Today we’d like to introduce you to Shahad Al Qaysi.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Shahad. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved from Dubai to Atlanta almost six years ago. At that time, I was a fresh dental school graduate who was so eager to start her career in the states. I have always been a fashion lover. When I was a student, I remember I used to spend hours and hours styling my outfits for a week ahead. It would make my day wearing what made me feel myself, which has always boosted my confidence.
After graduation and moving to the states, I had more free time to spend on my wardrobe and my passion for fashion, but I was still dedicated to getting my license in dental surgery. Between studying for my board exams and getting used to my new life in Atlanta, I found myself posting more outfits inspirations on my Instagram. It was my everyday getaway that takes me to another world full of things I love. It happened that after 78 days of dedicating few hours of my day to my Instagram, I surprisingly got the first 100k followers that blew my mind and made me seriously think about pursuing a career in the fashion industry.
A year later, I decided to have my own clothing line, The Shaha, which means the queen in the Persian language. I started my line by designing classic pieces that were inspired by my conservative culture and the royal fashion around the world. And here I am today doing what I love the most and filling each day of my life with doses of fashion blogging and designing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Turning my back to my dental profession and starting my entrepreneurship was the biggest challenge I faced. I didn’t want to disappoint my family, who supported me along the six years of dental school. But when they saw the hard work I was happily putting in and how it got paid off shortly, that made them proud of me and they never stopped supporting me.
Another challenge was criticism, hatred and negativity. I’m a positive person and I strongly believe in the power of positive energy, so negative comments used to get to me at the beginning. For me, It’s okay if you don’t like my style or if you disagree with me, but don’t hurt my feelings and do not underestimate what I’m doing because a lot has happened behind the contents I post.
Then not too long time after I started my journey in social media, I learned to grow a thick skin and ignore anyone who tries to put me down. Today there is nothing that can put me down and It doesn’t bother me anymore to see people rudely disagreeing with me. In fact, I learned that even haters don’t really hate you. They hate themselves because you are a reflection of what they wish to be.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about The Real Shaha – what should we know?
When it comes to my sense of fashion, I believe my style is a mixture between the eastern and the western style. My style proves every day that you don’t need to show skin to look sexy and attractive. In fact, being modest gives that mysterious look that attracts everyone’s attention. I always get inspired by queen, princess and first ladies, and who does it better than them? Modest fashion is my thing, and that is how I design the pieces of my clothing line, The Shaha.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Growing up, I was a very good kid who always loved school, even at summertime. I used to study and read a lot, and I used to hate weekends and holidays or anything that would interrupt my learning journey, but that nerdy girl also had a passion for fashion ever since I can remember.
My mom was my first inspiration. I remember she used to come home with fabrics to design an outfit she saw on a TV show or in a magazine after she failed to find it at any local store in the city where we used to live. Twenty-five years ago, it wasn’t as easy as it is today. Today We can buy anything online and everything is accessible. This easy life didn’t exist back then.
Speaking of the passion for fashion, my mom passes to me, It’s funny to mention that when I was five years old, we were invited to one of my mom’s relative houses for lunch. I wanted to wear something that my mom disagreed with me on wearing it. She looked at me and said: look! You either wear what I want you to wear or wear what you want to wear and stay home. I didn’t think twice, and I stayed home. Shortly after my mom left. I took my grandma’s permission to play with the neighbor’s kids. As I was trying to leave the house, I got hit by a speeding car and that accident left a scar on my head. A scar that reminds me of my stubborn passion for fashion since day one.
Contact Info:
- Email: shahad@theshahafashion.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealshaha/
- Facebook: Shahad Al Qaysi
Image Credit:
Greg Villarreal
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