Down-to-earth, hilarious, and radiant Mai is just one of the many Middle Eastern TikTokers that we love to watch (click here to check out all our faves.) The curly-haired queen often posts the funniest skits with her charismatic mum, and tbh they are *so* relatable. 

We spoke to Mai about what it’s like living in the US, how she started on social media, and where she hopes to see herself in 5 years.

She’s already got 144k followers on the ‘Gram and she’s verified on TikTok (@maisvault,) so we’d place our bets on her becoming a ~whole~ star! 

Scroll down to read our interview with her… 

Cosmo ME: How did you first start out on Youtube and TikTok?

Mai: I started on Instagram posting as a curly hair/fashion blogger. I thought being on Instagram was all about looks because all the successful bloggers I saw were Instagram models. I started to post stories with my mom and noticed a lack and need for real and relatable content.

C: Did you think your content would go as viral as it did?

M: I knew I was going to post every single day and work really hard on my videos to build a community and a brand. My concern wasn’t about being viral while I was building my platform. Success happens overtime and I had the mindset of focusing on my videos to become more creative and better.

C: Did you always think of integrating your mom (who is iconic,) in your videos? Or was it just a coincidence?

M: Thank you so much! Initially, I would just record my mom’s reactions in the moment and post on my story. These stories would have crazy amounts of responses. So, it just grew from there. I just did more every day until it is what it is today.

C: What is it like living in the US as an Arab?

M: There’s a strong and beautiful Arab American community in the US. I’m surrounded by so much love and support from both Arabs and non-Arabs. The US is full of people who immigrated here and so whether they are Egyptian or not a lot of people worldwide connect with these universal themes.

C: Who’s the most inspirational woman in your life?

M: I attribute every single success to my mom. She has never stopped me from doing anything and ever since I was a little girl, she was independent in every way. She worked a full-time job, was the first to drive in my family in the US (even teaching my dad), got her master’s degree from NYU, acclimated to a new culture, just so much. Basically, if my mom puts something she wants to accomplish in her mind, she does it. And she will forever be my inspiration.

C: What advice would you like to give to your 16-year-old self?

M: It’s okay to be lost and not have everything (career, passion, etc.) figured out.

C: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

M: I see myself part of big productions and movies, red carpets, and married with my habibi. Also, I want to create a program to guide young entrepreneurs on how to make a business and living in the social media blogging world. I had to learn a lot of things by myself with no mentor when it comes to social media and so I would love to share that knowledge with others.

C: Which other content creators do you love to watch?

M: I love to watch Mohanad Al Hattab and Mohammed Tarek.

C: Who is your female role model?

M: Amy Mowafi – she’s a successful and strong business woman who runs major news outlets in Egypt (Cairo Scene, Cairo News, Scene Arabia, and many more) but also makes time for her family and kids. Love me a boss woman.

C: If you could have any actress starring as you in the film of your life, who would you have it be?

M: Mena Shalaby. She’s a beautiful and talented actress. She does comedy but adapts to playing a wide variety of roles.

C: You have a huge social media presence, do you receive any hate, and how do you deal with it?

M: Yes, hate is inevitable regardless whether you have 1 or 1 million followers. I usually ignore it because the support I get is so much more than the hate. I’m confident in my purpose and in spreading positivity. If I do respond it’s to create more funny and humorous content.

C: And how do you keep your mental health in check?

M: I definitely take time for myself. I go to the gym which relieves so much stress and tension and I make sure to make time for my friends and family. No matter how big I get they always keep me grounded.