouldn’t. While you’re not actually feeling the 

tiredness during the class, you would later in the day. Do 

not push too hard when stretching for any pose — or you 

may suffer from injury. 

NOT FOR EVERYBODY 

Hot yoga is not for people who have a heart condition or 

are pregnant. If you belong to these categories, you must 

go and find another exercise, perhaps something like yoga 

for beginners in a cool studio room. 

Also, it is very important to talk to your doctor before 

engaging in any exercise for your safety. If you’re feeling 

uncomfortable exercising in a hot and humid room, you 

should not try hot yoga, regardless of the encouragement

YUMMY 

MOMMY 

Marianna is a happy single mom who 

has discovered the strength of fitness 

training and exercise. Her motto on 

keeping fit and staying healthy is a 

source of inspiration worth sharing. 

Here’s her story:

1. TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF 

I’m Marianna, a happy mother and film producer. I began 

my career in the film industry at 18 and is still passionate 

about job. And I’m already 32, which is unbelievable for 

me because to be honest, I feel my body and well-being is 

better now than how it was 10 years ago. 

I don’t remember a time in my life I was not involved in sports. 

I had joined a dance school when I was just 6 years old, and 

that became my passion for the next 20 years. During school 

and university days, when I was not having lessons, everyone 

knew that I was in the gym. Even now, it’s like that. When I 

have free time, or when I want to concentrate or want to 

really think about something, I go to the gym. That’s my time 

to recover not only my muscles, but my body and mind as 

well. 

It was in Dubai that I started my journey as a personal trainer. 

I began small, with a few friends, which later expanded to 

friends of friends who were interested in knowing about 

sessions on how to work out, get into shape after pregnancy 

and how to get ready for delivery. I have a bachelor’s degree 

in rehabilitation as well, so I feel I’m qualified to train. Some 

people started to ask me to work out with them as well. It 

was then that I decided to be a personal trainer. 

The biggest part of my life is my child. Since my daughter 

was born, my heart keeps beating in her. And of course, 

everything I do is all about her happiness. 

2. HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR CAREER, 

FAMILY AND KEEPING FIT? 

I think the answer to this question is in the word ‘balance.’ 

You have to change your mind from doing sports, training 

and gym being a thing which you have to do every day to 

keep your body in shape to something which comes naturally 

to you. You must integrate them into your daily life. Training 

should feel like it’s a part of you and your lifestyle. Whatever 

you do, if it’s a walk in the park, biking, even when you need 

to do something with your kid, try to create activities that 

move your body — like ice skating or football. Whatever you 

pick, it should be like a part of your lifestyle so that it will be 

comfortable for you and for everyone in your family as well. 

Such integrated activities will also be much more fun. 

3. DESCRIBE YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY.

Today, if you know how to do exercises the right way, you can train anyone 

anywhere. When my daughter was born, I was using big water bottles weighing 

some 4 to 5 litres for weights, because I didn’t have anything else to train with 

at that time. Two months after delivery, I was looking even better than before 

due to my workouts. 

Today, you can find great exercises for muscles everywhere in each gym. You can 

train in the park as well. You can do home workouts. There’s a lot of information 

out there on the Internet and YouTube on how to do workouts right. 

For me, I keep my workouts simple. I train 6 days per week — 1 day off. I do a lot 

of things together with my clients. In my opinion, I feel this is a great motivation 

for them. Doing some really difficult exercises with them is great support. I train 

and motivate them to work hard. 

4. HOW DO YOU STAY MOTIVATED TO BE FIT? 

For me, my biggest motivation is my kid and my clients. I love to see how happy 

my daughter is when I stay fit. At just 6 years of age, she started to understand 

my body and often says, “Mommy looks fit and healthy.” I really love how she 

describes me, sometimes saying, “My mother is the most healthy, the most 

beautiful, the most sporty... I want to be exactly like you, mommy!” 

Regarding my clients, you have to be in perfect shape to be able to advise 

people. We should walk the talk. 

5. WHAT IS YOUR DIET LIKE? 

I prepare very simple and healthy food for myself. I begin my day with a wholesome 

breakfast which consists of 100% carbohydrates because we absolutely need the 

carbs at least one hour before the training sessions. Usually, breakfast is oatmeal 

with nuts and berries. I also like to drink coffee with unsweetened almond milk. 

My lunch is also very simple and low fat like some eggs or chicken breast. Dinner 

is 70% vegetables and leafy salad greens. 

This is what I usually eat in a day. But I like to enjoy life and food. I can’t live 

without sweets and good chocolate. Once a week, I indulge in a cheat meal. In 

that meal, I eat lots of stuff like chocolate or my favourite — cake. Sometimes, 

I cook something tasty and sweet with my daughter. We can’t cut out the good 

parts of life which we enjoy so much. I’m very happy for people who don’t need 

sugar and are really consistent with their diet. But for me, for us, for my family, 

we like to have some nice evenings where we can eat sweets and good food 

which makes us happy. 

6. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF DIET AND WORKOUTS YOU

7. WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 TIPS YOU’D LIKE 

TO SHARE FOR WOMEN WHO’RE LOOKING 

TO GET INTO SHAPE POST-PREGNANCY? 

HAVE TRIED AND HATED? 

All my life, I’ve had lots of shoots for magazines, beauty 

salons and fitness clubs. When you get ready for them, 

you have to train a lot and keep a special diet. You’ll have 

to reduce your water and eat a lot of protein like chicken 

breast and meat. No carbs on this period. During the last 

few days of the shoot, you’re almost without water. And 

it’s difficult to keep it up. I love my training and fitness 

shoots, but hate to prepare for it. After the shoot, I drink 

a lot of water and eat some sweets. 

First of all, you have to start from the pregnancy period. 

Instead of reducing training sessions, you have to plan 

them well — maybe not so exhausting, not so hardcore. 

Do swimming instead of weights. Biking instead of 

jogging. There are some exercises you can do until the 

time of the delivery. 

Today, a lot of exercises out there are meant for pregnant 

women. These exercises ensure that the mothers are 

able to retain their wonderful figures, and at the same 

time, have a healthy baby. Some of the exercises even 

straighten the muscles during delivery, which make the 

process less painful and even easier. 

If you do sports and exercises during pregnancy, it will 

be easier to get back into shape after delivery. You can 

get your beautiful body back and look even prettier and 

sexier. 

Don’t forget about eating healthy foods, maintaining 

positive moods and giving self-massages every day.

TRAVEL 

WITH 

LEELA 

SIEM REAP 

TEMPLE RUN

In my mind, Cambodia has long been synonymous with lush 

jungles and orange-robed monks, moving mysteriously through 

ancient temples. I’ve dreamt of visiting this place long before 

travel seemed like a possibility for me. 

With just 55 hours to explore the city of Siem Reap, I wanted to 

cram every minute with unforgettable moments. 

Although my goal was to experience as much of Siem Reap as 

possible, I also wanted the trip to have a measure of flexibility to 

do whatever I wanted, or in some cases, didn’t want. 

I arrived in the city mid-afternoon. My Airbnb host was awesome 

and had a tuk-tuk waiting for me at the airport. It’s great when I 

don’t have to worry about finding my way around a new city. That 

takes a lot of the anxiety away. 

My first stop was to buy a one-day pass for the temples. If you 

purchase the ticket after 3 pm, you can use it that same evening 

to see a temple of your choice for a sunset viewing, and it’s valid 

for the next full day. My driver took me to Phnom Bakheng, which 

was the optimal choice because it was a 25-minute trek uphill to 

get to the actual temple. This temple is best visited after sundown 

because otherwise, the humidity and heat can be intolerable. 

Once there though, the view is stunning — and it’s worth it. 

My second day was spent traversing the Angkor area and seeing 

the temples there. Despite the intense heat and humidity, I 

thoroughly enjoyed the experience. To walk amidst ruins that 

have been around since the 9 th Century AD is indescribable. 

There were moments when I was alone in the temples and felt 

like I was in a different time altogether. 

It was surreal to finally see Angkor Wat in real life after seeing it in 

so many pictures. And the best part of the experience was seeing 

the monks offering blessings to visitors. 

I definitely left a little piece of my heart in Siem Reap. It feels 

amazing to finally be able to check it off my bucket list. 

KAHLEEL 

HAMILTON 

is an international educator, travel 

enthusiast and guru who hails from New 

York City. Follow Kahleel on Instagram

www.outandaboutstyle.com 

SHOP

FOR THE 

CULTURE 

STAY TRUE TO YOU (ME) 

A true belief in self is the key to growth and evolution. When we 

begin to mimic the lives of characters on TV screens, we become 

desperate to leave our true self — the “ME” — and it is said that 

desperation is the key to moral failure. 

Many believe there is no need to bring ourselves or the “ME” to 

the table of life at all. Why? Most likely, it’s because the “ME” we 

have to offer is not cool enough. It is not the “HIM” or “THEM” 

talented enough to be showcased like it is in popular culture. 

Isn’t it strange how we can ‘win ourselves in the mould of others,’ 

but lose ourselves in the uniqueness of our being? Think about 

it. 

We welcome comparisons to our idols and role models, thus 

giving away our rights, and even opportunity to be the “ME” 

somebody else may want to emulate. We lead our lives to satisfy 

the insatiably greedy eyes of others. We cringe from failure 

because we think we lose everything in one go, and hence, 

we don’t even try to be the real “ME.” We forget the fact that 

the greatest individuals in the history of mankind have an open 

secret — that their greatness came from self-assurance, selfsufficiency, 

perseverance and liberty. 

