As the cameras rolled and the lights softened around our shoot, Balqees Fathi – known mononymously by her first name – arrived with a warmth that disarmed everyone in the room. She greeted the crew by name, laughed with the stylist over a hairpin mishap, and moved through the day with a calm, grounded energy that felt real. In a world often curated for effect, she stood out – not for what she wore, but for how she made people feel. 

That’s the thing about Balqees – she’s deeply kind, incredibly smart, unapologetically human, and multi-talented in ways that feel lived, not performed. She belongs to every generation and yet is wholly her own. 

We also celebrated her birthday that day. Between set-ups, candles were lit, and the team gathered to sing – a simple moment, but it said everything. Her presence left a quiet mark on everyone.

Born in Abu Dhabi to an Emirati mother and legendary Yemeni musician Ahmed Fathi, Balqees grew up between two cultural worlds. “My father saw the spark in me before I even understood what it meant to be an artist. But I didn’t rush,” she says. “I was that little girl who loved music but also wanted to be the best student in class.” 

That early tension between heritage and ambition, the pull to perform and the discipline to wait, shaped the woman she is today. “That balance between tradition, hesitation, and hunger made me who I am – someone who respects where she comes from but isn’t afraid to carve her own path,” says Balqees.

That sense of purpose continues to define her. “I’ve always felt a responsibility to open doors that were once closed, especially for Arab women in music,” she notes. Balqees has sung in multiple dialects, performed in spaces that once excluded women, chosen music that connects rather than divides... 

None of it is random. “We are one region with many voices,” she says. But purpose doesn’t always shield one from loneliness. “Yes, at times I’ve felt it. But purpose gives me company. My family, my son Turki, my fans, my faith – they keep me centred when the noise gets too loud.”

Motherhood changed everything. “I don’t chase fame the same way anymore – I chase legacy. My son reminded me that success isn’t applause, it’s peace,” she shares. 

Her relationship with time, with ambition, with rest, has shifted. “I work hard, dream big, but I also know when to slow down and just be.” She smiles as she says motherhood softened her. “I became more connected to emotion than perfection.”

Even her style reflects that evolution. “My style now mirrors where I am emotionally. Less noise, more essence.” Once known for ornate gowns, she now gravitates towards sculptural elegance and earthy tones. “Fashion has become a reflection of confidence, not performance,” she explains. “I feel most beautiful when I’m comfortable in my skin, whether that’s in couture or with no makeup, barefoot, laughing with my son.”

She also mentions her intellectual ambitions, including her desire to pursue a PhD – “It’s not about titles, it’s about curiosity.” Her research in marketing and the arts is about bridging creativity and academia, building something lasting. 

“I’ve outgrown the belief that I need to prove my worth to anyone,” Balqees says. “Now, I just seek alignment between mind, heart, and purpose.” That alignment is part of her resilience. “Reinvention isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about returning to your truth, again and again.” 

She’s been misunderstood, she’s stumbled, but she’s never strayed far from herself. “Every time I rise, I do so with more grace. Strength isn’t loud. It’s quiet, consistent, forgiving.”

“Mental well-being is all about educating ourselves,” adds the singer, who approaches healing actively. “I got that education 15 years ago when I first went to therapy. I understood what it means to be mentally unwell, and how to come back.” Today, healing looks like boundaries, stillness, and joy – “even when the world expects perfection,” she adds.

With BEX Beauty, Balqees proves she’s also a businesswoman with vision. “BEX was born from a question – why should Arab women have to fit into global beauty standards that weren’t made for us?” The line is made for the region, its tones, its textures, its climate. But more than that, it’s about honesty. 

“Beauty is power. But real power is authenticity,” declares Balqees. In an era of filters and façades, she’s chosen to stay real. “I feel most feminine and powerful when I’m creating, whether that’s music, beauty, or love.”

And yet, for all the visibility, there’s a quiet side to her. “I value silence. I’m very private, very introspective,” she reveals. When asked what she hopes women take away from this cover, she answers without hesitation, “You can be many things. Ambitious and kind. Strong and soft. Grounded and glamorous. You don’t have to choose one version of yourself. You can be all of them, beautifully.”

She has also learned to listen to herself more. “Especially lately, I’ve been more honest with myself than ever.” And when stress builds? “I go back to that little girl inside me, speak to her, and try to heal.”

So what does it mean to arrive? “Every time I fulfil an objective, whether that’s cooking a meal, completing a concert, or sitting with my family at table, that’s arrival,” she says. Arrival, for her, isn’t a destination – it’s presence.

And who grounds her? “Family. My son. My siblings. The person I love.”

She’s sung in front of thousands, but for her, music is emotional more than performative. “We sing for unity. We never advocate for hate. Music is a festival of emotions. If you’re down, I want to lift your spirit. If you’re happy, I want to be part of that too.”

There are still places she wants to explore. “The sky is the limit,” she says. “I haven’t yet explored Tunisia and Algeria, and there’s so much beauty there. Even Yemen, my home, is rich with dialects and traditions I still want to dive into. And Egypt too. There’s more to discover.”

And at the end of it all, what matters most? “Health. Without it, nothing works. Not fame, not money. If you or your loved ones aren’t well, nothing else matters. My family’s well-being is the centre of everything.”

Balqees has become a woman defined by intention grounded in who she is, clear about what matters, and confident in every role she chooses to embody. Hers is a story still unfolding, but always on her terms!

Cover photo: Balqees Fathi wears the Moderniste mono clip earring and So Move pavéd earrings, all by Messika Paris. Her dress is by Kristina Fidelskaya.

Photographer: Fouad Tadros
Creative Direction : Beya Bou-Harb 
Stylist: Cedric Haddad
Make Up: Michel Kiwarkis
Hair stylist: Ivan Kuz
Stylist Assistant: Rita Abi Antoun 
Jewellery: Messika