#mce_temp_url#We’re now into our centenary year of the Milennium. And what a century the Noughthies have been! Can you think of your highlights of the Century?
I think mine are – passing 13 GCSE’s and 4 A-Levels plus reaching the semi-finals of Britain’s Got Talent and presenting a programme for ITV Yorkshire on ‘Bellydancing in Egypt.’
2009 has also been a memorable year– with the Credit Crunch reaching a climax, Ryan Giggs winning the title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Michael Jackson dying at the young age of 51.
For me personally it has been quite an incredible year. I returned from Italy to set up a business in Entertainment and Media Relations – it is now known as ‘MEI International Ltd’. I then modelled for a few fashion shows such as, ProSheffield’s event at Sheffield City Hall, a Liverpool show with Gail Porter and I ended up playing the bride in a wedding photoshoot at Wortley Hall.
Amongst walking down catwalks and dancing – Lots of students and I, broke the World Record for the most people simultaneously bellydancing in aid of Comic Relief. I also held my website launch/21st Birthday at The Showroom Cinema which saw hundreds of people, including a few local celebrities wine and dine in The Showroom Bar and then watch the documentary I presented on ‘Bellydancing in Egypt.’
The Summer of 2009 was not quiet either as Miles Copeland (Former manager of Sting and Police) and me, judged an international bellydance contest in June. I then travelled to Dubai – I tried out the facilities at the new Atlantis hotel in Palm Jumeirah – I managed to have a dance too!
July was an exciting month for Sheffield too as it played host to the City’s first ‘Music City’ Festival that was curated by famous Sheffield-born Musicians such as, Matt Helders and John McClure. My Social Events company and I, organized the launch night of the Music City called ‘Egyptian Elegance’ that showcased some of the best drummers and Arabic dancers in the city.
August was busy as my agent and I, travelled to Liverpool to film at Lime Studios for Channel 4’s Hollyoaks. It was fabulous to meet most of the cast whom, to my surprise, were not trained actors.
However, September was a highlight as MIND asked me to launch the very first ‘Get Moving and Dance’ week in regent’s Park, London. I performed with some amazing Salsa, Street and Capoeira dancers and the opera boyband Blake. Plus, the lovely Dave Benson-Philips hosted the event whilst trying out a bit of bellydancing with me.
November then became a month of business. I won a Future 100 Social Entrepreneur Award and was shortlisted for Sheffield Chamber’s ‘Young Businessperson of the Year’ Award.
And finally, December came and I found myself playing Touch Rugby on Sky Sports in aid of the Wooden Spoon Charity at the English Institute of Sport as part of the ‘Legends of Rugby’ event.
WOW! So what a year it has been! I feel very lucky and honoured to have had all the opportunities that has made 2009 a hard-working but great success.
So lets make 2010 and the coming century even better!
