Lekaa El Khamissy, Nahed El Sebai and Malak El Ashiry honoured at The Power of Her in the New Capital

Actresses Lekaa El Khamissy and Nahed El Sebai and businesswoman Malak El Ashiry were among the women honoured at The Power of Her, a Pink October evening held by the women's platform Girls Space on Thursday 29 October at EDGE Innovation Center in the New Administrative Capital. Under the line "Her Health. Her Ambition. Her Impact.", the day paired breast cancer awareness with frank talk about careers, business and mental health.

Fashion designer Ann Refaie and Yasmine Tharwat, chair of Posh Management, were honoured too. TV presenter Rana Arafa hosted the day and led the talks on stage, with one guest or several at a time.

Lekaa El Khamissy: think of yourself first

Lekaa had a message for Egyptian women. "The most beautiful, kindest and smartest woman in the world is the Egyptian woman," she said. "She works, raises the children, feeds everyone, and the last thing she thinks about is herself. That's wrong. Think of yourself first."

She told women to keep learning and picking up new skills so they don't lose themselves in everyday duties, and to set clear limits with anyone who crosses them or drains their energy. "I put anyone who crosses my limits in their place, but politely," she said.

Nahed El Sebai: "I have no lookalike"

Nahed spoke about confidence and being different. She remembered how her late mother, whenever Nahed asked which actress she looked like, would answer that she looked like no one. "I have no lookalike," she said, urging every woman to build her own mark instead of copying others. The granddaughter of Farid Shawqi and Hoda Sultan said she is proud to have made her own name, and hopes to carry on their legacy without ever letting them down.

Her advice: don't bottle up sadness, say what you feel, and use sport to let the pressure out. She also cheered actress Rakeen Saad's recent win, saying she was as happy as if the award had been her own.

Malak El Ashiry: from a home workshop to Mamsha Ahl Misr

Malak, general manager of Council Masters, said her business began about ten years ago at home. She married and had children young, could not find hijab products she liked, and turned that need into a company: a workshop of young women from Kerdasa that now exports scarves to Saudi Arabia. Success, she said, does not need a big start, just persistence.

She said she is proud to see families spend time at Mamsha Ahl Misr, the Nile walkway, in a place that is clean and safe. Then came the evening's surprise: she wants to host the next edition of The Power of Her at Mamsha Ahl Misr with Girls Space, and it will not have to wait for next October.

Ann Refaie and Ahmed Teymour

Ann Refaie, founder of Ann Refaie Designs, said the stories of strong women who came through hard times moved her most, and that a woman's physical and mental health shapes everything else she does.

Ahmed Teymour, a partner in Wellness Oasis Clinics, told women to put themselves first. "Make yourself a priority in everything and know your worth," he said. "Women aren't just half of society. Society really revolves around them."

Talks, and a breast cancer focus with Baheya

The panels covered women's health and wellness, business, leadership and how art and media shape public opinion, with Ann Refaie, Yasmine Tharwat, Doaa Gaweesh of The Hair Addict and Ahmed Teymour, alongside Ahmed Yosry, Saeed Gamil and TV presenters Sherif Nour El-Din and Marwan Kadry. A session with the Baheya Foundation focused on breast cancer, early checks and reliable health information.

Rana Adel, who founded Girls Space, said the platform wants to be a voice and a space for every girl, and chose a pink edition because a woman's ambition can't be separated from her health. Looking after yourself and getting checked early, she said, should never be put off.