anyway hi guys how you all doing I literally just flew from Muscat to be
I literally just flew from Muscat to be
I literally just flew from Muscat to be here for you guys today so thank you for
here for you guys today so thank you for
here for you guys today so thank you for having me okay so I want to start off by
having me okay so I want to start off by
having me okay so I want to start off by asking you all a question do you guys
asking you all a question do you guys
asking you all a question do you guys have a hard time being true to yourself
have a hard time being true to yourself
have a hard time being true to yourself think about that for a minute and we
think about that for a minute and we
think about that for a minute and we will revisit this so over the years I’ve
will revisit this so over the years I’ve
will revisit this so over the years I’ve had a very hard time being myself to
had a very hard time being myself to
had a very hard time being myself to answer you the question myself it would
answer you the question myself it would
answer you the question myself it would be a big yes because first of all I’m
be a big yes because first of all I’m
be a big yes because first of all I’m not your conventional Muslim women
not your conventional Muslim women
not your conventional Muslim women second of all growing up I didn’t go
second of all growing up I didn’t go
second of all growing up I didn’t go through anything that was conventional
through anything that was conventional
through anything that was conventional came from a divorced family you know
came from a divorced family you know
came from a divorced family you know multicultural lived in a different
multicultural lived in a different
multicultural lived in a different country than I was born in so all of
country than I was born in so all of
country than I was born in so all of these aspects kind of set me apart from
these aspects kind of set me apart from
these aspects kind of set me apart from the groups that I would usually see my
the groups that I would usually see my
the groups that I would usually see my name is Leila lcib and today I would
name is Leila lcib and today I would
name is Leila lcib and today I would like to talk to you guys about being
like to talk to you guys about being
like to talk to you guys about being beyond labels so let me take you guys
beyond labels so let me take you guys
beyond labels so let me take you guys back to where I really felt very
back to where I really felt very
back to where I really felt very vulnerable and very afraid of being
vulnerable and very afraid of being
vulnerable and very afraid of being myself it was the time when I first gave
myself it was the time when I first gave
myself it was the time when I first gave birth to my firstborn child I was 20
birth to my firstborn child I was 20
birth to my firstborn child I was 20 years old and we had other plans me and
years old and we had other plans me and
years old and we had other plans me and my husband we said we’d travel together
my husband we said we’d travel together
my husband we said we’d travel together we do things together before we really
we do things together before we really
we do things together before we really settle down with a kid but you know that
settle down with a kid but you know that
settle down with a kid but you know that was not the case and so we had this baby
was not the case and so we had this baby
was not the case and so we had this baby and the first time I looked at her I
and the first time I looked at her I
and the first time I looked at her I know they say you feel you feel this
know they say you feel you feel this
know they say you feel you feel this ecstatic feeling when you look at your
ecstatic feeling when you look at your
ecstatic feeling when you look at your child and you feel overwhelmed and they
child and you feel overwhelmed and they
child and you feel overwhelmed and they show you in movies it’s like a dream
show you in movies it’s like a dream
show you in movies it’s like a dream come true but it was nothing like that
come true but it was nothing like that
come true but it was nothing like that for me it was nothing like that for me
for me it was nothing like that for me
for me it was nothing like that for me when I looked at her
when I looked at her
when I looked at her [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] there I was a 20 year old young woman
there I was a 20 year old young woman
there I was a 20 year old young woman looking down at this baby looking up at
looking down at this baby looking up at
looking down at this baby looking up at me crying and I was like what did I just
me crying and I was like what did I just
me crying and I was like what did I just get myself into am I gonna be a good
get myself into am I gonna be a good
get myself into am I gonna be a good mother how am I gonna balance out you
mother how am I gonna balance out you
mother how am I gonna balance out you know having a am I even gonna have a
know having a am I even gonna have a
know having a am I even gonna have a career forget you know finishing my
career forget you know finishing my
career forget you know finishing my education I had all these dreams for
education I had all these dreams for
education I had all these dreams for myself which I felt like they were
myself which I felt like they were
myself which I felt like they were crumbling because I just had this card
crumbling because I just had this card
crumbling because I just had this card dealt in my life that I had no clue of
dealt in my life that I had no clue of
dealt in my life that I had no clue of so a couple of months went by I settled
so a couple of months went by I settled
so a couple of months went by I settled into being a mom with the help of my
into being a mom with the help of my
