When you become a beacon of hope for young women in a war-torn country, posting your life online suddenly doesn’t seem all that frivolous. Such is the case for Sudanese influencer and Cosmo ME autumn issue cover star, Ola Elsharef.
For Ola, putting yourself out there isn’t a custom she grew up knowing in Sudan. “Our community is very conservative, so not a lot of us are in this scene”, she tells us. “For me to put myself out there and find acceptance in the industry, I think I’m beyond privileged”.
The taboo around Sudanese women sharing themselves so publicly meant Ola has dealt with some scrutiny for her content in the past. But, she tells us, staying true to yourself is the key to true influence. “If I want to keep my head straight, then I can’t read [the negative comments]. Because I know who I am and that’s enough”, she says.
The depth of Ola’s influence runs deep. A quick look at her TikTok comments reveals the substantial impact her content has on young women in war-torn Sudan. She has become the Sudanese woman for young girls to look up to; and can influence in ways beyond her imagination. “To be here today as a Sudanese woman and to be able to tell my story, it’s mind blowing”, she tells us.
Dress: & Other Stories
Earring: Anissa Kermiche at Poison Drop
Ola and her family were affected by the war in many ways, but loss for Ola was a driving force to keep working hard to provide for her loved ones. “People have strong opinions when influencers talk about these things online”, she says. “But they don’t know what goes on outside of what people like me post. We’re all so hurt, and looking for ways to heal each other”.
Our Cosmo ME autumn issue cover story unravels the complex layers of what it truly means to be influential. With resilience to work hard and shape a better future, Ola is “so excited for the next generation of Sudanese women”, she tells us. “The girls are going to know that it’s actually possible. They’re not going to be scared”.Â
Blazer: Kristina Fidelskaya
Dress: Missoni
Rings: Tiffany & Co.