1. What inspired you to pursue your career?

 

Every woman has, in the early years of her adulthood, aspirations that lead her way . It could be dreaming of a family, of a stable job with good pay, of a fun social life,... mine was to succeed big no matter what. I grew up with a tremendous thirst for winning in life because life itself was not easy on me in the first place. I made up my mind to make it happen, not just for myself, but for my mother, she is my biggest "why" behind the way I push; To make her proud, reward all her unimaginable efforts as a single mom and to inspire people to do the same.

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2. What is the best part about your job?

 

Changing bodies is only the outcome I get from changing the minds and outlook of the people I work with. It is a mesmerizing thing to see people transform inside out in front of your eyes and be there to walk them throughout that journey by building their mindset, self-confidence, self-esteem which will make any diet or training program I give them work, because when they begin to love themselves and have faith in their own potential, thats when physical change becomes a beautiful result of a much deeper morphosis.

 

3. What difficulties have you endured to get to where you are today?

 

So many of them haha! but looking back at them makes the whole process so worth it! Being an Arabic woman defying the norms of her culture, competing internationally in a sport that is mainly dominated by men, and standing out as a bodybuilding and fitness competitor is challenging for sure. It was hard to accept by a lot of people who found it unusual and rejected it at first. I was faced with critics, lots of them, but I absorbed them respectfully and worked silently on myself, built my education, knowledge and experience. And when I won and represented the Arabic nation in shows abroad, I made it clear that a woman with a set of big goals and a mindset of not giving up is nothing but a success project.

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4. What are your plans for the future?

 

Coaching is an endless world. We are made of so many layers and dimensions that need infinite amount of care and crafting to better ourselves in the best shapes possible. And that is my plan. I aim to help others in as many sides of their life as possible. Physically, mentally, and career-wise. I am in the process of publishing my first book, ValYou which is a learning manuscript through my very own experience, and that is to help people in general, women specially to build unshakable confidence.

I am also in the process of launching my brand , fully designed and produced by myself, including men and women fitness wear, accessories and an online platform to help them in their transformation journey (hopefully as soon as the pandemic is over :)

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5.What advice do you have for women across Dubai who are in pursuit of their dreams?

 

2 main straight forward beliefs that will make sure they get there once they truly follow them :

1- Accept that you will fail a few if not many times along the way and those hiccups will absolutely mould your success story. if you fail and stop, it was never a big dream for you.

2- Keep them negative people so far away and have a couple of those who truly believe in you and direct you when you need guidance.
 

6. If you were stranded on a desert island for a week, what (or who) would you want to take along with you?

I am a practical one so will keep things really realistic:

- what I would take: a sunscreen ( I burn too easily), and tons of water, I choose hunger over thirst anytime! And a notebook or a recorder .. would be amazing to reread or listen to things you might say when you are surrounded by sand dunes and 50 degrees heat for 168 hours.

- Who: I wouldn't take my mother as she hates the heat and most probably will pass out from hyperthermia :) will go with my partner. we always find things to challenge each other at no matter where you put us so would be quite interesting to watch how we turn the desert into our lab or playground .

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