Manal Rostom: 1st Arab Egyptian Hijabi model in Nike campaign (Video)

CAIRO – 23 July 2017: Egypt Today Magazine interviewed the first Arab Egyptian Hijabi (veiled) Model to appear in a Nike Running Middle East Campaign, Manal Rostom. A true wonder woman, Rostom is a fitness instructor, scuba diver, cyclist, mountain climber, marathon runner and above all a very inspiring woman.

“Women’s bigger mission in life should be achieving their dreams and making change to the world, women need to seek and follow their passions,” said Rostom, 37, who was born and raised in Kuwait, studied in the University of Alexandria, Faculty of Pharmacy and got her Master’s Degree.

By the age of 30 suddenly her life has widely changed to be one of the world’s change makers.

Conquering male dominated fields where women are not traditionally involved and putting herself in challenging positions had strengthened Rostom’s stamina and allowed her to hold onto her dreams until she turned them into truth.



Rostom is now an influencer who speaks at many events to inspire others to do things they thought they were not capable of, and to change the mentality of people around the world on how they perceive Arab women.

Manal also created a social media platform to empower hijabi women with almost half-a-million on her Facebook group “Surviving Hijab.”

Currently she lives in Dubai working as a full-time pharmacist and part-time fitness instructor, and training to become the first Egyptian woman to conquer Everest.

Watch our interview with Manal Rostom to discover her motivating story.