So who are we not to not show our amazing true inner selves to 

the world? Who are we to have a voice and not be heard? Who 

are we to be accepting the lowly pinnacle of the third, when we 

should be ideally gearing to be first? 

We must elevate and accept the responsibility of being true to 

“ME” so that “YOU” can see the “ME” we were meant to be. 

We must identify our downfalls to fly above the limits set for 

us by others. We must be our own pathfinders, pioneers and 

vanguards who do not chase success in the footsteps of others. 

The importance of our being cannot be wholly realised until we 

have trained our individuality to be the true enforcer of self. 

Here are simple ways in which we can stay true to the “ME” in us:

• Being “YOU” is a commitment: First, we must realise 

that being “YOU” is a lifetime commitment. It must be a selfevolutionary 

movement that is led by the nucleus of our being 

— our beliefs. You should stand up for what you believe is 

right even though there maybe be occasional mishaps. Learn 

from the moments of miscalculation and failure, and grow 

from them. Listen to your intuition that says the truth — that 

we are our true role models; we are our “true self,” not our 

fetish or obsessions. We stay true to our core by trusting our 

ability to decide, take charge and recharge. 

• Develop a close relationship with “YOU”: Likewise, 

you must know “ME” in you fully and express the “ME-ness” 

in an authentic and judicious way. We must cultivate that deep 

relationship with self to the point where endings are new 

beginnings and new beginnings are the constant reminders 

of our purpose for life — our purpose for accepting change 

and moving accordingly to remain relevant to our own stories. 

Ultimately, the cultivation of this relationship begins and 

ends with our own thoughts which are powerful elements in 

deciding to be “ME.” 

• Ask yourself what you are feeling: Additionally, we 

must be patient with ourselves and our feelings. We must 

understand the differences between feelings and thoughts. 

Do not become dejected if you are not able to align your 

feelings of openness, inner joy and liberty with your state of 

mind immediately. If you are true to yourself, your heart will 

tell you what you need to know. On the contrary, if you are not 

being true to the “ME” in you, you will experience feelings of 

tension, disconnection, emptiness and discontentment. Pay 

attention to details and be patient with “YOU.” 

Stagnation leads to complacency, procrastination and lack 

of imagination. Do not punish yourself by avoiding learning 

new concepts. Pay attention to trends and patterns that may 

be subconsciously connected to your feelings and thoughts. 

Establish a strong linkage to the “ME” in yourself and be 

confident enough in applying new ideas to the core of the 

“ME” in yourself. 

• Avoid desperation: Do not be desperate in your 

attempt to be “ME.” Staying true to yourself means that your 

morality is an integral tenet of your being. Use your time with 

purpose. By staying true to yourself, you can slow the hands 

of time to express your needs in important situations. Do not 

accept limitations and be led to suppression and obstruction. 

The reality of desperation comes from the fact that you did 

not give yourself the opportunity to think, pair feelings and 

thoughts and share your views. Be the master of your destiny, 

not the passenger. 

• Respect yourself: Finally, respect the “ME” that is 

you. Never give up on you, you are the only “YOU” you 

have. You can lose any and everybody around you, but losing 

the “ME” in you means that you truly did lose. Stay true to 

your being, appreciate your flaws, but do not accept them as 

the law. 

Stay centred in you; be bold in your self-expression; quantify 

your losses to add quality to your successes. You are the best 

version of the “ME” in you when you take the responsibility 

to respect the fact that you are all you have, hence you are 

all you can give. Stay true to the “ME” in you by just simply 

being true to you. 

• Express yourself: Similarly, you deserve the right to 

express your own values and ideas. Your values will guide 

your decisions, shape your personality and help others 

understand your character. Be bold in self-expression, yet 

never step on others to make yourself look better. There is 

so much to gain from authenticity. The more you express 

yourself, the more you will realise that you are the best 

version of “YOU.” Believe in the process and you will reap 

plentiful rewards for having an authentic personality. 

• Learn new things: Now, more importantly, you 

must always be prepared to learn new things. The “ME” 

in you must have a ravenous and unquenchable desire to 

learn, accommodate and apply new concepts. Cultivate 

an awareness about things you know nothing about. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Jerome Douglas is a 26-year old trained 

teacher, poet and writer from the beautiful 

island of Jamaica. His personal philosophy 

is “If it is for me to be, then it is up to 

me.” He attended the Catholic College 

of Mandeville in Jamaica. Additionally, he 

is a community builder and humanitarian 

who volunteers his time to help with the 

academic and social wellbeing of people 

in his central Jamaica community and 

surrounding areas.

Out and About STYLE Mag. Issue 4 Vol. 1

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