into being a mom with the help of my family of course and my husband I was
family of course and my husband I was
family of course and my husband I was still searching for answers I was still
still searching for answers I was still
still searching for answers I was still looking around I was still thinking okay
looking around I was still thinking okay
looking around I was still thinking okay I need to get my education done while I
I need to get my education done while I
I need to get my education done while I have this baby at home of course I
have this baby at home of course I
have this baby at home of course I didn’t go the conventional way and go to
didn’t go the conventional way and go to
didn’t go the conventional way and go to university with my friends they were
university with my friends they were
university with my friends they were having so much fun I would see it on
having so much fun I would see it on
having so much fun I would see it on Facebook and I’d be like oh my god are
Facebook and I’d be like oh my god are
Facebook and I’d be like oh my god are you serious you went partying here and
you serious you went partying here and
you serious you went partying here and then you weren’t traveling there and
then you weren’t traveling there and
then you weren’t traveling there and there I was you know at home with a baby
there I was you know at home with a baby
there I was you know at home with a baby and I was feeling terrible and I didn’t
and I was feeling terrible and I didn’t
and I was feeling terrible and I didn’t know who I was I didn’t know at all if
know who I was I didn’t know at all if
know who I was I didn’t know at all if I’m still Delilah that was in before my
I’m still Delilah that was in before my
I’m still Delilah that was in before my twenties or what is happening to me
twenties or what is happening to me
twenties or what is happening to me right now you know so it took me a while
right now you know so it took me a while
right now you know so it took me a while to figure out all these questions I had
to figure out all these questions I had
to figure out all these questions I had but one day I just stopped scrolling
but one day I just stopped scrolling
but one day I just stopped scrolling through Facebook which is so bad for
through Facebook which is so bad for
through Facebook which is so bad for your health you know when you’re going
your health you know when you’re going
your health you know when you’re going through things and you’re looking at
through things and you’re looking at
through things and you’re looking at other people and other people’s
other people and other people’s
other people and other people’s timelines I said I’m not gonna do this
timelines I said I’m not gonna do this
timelines I said I’m not gonna do this to myself I’m gonna you know stop asking
to myself I’m gonna you know stop asking
to myself I’m gonna you know stop asking myself all these questions and start
myself all these questions and start
myself all these questions and start doing things before it’s too late
doing things before it’s too late
doing things before it’s too late so I went on to get my business and
so I went on to get my business and
so I went on to get my business and marketing degree with the baby which was
marketing degree with the baby which was
marketing degree with the baby which was really really hard I stayed awake at
really really hard I stayed awake at
really really hard I stayed awake at night you know doing my work my essay
night you know doing my work my essay
night you know doing my work my essay while in the morning I had to wake up
while in the morning I had to wake up
while in the morning I had to wake up with a baby you know as my alarm clock
with a baby you know as my alarm clock
with a baby you know as my alarm clock and four years went on I got my behavior
and four years went on I got my behavior
and four years went on I got my behavior BBA and then I finally decided that I
BBA and then I finally decided that I
BBA and then I finally decided that I should look into doing other things
should look into doing other things
should look into doing other things because the corporate world wasn’t
because the corporate world wasn’t
because the corporate world wasn’t really fitting into my picture with
really fitting into my picture with
really fitting into my picture with you know the mom life and I wasn’t
you know the mom life and I wasn’t
you know the mom life and I wasn’t really keeping up with all the timings
really keeping up with all the timings
really keeping up with all the timings and I had a hard time finding a maid so
and I had a hard time finding a maid so
and I had a hard time finding a maid so I was like I’m just gonna try to do
I was like I’m just gonna try to do
I was like I’m just gonna try to do things my way because I’ve been doing
things my way because I’ve been doing
things my way because I’ve been doing that for the past four years of my life
that for the past four years of my life
that for the past four years of my life and if it has been working out great so
and if it has been working out great so
and if it has been working out great so I decided I’m gonna try out my love for
I decided I’m gonna try out my love for
I decided I’m gonna try out my love for photography I’m gonna touch base with
photography I’m gonna touch base with
photography I’m gonna touch base with makeup because I love doing all of these
makeup because I love doing all of these
makeup because I love doing all of these things before I had the baby so let’s
things before I had the baby so let’s
things before I had the baby so let’s get back into the game you know and then
get back into the game you know and then
get back into the game you know and then finally I decided to come across fashion
