Beauty & The Burj

On this episode of Beauty & The Burj, we’re joined by Lauren O’Connell—breast cancer warrior, public speaker, beauty editor at Cosmo Middle East, and founder of Three of Cups. Lauren opens up about her breast cancer journey, the challenges she faced, and how the experience reshaped her outlook on life, beauty, and purpose. We also dive into the launch of Three of Cups, her innovative beauty br...

On this episode of Beauty The Burj, we’re joined by Lauren O’Connell—breast cancer warrior, public speaker, beauty editor at Cosmo Middle East, and founder of 3 of Cups. Lauren opens up about her breast cancer journey, the challenges she faced, and how the experience reshaped her outlook on life, beauty, and purpose. We also dive into the launch of 3 of Cups, her innovative beauty brand, and the c...

This week on Beauty & The Burj, we sit down with CJ Malhotra, founder of Bio Hackn, Dubai's number one anti-ageing and biohacking company, and host of The Shift With CJ podcast, for one of the most eye-opening conversations we have had on this show. CJ has spent over two decades in the health and wellness space, travelling the world, learning from leading experts, and building a business in Du...

What happens when real estate expertise meets a passion for women’s wellness? In this episode of Beauty & The Burj, Shereen sits down with Catherine Stewart — co-founder of Emiga App, Dubai real estate agent, and fitness enthusiast — to talk about building a career and a mission in one of the world’s most dynamic cities. Catherine shares how her journey in Dubai real estate evolved into creati...

What does it really take to run multiple businesses while working a full-time role? In this episode of Beauty & The Burj, Shereen sits down with serial entrepreneur Nasab Yehia, who’s building an impressive portfolio across industries — from a healthy dessert brand to a water filtration company and a marketing agency — all while working in production for Emirates Draw. Nasab shares:✨ How she...

On this episode of Beauty The Burj, we speak with Jittin Jaggi, Managing Director of Circadia Skincare SAMENA, about what healthy skin really looks like in the UAE.From pigmentation and melanin-safe treatments to circadian rhythm skincare and ageing well, this conversation blends science with lifestyle. Topics include:The biggest skincare mistakes people make in the Middle EastHow Dubai’s sun and...

Hey Sleepover fam 🤍, today I’m catching up with Advaita Shetty, my former Miss Universe Bahrain first runner-up and the first Indian woman to represent Bahrain on the international stage at Miss Supranational. Advaita shares her incredible journey, from her early attempts at pageants to finally landing the Miss Supranational crown after years of perseverance. We talk about her advocacy work, what...

Today we hang out with Ghinwa Nawwar, celebrity and TV stylist and the genius behind Styled by Ghinwa. We've been dying to pick her brain about style, confidence, and all the little tricks that actually make you feel good in your clothes. We talk about everything from dressing celebrities and TV talent to helping everyday people figure out what works for their body shape through her website. Plus,...

In this episode of Beauty & the Burj, we sit down with Stalin Balisuriya, co-founder of Spa Ceylon, to explore the journey of bringing Sri Lankan Ayurveda and wellness to Dubai and the wider region. We talk about the origins of Spa Ceylon, the philosophy behind Ayurvedic healing, and how traditional wellness practices have found a place in the modern beauty and self-care industry. Stalin share...

On this episode of Beauty & the Burj, we sit down with Hafiza Mohamed, founder of Fizabelle, for an honest and necessary conversation around period care, women’s wellness, and dignity. Fizabelle is a purpose-driven period-care brand offering certified organic cotton pads and thoughtfully curated flow boxes, while actively advocating for period equity and girls’ education. In this episode, Hafi...

Join me as I sit down with Fatma Al Mulla, the visionary Emirati designer and founder of FMM Dubai. Known for her pop‑culture inspired designs, cultural storytelling, and bold statement pieces, Fatma masterfully blends heritage with a contemporary edge. In this episode, we explore her personal journey—from growing up immersed in Emirati culture to studying visual communication and photography—and...

In this two-part special, the second part delves into the unboxing of the Marks & Spencer Sleepover Kit and share our firsts: first bras, first sleepovers, first pageant experiences, and all the little moments that shaped us. Joined by Hiedy Riyan, we spill the pageant secrets no one talks about and open up about insecurities, self-belief, and how feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing can...

