Balqees Fathi hits the right note

Arab singer Balqees Fathi is one of the biggest names in the music industry. She is known for being the girl who followed the crowd and then the young woman who found her way to her passion.
The Yemeni-Emirati artist’s interest in pursuing a singing career was first sparked at the tender age of 16, when she began making music with her father, renowned composer Ahmed Fathi.
Fathi’s strong presence on social media supported her career as people fell in love with her.
Her 2013 inaugural album titled ‘Majnoun’ stormed the charts and accumulated a staggering 16 million views on YouTube. Released in 2015, her second album — titled ‘Zay Ma Ana’ — also swept social media and emerged as the most downloaded album on iTunes Middle East.
With her singing career showing no signs of abating, Balqees became a certified member of the UAE NSO Symphony Orchestra in 2013; she can now sing opera in four languages — Arabic, English, French and Italian — and has performed for prestigious audiences comprising high-profile figures and royalty from around the world.
Even with everything she has achieved and her extraordinary career trajectory to date, Balqees has never rested on her laurels. Since her first brush with stardom, she has remained dedicated to serving as a voice for today’s youth, especially women, and moving the needle of influence in any way that she can.
In line with this, in the past decade, Balqees has continuously used her celebrity platform to shed light on important humanitarian causes. As part of her philanthropic work, she recently visited Yemeni refugee camps in Djibouti and launched a heart-wrenching #dontcoveritup campaign, which tackles the all-too common problem of domestic abuse.
We at Arab News wanted to learn more about her lifestyle, her beauty and her daily routine. Stepping away from music, we talked to Balqees in an exclusive interview.

What quote do you live by?
‘The best things in life are never planned.’

What brings you the greatest joy?
Bringing happiness to the people I love.

What brings you the greatest satisfaction?
Seeing beauty everywhere and in everyone — including myself.

What is the best lifestyle advice you’ve been given?
It might sound cliché but ‘eat, pray, love’ — just like the book and film!

What are three things that are on your bucket list?
I would love to be a mother someday, further expand my philanthropic efforts, and, of course, travel all around the world so I can discover new people and cultures.

What item in your closet do you wear the most?
I have to admit, my daily uniform consists of jeans.

What is your greatest indulgence?
I take great delight in knowing that my concerts draw a large audience. My fans mean everything to me — without them none of my success would have been possible.

What is the one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Whenever I see children crying — even if I don’t actually know them personally — I instantly start to tear up. It strikes a chord with me every time.

We understand that staying healthy is important to you. When did you first realize that it’s important for busy women to prioritize their health?
Two years ago, I started losing control of my body weight and, naturally, began to feel really unhealthy. That is when I decided that I had to do something about it — from there I started monitoring my calories, tracking my diet, taking supplements and going to the gym on a regular basis. I changed my entire lifestyle and since then have never looked back.

What kind of exercise tips do you have for working women?
Being a working woman is a juggling act — you are putting in long hours on the job and sometimes you have to find time to take care of your children afterwards. Although I am not a mother myself, I know from my own personal experience that it can often be difficult to squeeze a workout into a very busy schedule. So, the obvious solution is to be active from the comfort of your own home. You don’t necessarily need a full-fledged gym to work out. There are a lot of at-home exercises that are fun and get your heart rate up. Today, thanks to social media, women can follow specific fitness-geared accounts designed to show followers how they can use certain objects in their house and turn them into gym-like workout equipment.

When you’re overwhelmed with work responsibilities, how do you find a better work/life balance?
There are a lot of ways to unwind. The first thing that I try to do is not bring the stress of work home. Besides that, I try to indulge in spa treatments and get relaxing facials and massages. I love pampering myself — it is the best way to de-stress.

What is your hair care secret?
I always tell whoever asks me this question that, when it comes to keeping my hair in tip-top shape, my go-to beauty secret is Pantene’s Oil Replacement. What I love most about it is that it gives me all the nourishments of traditional oils without the hassles. It is how and why my hair remains smooth, soft, silky and nourished without feeling weighed down and heavy. When you have long hair like mine that is no easy feat!

You are constantly working in front of a camera or in front of an audience. How do you keep your skin glowing with all the make-up?
My skin care regimen is very meticulous. I take a lot of supplements, drink a lot of water (eight glasses a day), and monitor what I eat — to ensure that my skin remains youthful, radiant and wrinkle-free for as long as possible. I firmly believe that you are what you eat. And so, whatever you put into your body will immediately reflect on your skin.
So, I consume a spoonful of Yemeni honey first thing in the morning — before I even eat anything or drink my coffee — and one before going to bed. I apply a lot of face masks as well. In addition, I visit a dermatologist frequently to identify how I can reduce acne outbreaks and any other side effects that come with constantly being in the spotlight.

Your hair is always on point? How do you keep it from being damaged after all that styling?
As someone who is in the public eye and constantly having her hair styled, I need a product that doesn’t just enhance my natural texture but also repairs damage. Pantene’s Oil Replacement ticks all of those boxes and more. I really rely on it to add softness and shine to my hair and provide it with conditioning and damage repair benefits. Essentially, it gives my locks all the benefits of oils without the downsides — greasy-looking, pillow-staining hair that feels sticky and heavy. In short, it caters to the needs of 21st century women — with fast-paced lives — who want long-term solutions to real hair care issues.

We understand that you are the first Arab woman to be chosen to represent Pantene, tell us more about it.
As an Arab woman, it is a great privilege to be joining the ranks of global powerhouses such as Tuba Buyukustun, Gisele Bündchen and Selena Gomez. These high-profile figures are role models for young women: they believe in themselves, have shed their inhibitions, and now shine strong in their own eyes and the eyes of others. They truly embody the essence of being strong, bold, and ambitious — and I am honored to be considered one of them. More importantly, I am proud to be the new face of Pantene’s Oil Replacement — a revolutionary product that serves as a strong testament to the brand’s commitment to delivering today’s solutions to today’s hair care problems.
My partnership with Pantene is rooted in our shared mission to significantly contribute to 21st century Arab women’s empowerment causes and help them shine strong, tap into their own power, and boost their sense of self-worth. Together, we hope to inspire and pave the way for Arab women’s personal growth and professional success.

You also partnered with Pantene to campaign for women’s rights in the Middle East, tell us more about it.
That’s right. Pantene and I are working hand-in-hand to empower women in the Middle East to succeed in all their endeavors, pursue their aspirations, and work toward their personal and professional goals. As part of its quest for Arab women’s empowerment, the brand has embraced my efforts to enhance the lives of young Arab women. In that same vein, Pantene is supporting my ‘2016 Tour to Empower Arab Women’ and doing its part to empower Arab women, inspire them to greatness, enable them to achieve their dreams, and encourage them to face today’s problems with today’s solutions. I am incredibly grateful for Pantene’s support.

What are the top five products that you swear by?
My top, most-used beauty product is first and foremost matte lipstick. I personally never ever wear glossy lipstick. For my skin, I always use BB cream with SPF. Fortunately, I don’t have any acne to hide so I don’t feel the need to apply foundation.
I also rely heavily on setting spray. It really refreshes my make-up especially during long shoots. Since I try to stay away from the sun, I use bronzer and blusher to give a little bit of color to my skin. And lastly, for my hair, I religiously use Pantene’s Oil Replacement!
—
Email: [email protected]