Image: Egyptian Actor Rami Malek wins the Oscar for Best Actor for his role playing Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody
Quick, name a famous Egyptian that hasn't been dead for 3,000 years!
Stumped? What if we told you that Egyptians are behind some of today's biggest moments in sports, Hollywood, journalism, and fashion?
Fear not, it's pretty common to draw a blank when searching the back of your brain for popular Middle Eastern personalities. A community most famous for their ancient past, modern Egyptians are paving new roads for themselves in all sorts of industries, particularly in the western world where Arabs haven't exactly thrived.
The last couple of years have been big and soon enough, your Google search of Egypt will toss you a few more gems than the pyramids and hummus.
Featured on the cover of 2019's Time Magazine's 100 most influential people with commentary by news comedian John Oliver, soccer superstar Mo Salah is a phenomenal athlete, philanthropist, and overall good guy you'd love to be friends with. Lead scorer for England's Liverpool Club, he's trailed by an insane number of awards and championship titles in his wake. So much so, that his football-obsessed fans created songs about.... being Muslim? No joke, picture a stadium full of Brits joyously chanting:
"If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too,
If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me,
Sitting in the mosque, that’s where I wanna be!
Mo Salah-la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la-la-la"
Imagine pouring your heart and soul into your biggest passion. Then imagine Beyoncé sharing your work with her 100 million + followers on Instagram. For luxury handbag designers Aya and Mounaz, that crazy dream became their insane reality. Since Queen B's fashionable stamp of approval, the duo's brand Okhtein (which means sisters in Arabic) has been labeled as one of Egypt's most successful high-end brands to reach the western market. Their most popular items hang off the shoulders and hips of fashion-savvy celebs like Emma Watson and Gigi Hadid.
When you write a book titled "Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution", you're going to turn a few heads. Outspoken feminist and advocate for women's rights (especially within her own Muslim community), Mona is a regular columnist for publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and NBC Think, offering scintillating and unapologetic pieces on social issues and gender equality. With multiple prestigious awards from the journalism community under her belt, Mona is a much needed voice for today's women and underrepresented minorities.
Hot off of a Golden Globe win for Best Actor, Ramy Youssef is getting his fair share of attention after edging out competing actors like Bill Hader and Paul Rudd. His namesake comedy series launched on Hulu in early in 2019, followed by his standup special on HBO, where in both places, he shares the honest, hilarious truths of growing up Egyptian American. He might be fasting for Ramadan, but he's also crushing on the girl who got him in his feelings after a casual one night stand. Maybe it's the weed. Or maybe it's God. Either way, Ramy's got something to say, and we're all ears.
Immigrating to the US from Egypt at age 11, Mikiel Benyamin is now the wildly successful stylist behind the looks of Cardi B (his major debut being the creative force behind Bodak Yellow), Lady Gaga, Bella Thorne, Sza and Keke Palmer. Pretty impressive clientele for the 25-year-old New Yorker. Starting in fashion at 17, Mikiel worked unpaid internships for years, learning his craft and refining his streetwear-meets-couture aesthetic along the way. His style may be one of a kind, but he draws much of his inspiration from his love of his homeland.
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