International Women’s Day Exclusive: A Tribute To The Women In Our Lives

The woman I’d like to honour is Nasim, my late mother.

She inspires me because her funeral was a testimony to who she was and as her daughter, witnessing the impact she made in people’s hearts was so inspiring. She left a legacy and now it’s my duty to honour it.

One thing I have learned from her is people don’t forget how your presence made them feel and how you helped them during difficult times. She was always ready to help, always smiling and cheerful. Her energy brought joy to both elders and children. Everyone has stories of her acts of selflessness. I learned that I need to think beyond myself and my family. To try my best to live a life of being of service to others. In the end, how do we want to be remembered?

One word I would use to describe her is vibrant.

A core memory I have with her is being squeezed into a van with so many children as she took us to theme parks every weekend in the summer. Despite the difficulties of life, she found ways to spread joy. “There are angels amongst children,” she’d say.

As women, it is important to lift each other up because we have the power to inspire the next generation. By uplifting each other and acknowledging our unique strengths, we can achieve more together and fulfill our purpose here. @salehaart

Zainab AlSalih, Founder and Managing Director, Carousel Events

One word I would use to describe her is vibrant.

Zainab AlSalih, Founder and Managing Director, Carousel Events

Above: Zainab AlSalih. Image supplied.

The woman I’d like to honour is my mother.

She inspires me because she embodies strength and resilience, showing me the true meaning of sacrifice for one’s children. She raised me to be a strong, independent woman while also reminding me never to lose my softness and kindness. She taught me that we can be strong yet gentle, defiant yet humble, principled yet adaptable.

One thing I have learned from her is to never compromise when it comes to my values and principles.

One word I would use to describe her is altruistic.

A core memory I have with her is when I was giving birth to my first child and facing a difficult delivery. My mother has always been incredibly strong, never showing vulnerability or letting emotions get the best of her. I had never seen her cry or crumble—until that moment. Seeing her break down for the first time touched my heart deeply and showed me just how much she felt my pain.

As women, it is important to lift each other up because we are stronger together. By supporting and empowering one another, we create a world where every woman can thrive, stand tall in her strength, and embrace her full potential. @zainabalsalih

Nikki Martin, Co-founder of Palm Living Interiors

Above: Nikki Martin (left) and Karen Dougall (right). Image supplied.

The woman I’d like to honour is Karen Dougall, my business partner.

She inspires me because her passion for interiors and her attention to detail are second to none. Every December, I put up my Christmas tree and style my home, and Karen will walk in and, before I know it, she’s redoing everything and making it absolutely unreal. We’ve even talked about adding this to Palm Living’s services.

One thing I’ve learned from her is Karen is someone who always goes above and beyond for others, whether it’s helping with Christmas trees or taking in her friends’ pets while they’re on holiday. She is one of the kindest people I know.

One word I would use to describe her is perfectionist.

A core memory I have with her is a funny one, but it always sticks out in my mind. Around 2021, we had been working in the morning and spent the afternoon at home when a parrot showed up on my balcony. In a panic, I called Karen, and, as always, she showed up at my door with parrot food! Hours later, after a trip for a birdcage and a parrot perched on her head for a few hours, she decided to take the parrot home until she could find a proper place for it.

As women, it is important to lift each other up because we’re often told there’s a ‘barrier’ and that we need to lift each other up to break it. But I don’t believe in barriers. The only barriers that exist are the ones we set for ourselves. As women, we need to believe this and empower each other to move beyond the restrictions society can place on us, so we can achieve great things. As one famous woman once said, ‘Who run the world?’ @palmlivingae

Suzi Fadel Nassif, Artist and Founder of Al Mezzanine Gallery

Above: Self-portrait artwork by Suzi Nassif. Image supplied.

The woman I’d like to honour is the woman I was—the girl who walked through fire without knowing if she’d make it. She stumbled, she broke, but she kept going. She didn’t yet see how much she’d grow, how many times she’d rise, or how the women beside her—silent or fierce—would shape her. She kept going. And because of her, I am here.

If you’d asked me 15 years ago who inspires me, I’d have picked some historical icon—I mean Frida Kahlo has been in my art for years! But in this stage of my life? I honour the women who’ve walked beside me—the friends, mentors, and quiet warriors whose names won’t be in textbooks but who shaped me in ways I can’t fully explain. And as an artist, I honour my younger self—the one who kept creating even when self-doubt screamed louder than inspiration. She reminds me that art, like life, isn’t about perfection but about showing up, messing up, and somehow turning the chaos into something beautiful.

One thing I have learned from her is that even in darkness, there’s always a way forward. That becoming is a journey, not a destination. And that loving myself—fully, unapologetically—comes first (also, that good coffee and blocking toxic energy are non-negotiables).

One word I would use to describe her is unframed.