In this special episode, brought to you by Marks and Spencer's UAE, we’re talking about confidence: where it comes from, how we build it, and how much of it is learned along the way. Joined by Hiedy Riyan, we open up about insecurities, first bras, and the quiet power of feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing. From Marks & Spencer’s base layer philosophy to dressing well as a tool for self...

In this episode of Beauty & The Burj, we sit down with Dr Afaq Al Mashari, Founder of Be You Clinic, for an honest conversation about confidence, self-image, and the relationship we have with our bodies. We explore the emotional side of beauty, the pressure to “fix” ourselves, and how intention, education, and ethical care play a role in feeling truly comfortable in your own skin. From redefin...

This week on the sleepover, we sit down with Laura Krajewski, the founder of Flash Facial, Dubai’s express skincare revolution. Laura opened a first‑of‑its‑kind walk‑in facial studio offering 15‑ and 30‑minute facials for AED 149, making professional skincare accessible for busy women on the go. We go beyond the glow to explore who Laura is behind the brand, her journey from a small town in the U....

Curly hair isn’t “just hair," it’s identity, confidence, and a lifelong relationship that so many people have had to navigate without the right products or education. In this episode of Beauty The Burj, we sit down with Hanna Bouchouicha, founder of Zaphira Nature, to talk about the curly hair struggles so many women in the region silently face such as dryness and frizz to damage, build-up and pro...

Jessica Jazaela is a digital content creator and multi-entrepreneur from Switzerland who now calls Dubai home. She’s passionate about helping aspiring and novice entrepreneurs take their first steps, learn from real-world experience, and build businesses that last. Follow her for actionable advice, motivational tips, and behind-the-scenes insights into entrepreneurship and digital content creation...

Doing everything right and still stuck? This is why fitness fails busy women. Leila Layana breaks down how busy, high achieving women can build real fitness without extreme diets, endless cardio, or burning themselves out. In this episode, she explains why doing more is not the answer, how stress and structure impact results after 30, and what actually works when work, travel, and life never slow...

In this episode of Beauty & The Burj, Jamila Al-Harthi joins the sleepover with host Shereen Ahmed to explore what it truly means to grow up Emirati–Filipina. They talk about the layered reality of navigating two cultures, two identities, and finding belonging in both. Jamila opens up about her interracial marriage and the beauty, honesty, and cultural conversations that come with it. She shar...

In this episode, we sit down with Miss Universe Pakistan Roma Riaz to discuss her life before pageantry, the challenges she faced, and the hate she encountered along the way. We dive into the highs and lows of pageants, what she’s learned, and how she hopes to inspire young Pakistani girls to believe in themselves and see their place in mainstream media. A story of resilience, empowerment, and hop...

Abbie Kadom has spent years quietly building Hope-Amel, a community-powered initiative that supports single mothers and families across the UAE. In this episode, she shares the moments that shaped her: growing up in Toronto, finding belonging in Dubai, navigating loss and motherhood, and discovering the purpose that would change everything. This is an honest and deeply human conversation about int...

Gee’s story doesn’t start on a runway or in front of a camera. It begins in a tiny martial-arts academy above her home, where discipline was her daily oxygen and confidence wasn’t something she was born with, it was built. From a life that moved slowly to a city that never stops moving, Gee reveals the mindset shifts, the emotional rewiring, and the inner work that shaped her rise. It’s the kind o...

Your gut might be the reason you feel tired, moody or bloated. Nutritionist Maria Escobar joins Beauty & The Burj to explain what your digestion, hormones and cravings are trying to tell you and how simple changes in your daily meals can completely shift your energy. She breaks down how to eat in sync with your cycle, what foods actually balance your hormones, why fiber is non-negotiable and h...

In this cosy Beauty The Burj sleepover episode, Shereen chats with her pageant sister, Logina Salah about life after the Miss Universe spotlight, from Milan Fashion Week runways to rewriting beauty standards and launching her new children’s book The Shining Star.

In this episode of Beauty & The Burj, we sit down with Hanné Ripsaluoma, the Finnish founder and creative director of Dunesi, the Dubai-born fashion brand making conscious clothing cool again. From leaving a successful corporate career in telecoms to building a circular fashion label loved across the region, Hanné opens up about her design philosophy, the challenges of conscious production, an...