Egyptian media personality Asma Sherif Mounir captured attention during the 8th edition of the El Gouna Film Festival with her first public appearance wearing a hijab, presenting a new project titled “A Different World”, without revealing full details of the initiative.

Asma confirmed that she will not participate in the red carpet this year, choosing instead to dedicate her presence to the message her project conveys.

She shared photos of herself wearing the hijab on Instagram, commenting: “This is the first time I attend the El Gouna Festival wearing a hijab, and I’m very happy. Last year, I was building connections for ‘A Different World,’ attending panels and masterclasses. This year, we were excited as a team to create something meaningful, and suddenly, in just 48 hours, everything changed.”

“For the first time, I feel I’m showing my true self”

Asma admitted that she had considered not traveling to the festival, feeling unprepared because of her hijab, but said: “God sends opportunities when you are ready from within, not from the outside.” She added that encouragement from a certain party motivated her to participate after recognizing that her project deserved to be showcased, saying: “I have attended El Gouna before in various roles, as a makeup artist and influencer, but this is the first time I feel I’m truly presenting my authentic self.”

She emphasized that her goal this year is not the spotlight or the red carpet, but to present a project with humanitarian and intellectual value, adding: “I’m in Gouna not for the red carpet, I’m here so that ‘A Different World’ can exist as it deserves.”

Recently, Asma spoke on the podcast “Yomna Today” about her life before wearing the hijab, saying: “I met people who said drinking isn’t forbidden, but I always asked: Did God tell you to drink, or is it the devil? I tried that life, traveled, and stayed up late, but I never felt at peace.” She added that she found true comfort through commitment and spiritual closeness to God after years of confusion and experimentation.

Asma announced she would wear the hijab in September, deleting all previous photos without it from her social media accounts and posting new ones alongside her husband. She emphasized that the hijab is a heartfelt decision and a covenant between me and God, asking her followers to pray for her steadfastness in this new chapter.