finally I decided to come across fashion
finally I decided to come across fashion where I did some courses on fashion
where I did some courses on fashion
where I did some courses on fashion design and then I went on ahead and
design and then I went on ahead and
design and then I went on ahead and started styling people my friends my
started styling people my friends my
started styling people my friends my cousins and people liked it the women
cousins and people liked it the women
cousins and people liked it the women loved it because I wasn’t dressing the
loved it because I wasn’t dressing the
loved it because I wasn’t dressing the conventional women are the models you
conventional women are the models you
conventional women are the models you know I was dressing everyday women that
know I was dressing everyday women that
know I was dressing everyday women that are like me you know we’re not Size Zero
are like me you know we’re not Size Zero
are like me you know we’re not Size Zero we’re not tall we’re not blonde and we
we’re not tall we’re not blonde and we
we’re not tall we’re not blonde and we just everyday women with the head job
just everyday women with the head job
just everyday women with the head job and it was going pretty well so I said
and it was going pretty well so I said
and it was going pretty well so I said you know what it’s about time I take it
you know what it’s about time I take it
you know what it’s about time I take it to the next level and I looked into
to the next level and I looked into
to the next level and I looked into opening my own styling studio but things
opening my own styling studio but things
opening my own styling studio but things weren’t looking very great with having a
weren’t looking very great with having a
weren’t looking very great with having a baby and still no proper help and being
baby and still no proper help and being
baby and still no proper help and being here you know with no extended family so
here you know with no extended family so
here you know with no extended family so I decided okay I’m gonna do something
I decided okay I’m gonna do something
I decided okay I’m gonna do something from home so I started doing things from
from home so I started doing things from
from home so I started doing things from home which worked out in my favor
home which worked out in my favor
home which worked out in my favor because most of my friends would be
because most of my friends would be
because most of my friends would be comfortable coming over and I would
comfortable coming over and I would
comfortable coming over and I would start styling them couple of years went
start styling them couple of years went
start styling them couple of years went on and I started feeling pressured in
on and I started feeling pressured in
on and I started feeling pressured in the fashion industry I looked around
the fashion industry I looked around
the fashion industry I looked around even though this isn’t doha but we have
even though this isn’t doha but we have
even though this isn’t doha but we have like a lot of cattiness going on in the
like a lot of cattiness going on in the
like a lot of cattiness going on in the fashion industry it’s just like anywhere
fashion industry it’s just like anywhere
fashion industry it’s just like anywhere else I looked around and I felt
else I looked around and I felt
else I looked around and I felt completely awed I felt different and I
completely awed I felt different and I
completely awed I felt different and I said you know what and there was always
said you know what and there was always
said you know what and there was always a competition between you know people
a competition between you know people
a competition between you know people and the models and they always want to
and the models and they always want to
and the models and they always want to push people off even as an adult they
push people off even as an adult they
push people off even as an adult they want to push people off there are
want to push people off there are
want to push people off there are different so that the more what do you
different so that the more what do you
different so that the more what do you say the more generic version of the
say the more generic version of the
say the more generic version of the industry can go on so that is when I
industry can go on so that is when I
industry can go on so that is when I looked deep into myself and I said I’m
looked deep into myself and I said I’m
looked deep into myself and I said I’m not going to take this I’m going to put
not going to take this I’m going to put
not going to take this I’m going to put myself
myself
myself on a broader platform where I can
on a broader platform where I can
on a broader platform where I can connect with women just like myself I’m
connect with women just like myself I’m
connect with women just like myself I’m pretty sure that there are many many
pretty sure that there are many many
pretty sure that there are many many women like myself that I can reach out
women like myself that I can reach out
women like myself that I can reach out to so I decided to put myself online and
to so I decided to put myself online and
to so I decided to put myself online and that is when I started my platform being
that is when I started my platform being
that is when I started my platform being Layla’s a it is completely about being
Layla’s a it is completely about being
Layla’s a it is completely about being true to myself
true to myself
true to myself and talking about fashion beauty
and talking about fashion beauty
and talking about fashion beauty lifestyle along with the realness that
lifestyle along with the realness that
lifestyle along with the realness that comes being a mom and being an
comes being a mom and being an
