Upon face value, looking at Aya and Mayah, one might assume that the unlikely duo couldn’t be any more different. On one hand, we have Mayah, UAE born with her punk aesthetic, tattoos, piercings and bold looks, albeit with a feminine edge. On the other, Aya, a proud Italian with a penchant for layers, high end pieces and a face that would warm the heart of any Arab grandma. But as the saying goes, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.

That’s why perhaps to the untrained eye, one might find it odd for them to be appearing side by side. But the story of Two Sides of The Same Coin isn’t to focus on the perceived ‘differences’, “the idea is to communicate how there isn’t a singular stereotype about being Arab, we don’t fit into one category, or one image” said Aya discussing her identity. “It’s to show the spectrum, and how opposite ends might be similar and closer to each other than what some might think.” she continued.

Media regularly portrays Arabs by using the usual banal stereotypes: either we’re very religious or we’re closed minded and so goes the trope. But in this case study on ‘Arabness’, we have Aya who was raised in Milan, and Mayah who grew up in the UAE, if anything, we would expect the pair to have difficulties seeing eye-to-eye. But both Aya and Mayah are friends, and both have worked together previously collaborating on several projects, even staying together in Paris during fashion week. “When people see me and Mayah, they would believe that maybe we have nothing in common or that we would not get along. But we’re friends, that’s the thing about being from similar parts of the world, there is some unspoken bond that connects us, it’s hard to describe.” explains Aya. Mayah echoes by saying “It’s about being yourself and doing what you want to do, and having to do this in a society that is always telling you otherwise is sometimes tough although empowering. We’re tired of looking or acting in a certain way that pleases everyone but myself”.

Aya wears the hijab as a form of self-expression and rebellion against the racism she has experienced in Europe. By wearing the veil in a predominantly non-Muslim country, Aya is pushing against the oppressive systems of Islamophobia and internalized racism. Mayah, who was born in the more conservative UAE, uses her tattoos and punk vibes to challenge the traditional values of her upbringing and surroundings. Through their defiant acts, in their own manner, they are challenging the current status quo that has kept them subjugated for too long, paving the way for a more inclusive and fair world where everyone is free to express themselves in whatever way they choose.


Aya speaks of her struggle to find her own space to express her Arab identity. “Blood is thicker than water, it feels like your roots are constantly calling you back”, she explains. “Even now that I have my own place, I’m trying to furnish it in an Egyptian manner. My mum tells me how Egyptians usually come to Italy to buy their furniture and take it back to Egypt, but for me I want to do the opposite”, Aya says before expanding on how she feels as if there’s a lack of relevant platforms to express herself, “I want to reclaim that. I am proud of that. And I want to show that. It’s such a rich culture”.
Mayah also revealed that in order to gain her independence, she was forced to distance herself from her family — something that for someone who’s grown up in the region, knows how difficult that can be. “If your family is abusive or unaccepting of who you are, then I think it’s really important to put yourself first, mental health is something that is crucially important for everyone. Taking that step for me, however hard it was, was the best option. I just removed myself from a toxic environment.”

Ultimately, these Two Sides of The Same Coin serve as a reminder that we should live and let live. Like most things in life, what people would refer to as ‘Arabness’ remains a social construct that spans over a spectrum that expands the more one probes and digs into it. By standing up and speaking out, actively or passively, Aya and Mayah are both reclaiming their identities, in their everyday choices, proving that freedom and emancipation is once again, far from being a unilateral road.







AYA
Photographer: @picturaultra
Interview: itswhysee_
Stylist: @milanpyramid
Brands: @maisonvalentino@trussardi@okhtein
Jewellery: @voodoojewels via @mm.studio.mm
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MAYAH
Photography: @moz.____
Creative Director : @samilakouait
Interview: itswhysee_
Styling: @zayelkenz
Brands: @rickowens & @zeidhijazi
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