Eight girls, one show. Spanning several Arab countries across the world, the #AYASquad are fashion’s favourite new faces who are on a mission to buck stereotypes and challenge the status quo all in the name of female empowerment, World, take notice.

Meet the AYA squad
Meet the AYA squad
VIEW GALLERY
9 Photos
2 of 9

the designer

Roua, 24, Saudi Arabian, @stylewithme___

Don’t let the Garfield jeans, cute blonde crop or doughy blue eyes fool you, Rouyaa means business. With nothing more than her sister by her side,

3 of 9

the karate kid

Nadine Hossam, 19, Syrian-Egyptian, @thenadinehossam

“You know who to call if you need backup,” Nadine laughs as she tells me about her black belt in karate. Her smile is infectious; her presence and personality even more so. “I love bucking the stereotype of women in martial arts. People always say I’m doing a ‘manly’ sport, but why does a sport have to be gendered? I’m always asked how I can be into karate as much as I’m into make-up, and I’m constantly telling people that it doesn’t work like that.”

Nadine is the very definition of someone who breaks the glass ceiling. At just 19-years-old, she hold the position of creative director at local start-up Level Up, regularly works with Model United Nations, is studying for a degree in business management at American University of Sharjah, and, of course, is part of the AYA squad. “I always knew I wanted to be in an industry where I could influence people. Being on the show has given me more of a purpose and boosted my confidence. It’s made me feel like it’s okay to embrace my weird, edgy, colourful side.”

Is it the black belt in karate, is it her work that spans philanthropy to fashion hosting, or is it simply her combat-boots-and-ballgown style? Whatever her secret, right now Nadine Hossam is making waves.

4 of 9

the trailblazer

Assia, 26, Moroccan, @discoverwithassia

Assia is sartorial proof that wearing a hijabi does not stop you from killing the (modest) fashion game scene. Coming from a small city in Morroco, Assia didn’t have many modest fashion icons to look up to, so she began creating content to empower Arab women herself. “I get a lot of messages saying things like, ‘how dare you go out wearing colours’, and that’s all because I wear very bright clothes! Last time I went to Paris, there were loads of people taking pictures with me because they admired the fact that even though I’m a hijabi, I was very stylish.

Succumbing to social media pressure and addressing trolls on social media might seem like an unfamiliar territory to this rising socialite, however, the 23-year-old has only one rule for her Insta fans. “You don’t have to be in my personal life and I don’t have to be in yours.”

5 of 9

the dreamer

Nour Almaly, 23, Iraqi, @alnonyy_

It was by complete chance that the 23-year-old was recruited for AYA. “Someone at university noticed the way I dressed, and he came up to me and asked if I would like to join.” Alongside AYA and her studies, Nour runs an abaya business, and is steadily rising to TikTok fame. “I like to allocate myself time for social media. I’ll assign two days a week to creating TikTok content and other days for Instagram.”

Ambitious and starry-eyed Nour is all about remaining authentic online. “I want to represent myself and be true as best I can,” she says. Fame may be fun, but Nour is all about how she can use her platform for good. “I would love to be an inspiration to any girls who love style and fashion. I always enjoy taking care of myself and looking good. Even when I’m at home and wearing my PJ’s, I love doing my hair and putting on a bit of make-up. When I look good, I feel good.” Now that’s a phrase we stand by.

6 of 9

the perfectionist

Haya Sayyid Suleiman Attasi, 20, Syrian, @ssatassihaya

Unlike many, Haya realised her passion from a very young age. “From grade eight I knew I wanted to be in media. My first experience was on Dubai TV where I was a part of a program called Style Me. After watching me, my friends and family all told me this is what I was meant to do with my life, so I participated in as many things as possible at school, and that’s where I discovered fashion.”

Not only does Haya use her well curated Instagram feed as a personal style blog, she also uses it as a medium to represent herself. “Amongst all the girls, I’m the perfectionist,” she tells us. “Creating content on Instagram is literally a job for me. It is fun, but at the same time I have to be responsible with the way that I represent myself to the world. Every little detail matters!”

7 of 9

the empowerer

Haya Al Yassin, 19, @hayaalyasin

After an email can through her university that called on young Arab women to audition for a role as a host of a new fashion series, Haya immediately knew it was for her. She applied straight away, and the rest was sartorial history. “It was always a dream of mine to be a presenter. I was so drawn to the concept of AYA because it was all about girls who are discovering themselves and their sense of style. The Middle East really needed a show like this that was all about empowering girls and showing them that there is so much more to life than they think.”

And Haya absolutely practices what she preaches. The 19-year-old journalism student fortuitously skipped her second year of university and went straight into her third year, a feat that she is – and rightly so – extremely proud of. Alongside her degree, Haya undertook several presenting courses with the aims of getting ever closer to her dream drop: an entertainment presenter on a major TV channel. Watch out, MBC!

8 of 9

the endurance rider

Marwa AlHash, 22, Emirati, @marwaalhash

If you’ve ever scrolled through Marwa’s Instagram, you’re probably just as enamoured as I am. The 22-year-old is blessed with an otherworldly beauty that’ll stop you dead in your tracks. She’s an endurance rider who makes racing an Arabian horse through the desert not only look cool, but easy.“Riding a horse normally was not enough for me. I’m someone who is quite hyper and always likes to be moving and doing something different and challenging, so when my friend told me about endurance riding I was like, ‘girl, sign me up!’ I love riding freely in the desert; you actually connect with the horse. Sometimes when we race endurance, you’re riding solidly for six hours. I feel confident, strong, powerful and proud when I’m on a horse.”

But when she’s not racing Arabian stallions down stretches of 100km or more, she games (Black Ops is her fave), and makes up one eighth of the AYA squad. “I DMd the @IAMAYA page on Instagram wanting to be part of the squad, but I never thought I’d actually get a response,” she tells Cosmo. “When I went to the audition, I fell in love with all the girls and the crew as soon as I met everyone. And now, we’re all connected with each other in a unique way.”
Marwa exudes an insouciant cool with a wardrobe of streetwear, a flowing mane of black locks, and a vivacious personality that is contoured by a knowing self-deprecation you would never expect from someone so simply stunning.

9 of 9

the fashionista

Sarah Issa, 28, Lebanese, @_sarahissa_

With two Bachelor degrees (one from the American University of Dubai and one from SAE Institute), Sarah was used to be being behind-the-camera when it came to media. “At first I was a bit hesitant because I’m a shy person, and I’m very camera shy,” she describes when recollecting how she joined the AYA squad. Her quiet but calm disposition is compelling.

Sarah is mature and matter-of-fact, and it totally draws you in. “I love fashion, I love keeping up with the trends, so I thought that I’d give AYA a shot, and it’s been good so far.” Bursting with humility, this well-put-together woman sat in front of me clearly has no idea just how much of a great role model she has become to younger Arab female generations – and it is this that is the very making of the AYA girls.

More From Life

MORE FROM AROUND THE WEB