Welcome to the world of the thought daughter, where you may have been a rumination, a case study, or even a source of inspiration. An off-shoot of the intellect influencer, this new self-proclaimed class of internet thinkers is made up of the eldest daughters, the Sylvia Plath/A Little Life readers, the Lana Del Rey enthusiasts, the daughters of immigrants … you get the gist. Given we could all use a Hail Mary in the swamp of brainrot and AI slop, meet the MENA hotties with even hotter takes:
@archivedbyms
A UAE national, Meerah Al Shehi’s takes blend local community values with researched ideology to curate a cultural taste truly unique to the GCC. From motivation-core videos to identity-based content, this thought daughter shows no one identity needs to come at the expense of another – you’re allowed to be multifaceted and enough of both, for both.
@roseistheart
Iraqi diva Rose has got things to say, and we’re honestly listening. With content that celebrates historical identity to more targeted takes on self-perception and confidence, all her shared perspectives are backed by well-researched data. To cater to a panArab, intergenerational audience, the glamorous philosopher makes a point of ensuring content is accessible across languages.
@ririspeakingfacts
Although Rania’s content is primarily in French (uhh croissant chocolat 🧑🎨), her thoughts are Cosmo-certified to be worth enduring autogenerated captions. Of North African descent, the feminine mystique strikes a compelling balance between intellectual substance and gothic, dark academia aesthetics. Dare we say the pinnacle of the thought daughter – branding intellect as chic cultural capital.
@6sixtwelve
From Saudi Arabia to the UK, Judy’s takes span an array of topics ranging from decolonial sentiment (Western vs. Eastern femininity, Western privilege vs. Arab blessing take on wealth (a personal favorite of ours), etc.) to really cool sub-niche marginalia like the intelligence of selflessness alongside some fashion content speckled here and there. If you want original, culture-specific thoughts, you know where to find them.
@miriam_tinny
LA-based Substack writer Miriam Tinny is stylistically different. Prioritising a more organic approach to portraying her thoughts, romanticised aesthetics take the back burner on this one. In a slowly forming typecast for the glitz-savvy thought daughter, Miriam stands out for her ideas and distraction-free format.
@curiousnoor
In the world of Noor, curiosity to learn about the places and cultures that shaped her is an ever-present constant – from historical overviews on the Eid tradition of Egyptian kahk to how skating became a civil rights movement in a segregated America, the it-girl’s yearning for knowledge is contagious.
@sarahadir3
Feeling book reviews? Maybe fashion content in between? Perhaps some excerpts and overviews? Illustrated breakdowns? Oh, and quantum physics are also on the table too, because a girl can have multiple interests. Self help too. Check out your new internet older sister.
@saratalksart
In a world struggling to make sense of itself at times, you can count on Palestinian thought daughter Sara to give voice to reason through compelling art history stories and curated overviews that get your creative juices flowing.
Whether it be paid newsletters, seeking depth, community-building, or even personalisation, these creators are slowly making their move off the mainstream to niche-r platforms that slow down communication and create designated space for rooms in which these conversations are prioritized and platformed – perhaps moving where thinking is rewarded.
Next, let’s get technical and safe with this cybersecurity guide.