A Cultural Collage Of Arab Female Artists
Hayaty Diaries
Kinzy Diab and Christina Shoucair
Hayaty Diaries, established in 2022 by childhood close friends Kinzy Diab and Christina Shoucair, is an art collective that highlights and empowers females within the Arab region. Their deep desire to create is heavily influenced by their backgrounds with a mix of Lebanese and Egyptian elements. DIVAZ reached out to Hayaty Diaries to delve deeper into the true meaning behind the curtain on the stage that is Hayaty Diaries.
Talk to us about your backgrounds and your cultural experiences?
Kinzy Diab: Christina and I have always been drawn to creating, having both grown up in creative households—founding Hayaty Diaries felt almost inevitable for us. It was the natural progression of our journey in creating together.
Christina Shoucair: I’m Lebanese and have always loved art. My mom is an artist, so I grew up surrounded by creativity. [Keeks] and I grew up together because our moms are best friends, so we’ve always been part of each other’s lives. She moved from Egypt to London shortly after I moved from Saudi to London.
Bottega Veneta Waves - Dubai by Carl Gerges
How did Hayaty Diaries start, and where did the inspiration for it come from?
KD: It all started with documentation—no clear plan, just a desire to create and reconnect with the places and cultures that have shaped our identities as women from Egypt and Lebanon. Initially, we thought about starting a blog to share diary entries about these women—hence the name. But once I discussed it with Christina, Hayaty Diaries began to take shape into what it is today. Driven by our shared love for culture and a deep commitment to uplifting women creatives from the MENA region, we felt a strong urge to carve out space for voices like ours— creatives who reflect our histories and tell stories often overlooked in mainstream Western culture.
CS: It all started with documentation—no clear plan, just a desire to create and reconnect with the places and cultures that have shaped our identities as women from Egypt and Lebanon. Initially, we thought about starting a blog to share diary entries about these women—hence the name. But once I discussed it with Christina, Hayaty Diaries began to take shape into what it is today. Driven by our shared love for culture and a deep commitment to uplifting women creatives from the MENA region, we felt a strong urge to carve out space for voices like ours— creatives who reflect our histories and tell stories often overlooked in mainstream Western culture.
Fidelity by Amina Nazer
My Last Wish by Huda Jamal
Love Birds by Yasmina Hilal
What’s next for Hayaty Diaries? What are your goals for the foreseeable future?
After our most recent show in London—our first solo exhibition featuring Egyptian artist Nour Ammar—we’re looking ahead to more collaborations with creatives from the Arab world. We’re excited to explore ways to connect different forms of creativity, from fashion and art to film. We’re not limiting ourselves to exhibitions; our goal is to share art in various forms and remain open to new opportunities.
Who is your Diva?
KD: I think my diva is my mom. If “Diva” means a source of inspiration and a driving force in your success, then definitely my mom.
CS: Well, now that she said her mom, I have to say mine too—otherwise, I’m going to be getting some phone calls later! (laughs) But honestly, I would definitely say my mom too. We’re both super lucky to have such strong, independent women showing us the way.
