MOJEH meets the region’s most powerful, influential and muscle-mighty women who are revolutionising the sports scene in the UAE...
The Boundary Breaker
Manal A Rostom boldly scales snow-smothered dormant volcanoes and ice-drenched peaks, including Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest mountain in Europe, Mount Elbrus, Russia. She runs rain-mottled marathons, models for leading sportswear brands, and raises money for numerous charities that empower women, shelter Syrian refugees and feed children in Palestine. She has – and knows – no limits, and tells MOJEH that she admires what the UAE is doing to encourage its residents to adopt an active lifestyle. “The UAE is doing a great job trying to get all women into fitness,” she says, referring to the region’s various ladies-only clubs. “Initiatives like the Dubai Fitness Challenge are also great ways to kickstart and promote healthy, active lifestyles.”
As the first hijabi model to be featured in Nike advertisements, Manal is an inspirational and influential woman both regionally and internationally. She hopes to see an increase in the number of Middle Eastern sportswomen and role models over the next few years. “It’s great having international fitness models to get inspired by and look up to,” she says, “but it’s also important to have someone from the region so that other women from the region can easily relate.” She names four-time Fitness cover model and founder of The Body Challenge, Salma Ismail, in addition to specialist yoga trainer, Linda Chambers, as examples, describing them as “inspirational women from the region who inspire everyone to workout.” She laughs: “They are beasts!” Before revealing that, while in her twenties, she had low self-confidence, which exercise helped her combat. “I grew up with major insecurities when it came to my eating habits and body weight,” she tells MOJEH. “I was never fat or overweight, but constantly stressed about what I was going to eat or how I will look.”
Manal moved to Dubai from Kuwait in 2011, and soon became certified as a group exercise instructor. She later became a Les Mills RPM and Body Balance instructor, before her appointment as a Nike+ Run Club Coach and NTC trainer. “I’ve had a passion for sports since I was very young,” she reveals, admitting that she becomes teary- eyed when her clients finish their first race, regardless of its length. Her job is rewarding, she says, because “it gives me an opportunity to pass my love of running to others.”
The Weight Lifter
“In 2015, I decided to make a change in my life,” says Somaiah, as she curls her long hair into a high topknot. “That change was to be the fittest and healthiest I’ve ever been.”
The personal trainer made the decision after receiving worrisome results after a set of medical tests that suggested she was close to becoming insulin resistant. “It was because of an unhealthy lifestyle,” she grimaces, “as well as poor eating habits and very little exercise, along with a family history of diabetes.
Within a matter of weeks of embracing this change in my day-to-day life, my blood work was back to normal and I’ve not looked back since.” Somaiah has since become a WBFF Pro, and counts winning a 2016 bikini modelling competition in Los Angeles among her most memorable moments. “I love the discipline, the work ethic, the dedication and the sweat,” she laughs. “I see it as art – my body is the canvas.”
However, staying motivated isn’t always easy, and training for competitions can be particularly tough. “I go through intense training,” she nods, “it’s incredibly challenging to workout at high levels of intensity while on a calorie-restricted diet.”
She speaks highly of Middle Eastern athletes, including Nada Al Bedwawi, the first female Emirati Olympic swimmer. “Women are far more visible in sports today. Emirati women have taken great strides in fitness-related activity along with Saudi Arabian women,” she says, before adding: “With that being said, as women we still do face discrimination and inequalities in professional sports.” Saudi Arabia’s Sarah Attah became the first woman from her country to compete in athletics at the Olympics during London’s games in 2012. It was an important cornerstone for Somaiah.
“She was that catalyst for Saudi women to embrace and not shy away from their love of sports. I hope to inspire, motivate, encourage and guide my fellow Saudi women in the same way. Strength training isn’t just for men, it’s for all of us!”
The Entrepreneur
“Don’t go for drastic changes,” recommends Natasha Rudatsenko, when asked about fitness advice for the new year. “We are more likely to stick to a healthy routine step by step. Choose one healthy habit and try to get comfortable with it first. Once confidently nailed, add another one.”
She shrugs at MOJEH’s impatience. “When you try to go completely cold turkey, the risk of not sticking to it is very likely,” she insists. “Also, it’s important to remember that food is highly important in your journey to be fit. You can go to the gym twice, but if you eat the wrong food, you won’t get the results you deserve.”