comes being a mom and being an entrepreneur it’s not all happy golden
entrepreneur it’s not all happy golden
entrepreneur it’s not all happy golden days there are days that I’m terrible
days there are days that I’m terrible
days there are days that I’m terrible terribly off of plan like today I miss
terribly off of plan like today I miss
terribly off of plan like today I miss my flight because my son in the morning
my flight because my son in the morning
my flight because my son in the morning had a really bad tummy ache and he was
had a really bad tummy ache and he was
had a really bad tummy ache and he was vomiting and I said you know what I
vomiting and I said you know what I
vomiting and I said you know what I can’t go like this without knowing he’s
can’t go like this without knowing he’s
can’t go like this without knowing he’s gonna be okay so I had to push my flight
gonna be okay so I had to push my flight
gonna be okay so I had to push my flight and then come here and I informed them
and then come here and I informed them
and then come here and I informed them that I cannot go on for the first bit so
that I cannot go on for the first bit so
that I cannot go on for the first bit so you see I kind of kept customizing my
you see I kind of kept customizing my
you see I kind of kept customizing my life until I’m here today and of course
life until I’m here today and of course
life until I’m here today and of course along the way I realized my daughter was
along the way I realized my daughter was
along the way I realized my daughter was the best thing that ever happened to me
the best thing that ever happened to me
the best thing that ever happened to me because she made me see life she made me
because she made me see life she made me
because she made me see life she made me see life in a completely different way
see life in a completely different way
see life in a completely different way she gave me a second chance to finding
she gave me a second chance to finding
she gave me a second chance to finding this Laila in front of you today if I
this Laila in front of you today if I
this Laila in front of you today if I denied myself the right to feel
denied myself the right to feel
denied myself the right to feel vulnerable feel pressured or answer ask
vulnerable feel pressured or answer ask
vulnerable feel pressured or answer ask those questions then I wouldn’t be here
those questions then I wouldn’t be here
those questions then I wouldn’t be here in front of you today
in front of you today
in front of you today my advice to anyone that feels like
my advice to anyone that feels like
my advice to anyone that feels like they’re out of the box I would say being
they’re out of the box I would say being
they’re out of the box I would say being yourself does it mean you can just do
yourself does it mean you can just do
yourself does it mean you can just do one thing you know it means being
one thing you know it means being
one thing you know it means being different and being sticking to the
different and being sticking to the
different and being sticking to the decisions you make so if you’re on a
decisions you make so if you’re on a
decisions you make so if you’re on a journey on finding yourself let me just
journey on finding yourself let me just
journey on finding yourself let me just tell you it’s not going to happen over
tell you it’s not going to happen over
tell you it’s not going to happen over and over night it’s not gonna happen
and over night it’s not gonna happen
and over night it’s not gonna happen maybe even in a year but the key is
maybe even in a year but the key is
maybe even in a year but the key is major key alert the key is to stay true
major key alert the key is to stay true
major key alert the key is to stay true to yourself and stick to those decisions
to yourself and stick to those decisions
to yourself and stick to those decisions because eventually you’re going to
because eventually you’re going to
because eventually you’re going to practice
practice
practice you’re gonna make it through and you’re
you’re gonna make it through and you’re
you’re gonna make it through and you’re gonna have a habit of not giving a damn
gonna have a habit of not giving a damn
gonna have a habit of not giving a damn about what people say in the process I’m
about what people say in the process I’m
about what people say in the process I’m sorry I forgot to I think I’m not gonna
sorry I forgot to I think I’m not gonna
sorry I forgot to I think I’m not gonna go with the slides now okay so the other
go with the slides now okay so the other
go with the slides now okay so the other thing about finding yourself in this
thing about finding yourself in this
thing about finding yourself in this world is also the fact that you always
world is also the fact that you always
world is also the fact that you always have to have a vision for yourself set
have to have a vision for yourself set
have to have a vision for yourself set goals for yourself and stick to them
goals for yourself and stick to them
goals for yourself and stick to them don’t let anything or anyone push you
don’t let anything or anyone push you
don’t let anything or anyone push you aside you can always fall off the wagon
aside you can always fall off the wagon
aside you can always fall off the wagon but then you can always get back on
but then you can always get back on
but then you can always get back on because there are circumstances that you
because there are circumstances that you
because there are circumstances that you cannot you cannot you know that’s beyond
cannot you cannot you know that’s beyond
cannot you cannot you know that’s beyond your control you know there are higher
your control you know there are higher
your control you know there are higher powers out there so you know you gotta