A core memory I have with her is the moment she stood alone and didn’t feel lonely. The day she stopped shrinking, stopped waiting for permission to exist fully. She had searched for belonging, only to realise she belonged to herself first. It was quiet, but it changed everything.

As women, it is important to lift each other up because no one woman can break every barrier alone. We carry histories, dreams, and battles that are intertwined. When one of us rises, we all rise. In lifting each other, we rewrite the narratives that held us back and create a force that stretches beyond ourselves. Together, we turn struggle into triumph. @suzinassif

Ana D’Castro, Mixed Media Artist

Above: Ana D’Castro

After a lot of thought, and although I have an immense admiration for my mother and grandmothers; I have realised that the woman that has most inspired me, shaped me and absolutely changed my perception about life and love is my first daughter, Mia.

Mia means ‘mine’ in Portuguese, and even without realising how powerfully strong this chosen name was at a first sight, I have come to learn how deeply connected it was to my heart.

Since the first day she was born I knew she was special, blessed by heavy rains, as our traditional proverb, there she was with huge green eyes looking at me.

I haven´t learned only one thing from her! Every single day I learn, evolve, regress and move forward. I believe that Mia is teaching me life. How can I put it in words; she teaches me the true meaning of love.

Looking up to older iconic women in your life is easier. Living every day with my daughter is somehow reshaping my own persona, my own rules or beliefs, my concept of love. It is to constantly revisit your own relationship with your mother and filter it, shape it, or in most cases abandon everything you thought you knew, but you didn´t.

One word to describe Mia is freedom, her own way to be free inside her own creative world. One of my most cherished memories is with two-year-old Mia, painting in my studio, naked with a black marker cat´s mustache face drawn on her cheeks and completely full of paint all over her body, dancing and painting in her magic universe.

As women we are all daughters, sisters, mothers. There´s no stronger link than encouraging other women to love and live happily, they will too, feel stronger and pass the message across. @ana_d.castro

Awatef Zaoui, Founder of Le Petit Marché Home Furniture

Above: Awatef Zaoui. Image supplied

The woman I’d like to honour is my mother, Rachida.

My mama inspires me because her existence is defined by resilience, grace, and unwavering determination. As an immigrant, she built a life from the ground up, proving that success isn’t about where you start but about the vision and perseverance you bring to the journey. She dreamed big but never labelled it as a dream. To her, it was a goal—not an option. She pursued it with relentless work and sacrifice. Long hours of labour, ambition that knew no limits, physical exhaustion, and an unyielding spirit—every day, she chased that goal without hesitation.

One thing I have learned from her is that true success isn’t just measured in achievements but in the lives we touch and the legacy we leave behind. She taught me that our goals should always serve our family—that is the secret to never giving up and always striving for excellence.

One word I would use to describe her is unstoppable.

A core memory I have with her isn’t just a single moment—it’s her entire life.

But if I had to pick one, I recall my mother wanting a specific painting-like effect for her walls, popular in her home country, Morocco, but unavailable in France. It’s a technique called tadelakt, a textured plaster applied with a spatula—a process that requires precision, patience, and a lot of physical effort.

So, my dear mama did what she always does—she found a way. She brought the raw materials from Morocco by bus, gallons of paste in tow. And every day after work, for a week straight, she put on her apron and battled with the walls. I remember her talking to herself, analysing how to adjust the pressure of her wrist to achieve the perfect visual effect. We were all annoyed by the inconvenience of her impulsiveness—another décor project disrupting our space.

But one stroke at a time, what only she could see in her mind became visible to us. The masterpiece took shape. The tadelakt revealed its grandiose beauty. To this day, it remains, to me, the most precious piece of our interior—a testament to her determination, resilience, and vision. I still look at those walls with admiration—and gourmandise.

Watching her face challenges with quiet strength—whether creating opportunities in a new country, raising a family, or showing me that dignity and ambition go hand in hand—has shaped the way I see the world. She is not just a pillar—she is the foundation, the roof. She is solid and unshakable. She never needed to say much; her actions spoke louder than words.

As women, it is important to lift each other up because when a woman’s ambition is to raise her tribe, there is no ego, no greed—only giving, sharing, and expanding. Every breakthrough, every barrier shattered, and every success story paves the way for the next generation to be better, to serve with more heart, and to care more deeply. Women’s successes carry communities, dignity, and warmth. There is something intangible yet incredibly powerful when a woman rises—she lifts.

My mother lifts. Broken, tired, uncertain, unsupported—she carried the weight twice over and still lifted higher. I have never met a successful woman who didn’t start her story with the urge to lift her tribe. They are warriors—fighting for dignity, with lipstick and mascara, cooking dinner, changing nappies, and paying the bills. They multiply.

She is inspiration. @lepetitmarche.ae