Educated in London, Natasha moved to Dubai in 2010, and has since launched a number of award-winning businesses including Muncherie Organic Foods, in 2015, and RAWR Yoga, in 2012. A self-described “serial health nagger”, she encourages a combination of exercise and good-quality food.
This December, Natasha is combining her various passions with the launch of her latest venture DRYP, a sweat hub in Dubai Marina offering hot yoga, alongside other fitness classes. “I personally believe that any success in life starts with a certain mindset that sport helps with. Why? Because this is when we take the power of our mind, learn to be disciplined, turn up even when we don’t feel like it and keep going when tired.” She adds: “I always say, once you’ve nailed your fitness routine, the sky’s the limit.”
For Natasha, sport requires “focus, discipline, perseverance and endurance,” which are traits that transcend workouts into one’s everyday life. “Being in the health and fitness industry is a great influence to be more active and eat better,” she admits, “but on a more serious note, I absolutely love helping people realise and achieve their personal health and tfiness goals.” She pushes her long brunette tresses behind her shoulders. “It never gets old for me. Every individual achievement is different and it gives me a great sense of accomplishment being a part of it.”
The Gym Owner
Maintaining incredible fitness and competitiveness is something CrossFit and Red Bull athlete Shaikha Al Qassemi knows all too well, but it’s what keeps her interested.
“What I love is the challenge,” she grins while slipping into a light-blue Nike jacket. “As a CrossFit athlete there are so many ups and downs with training, and even injury. However, challenges are what helps us grow as individuals and that’s what I love the most.”
Shaikha’s also inspired by the different people she meets and opportunities that subsequently arise. “My partnership with Lululemon started in 2015. They approached me with a bowl of lemons, and when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade,” she remembers, with a vivacious laugh. “We have collaborated on many initiatives, and will have many more to come.”
Although an inspiration for many, Shaikha believes that “every woman should think of herself as her own role model.” She adds: "Always remember where you started and how far you’ve come. Yes, there are many role models in this region and around the world, but I believe in finding the role model within yourself – focus on that.”
A successful sportswoman, the Emirati expresses concern about how little knowledge professional athletes often have. “I’m still baffled by how little athletes know about how to train, how to eat and how to recover,” she explains. “Many depend on old methods of training and haven’t sought to improve their nutrition and recovery.” It’s for this very reason that Shaikha decided to launch her hugely-popular fitness space, Platform Fitness Gym, a Dubai-based hub of functional exercise. “Platform Fitness Gym focuses more on educating our members, giving them priority access to workshops, seminars and talks to further their awareness and knowledge on both health and fitness.”
The Personality
Amy Jean Fox studied health and skincare for two years, which soon developed her passion for all things fitness related. “I was brought up being active,” Amy tells MOJEH. “My mother signed me up for my first dance class when I was about three-years-old,” she laughs, “so I think it was inevitable I’d pursue a career in sport.”
An avid social media personality and blogger, the personal trainer and Nike ambassador is enthusiastic about all things wellness. “More than anything I love spreading the word of health and fitness through my social channels,” she reveals. She admits that maintaining her fitness can be tiring. “One of the most challenging things I’ve ever set out to do is bikini competitions,” she admits. “Mentally and physically, it’s so tough. I managed to come out on top after three years of competing and finally got my WBFF Pro card at the end of 2015.”
Amy pushes herself, on occasion, to breaking point. “The biggest challenge for me is to live up to expectations. Everyone expects a lot and sometimes I put way too much pressure on myself which leads to unnecessary stress. I’m learning to just do what I can and accept it.”
But nothing puts her off exercise. “Being fit in itself is empowering, especially as a woman. The stronger I feel physically, the stronger I feel mentally – it goes hand- in-hand. When women can use both, that’s when we’re unstoppable.”
She admits that she’d “love to see more local girls killing it in the fitness industry” but enjoys motivating others. “The best thing about what I do is seeing other people bene t from it. If I can motivate just one person a day to move I’m a very happy person.
Coaching people to move better on a daily basis so that they can still tie their own shoelaces at 80-years-old is very underrated, and I’m all over it!”