powers out there so you know you gotta
powers out there so you know you gotta you gotta be aware of that just always
you gotta be aware of that just always
you gotta be aware of that just always make plan ABCDEF go up up until Z if you
make plan ABCDEF go up up until Z if you
make plan ABCDEF go up up until Z if you have to and that’s going to help you
have to and that’s going to help you
have to and that’s going to help you through your journey and some of the
through your journey and some of the
through your journey and some of the questions that I asked myself when I got
questions that I asked myself when I got
questions that I asked myself when I got started was am I being true to myself
started was am I being true to myself
started was am I being true to myself being yourself does it mean that
being yourself does it mean that
being yourself does it mean that everybody hears the term be yourself
everybody hears the term be yourself
everybody hears the term be yourself these days but what does it really mean
these days but what does it really mean
these days but what does it really mean to be yourself in this day and age I
to be yourself in this day and age I
to be yourself in this day and age I don’t think there is one way to do it
don’t think there is one way to do it
don’t think there is one way to do it and also the way to look at it is to say
and also the way to look at it is to say
and also the way to look at it is to say being true to yourself because each time
being true to yourself because each time
being true to yourself because each time you go through this journey you’re just
you go through this journey you’re just
you go through this journey you’re just going to be put against decisions that
going to be put against decisions that
going to be put against decisions that are going to be either you’re
are going to be either you’re
are going to be either you’re comfortable with or uncomfortable with
comfortable with or uncomfortable with
comfortable with or uncomfortable with if you decide to take the comfortable
if you decide to take the comfortable
if you decide to take the comfortable comfortable bit then know that it’s not
comfortable bit then know that it’s not
comfortable bit then know that it’s not going to be easy you’re going to feel
going to be easy you’re going to feel
going to be easy you’re going to feel vulnerable you’re going to feel out of
vulnerable you’re going to feel out of
vulnerable you’re going to feel out of the box you’re going to feel like people
the box you’re going to feel like people
the box you’re going to feel like people just don’t get you and that’s okay
just don’t get you and that’s okay
just don’t get you and that’s okay because at the end of the day the price
because at the end of the day the price
because at the end of the day the price you pay is nothing compared to what you
you pay is nothing compared to what you
you pay is nothing compared to what you gain and lastly I would like to leave
gain and lastly I would like to leave
gain and lastly I would like to leave you with the questions that I asked
you with the questions that I asked
you with the questions that I asked myself when I got started what am i
myself when I got started what am i
myself when I got started what am i doing to contribute to myself the world
doing to contribute to myself the world
doing to contribute to myself the world around me
around me
around me am I being true
am I being true
am I being true to myself genuinely because of my
to myself genuinely because of my
to myself genuinely because of my happiness or is it to please others am i
happiness or is it to please others am i
happiness or is it to please others am i living my life to the full potential for
living my life to the full potential for
living my life to the full potential for myself and my family or is it for others
myself and my family or is it for others
myself and my family or is it for others these are just some of the questions
these are just some of the questions
these are just some of the questions that I asked when I got started and I
that I asked when I got started and I
that I asked when I got started and I would love for you guys to get started
would love for you guys to get started
would love for you guys to get started it’s important that you get started as
it’s important that you get started as
it’s important that you get started as soon as possible do not doubt yourself
soon as possible do not doubt yourself
soon as possible do not doubt yourself do not you know wait around for the
do not you know wait around for the
do not you know wait around for the right time there are always gonna be
right time there are always gonna be
right time there are always gonna be haters it comes with a big big load
haters it comes with a big big load
haters it comes with a big big load where people don’t understand you they
where people don’t understand you they
where people don’t understand you they just don’t get what you’re doing some
just don’t get what you’re doing some
just don’t get what you’re doing some people are going to be against what you
people are going to be against what you
people are going to be against what you do against what you say but that doesn’t
do against what you say but that doesn’t
do against what you say but that doesn’t mean you stop because of them you keep
mean you stop because of them you keep
mean you stop because of them you keep on going you build yourself up as you go
on going you build yourself up as you go
on going you build yourself up as you go along and you become brave so that’s
along and you become brave so that’s
along and you become brave so that’s about it thank you so much
about it thank you so much
about it thank you so much [Applause]
”
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