Miss Cyberface Buckinghamshire 2013 !

Yes!
I am in the finals of the beauty pageant Miss Cyberface UK, representing Buckinghamshire!
I just got my sash yesterday and took some photos with it, I am really happy.
Never had a sash before and also this is the first beauty pageant I ever entered and to me it is a success already to be one of the finalists as I am competing with girls who are much younger than me...the oldest of them is 9 years younger than me and some are about 18 years younger!
So even if I don't win this competition I already had my personal victory with this title.
The reason why I entered it was to prove that even older women such as myself can still be beautiful!
When it comes to modelling it seems that to get some work you have to be a teenager, normally they look for girls 16-23...it is hateful because this is like saying that after that age women are no longer attractive! Every age has its beauty and personally I prefer myself now than when I was a teenager!
Of course I was a lot slimmer, but I wasn't half the woman I am today!
Anyway, here are some photos of happy me with my brand new sash.

Tomorrow I was supposed to audition for an African Feature film, I had a month to prepare myself and was all excited as I was going to audition for a lead role but sadly they sent a message yesterday saying that due to unforeseen circumstances the auditions have been cancelled!
I was really disappointed...I was looking forward to this one...hopefully they will audition us later on.
Also still waiting to hear back from another casting for a presenting role job for which I was shortlisted a month ago but all dead silent from their side...what's going on? I am still waiting for the details for the screen test which was supposed to be done earlier this month and I e-mailed them to check what's going on and they didn't get back. I will keep checking my mail every day and stay positive, cause that it's in my nature! Always good positive vibes!

Music video for Noisy Toyz!

I had such a great time yesterday shooting a video for this exciting symphonic metal band called Noisy Toyz! Lovely people, great fun and good vibes.
The video had a "Phantom of the Opera" concept, which totally fit the atmosphere created by the song.
We were all wearing beautiful gowns and venetian masks, as the video was set at a masked ball... I am sure it's going to look really awesome on camera.
I really got loads of compliments for my mask and my dress, I was really pleased.
I hope my performance on camera was good, I have even got to dance and mime playing a violin. I don't know what was more scary ...the dance or my violin playing! LOL!
When I tried playing it, it felt like the most terrible sounds of the world were united together into a symphony of death, like the music from hell was being created!! LOL! Had I known it in advance I would have watched some tutorials for beginners :)
I won't complain, I love taking on new challenges! When you show up at these things, especially music videos, you never know what direction they may take, it is always an interesting experience.
In fact we even filmed some improvised crazy scenes which will probably not be included into the official video but may be featured on a "behind the scene" video for Youtube I guess... those will be really fun to watch!
The video was for a really good track called "Trail of Tears"...we played it over and over again yesterday during the shoot and it kind of got stuck into my head! Really top class music and singing!

Click on this link to listen to TRAIL OF TEARS by Noisy Toyz


Gemma, their new singer is a really beautiful girl with a powerful voice similar to that of Tarja of Nightwish. In fact I think she is going to become really famous as she seems to have it all!
It is always a pleasure to work with new talented people.

Noisy Toyz live
 

Noisy Toyz
 

Here is a photo taken during the break:

I am going to post the video as soon as it is ready...keep checking for updates...and please check Noisy Toyz out and go see them live if you have the chance, they are really good!

Ramadan is here!

Ramadan Mubarak!!
4th day of Ramadan today and all is good!
I haven't blogged for a while now, not because I am lacking arguments but because I am trying to spend as little time as possible on the internet. I have been fasting now for four days about 21 hours a day, no food and no liquids and it has been going really fine, despite the heat outside.
I only suffer from headaches around midday up to about 4 or 5 pm, but no hunger nor thirst.
It is amazing how can people fast this long and still feel great!
The only thing I truly miss is my coffee and of course going to the gym. I really miss Zumba and working out, but I don't think it is a good idea at all to work out in these conditions since I cannot break my fast until 21.20 and the gym closes at 22.00. I maybe should try a minor work out of half an hour only, but I am afraid that I am going to be too thirsty.

Apart from that I am have been preparing my monologue for my audition for an African Feature film at the end of this month. I kinda like how I am doing it but I am still not totally satisfied so I am going to keep working on it until I reach a level where I feel more confident about it.
It is a very demanding role. Well I will do my best to bring it to life!
Apart from that I haven't been working on any new project this week...it seems things have been a bit on a pause, many people are on vacation since it is the middle of the summer.
It is really hot outside.
Had fun today taking a few photos of myself with my huge sunglasses....aren't they cute?

Music video for a BIG band!

Wow! Had a fantastic day yesterday, one of those last minute things out of the blue that just turn your day around. Got a last minute call to appear in a video for a really famous rock band! I am dying to tell you guys all about it but I really can't due to the record label restrictions ( and because of course it would spoil the surprise!).
I never say no to great opportunity like this one!
I think this video is going to look amazing...very atmospheric and surreal...I loved the concept behind it and the story. In a way it reminded me a bit of the novel I am writing.



Love this area of London

The location was wicked!! Took me ages to get to it as the Circle line wasn't working as usual, didn't have a map with me so I had to take numerous trains to get there fighting with time...I love the thrills of adventure, of the unknown...such a rush!

During the break

The catering was very good and everyone was really friendly. I had a fantastic time!
Now to see the video, which I am going to massively promote later on, we will have to wait until September for the band's new album release. It is going to be played on MTV and all music channels around the world! I cannot wait to see it! Gwaaan!!!

Young Muslim Writers Awards 2013

We were invited as VIP guests to the Young Muslim Writers Awards 2013 in London, I must say we had a great time! I had never been to the Senate House before, lovely venue inside, despite its horrible outer aspect which reminded me a lot of the Mogamma El Tahir in Cairo with that prison-like architecture. Inside it was truly lovely!

It was a great event, very well presented, with the right balance of entertainment and  awards ceremony speech... lovely Indian catering with a wide vegetarian choice (yes vegetarian...can you believe it? I was overjoyed!).
We had such a good time, met some lovely people and really enjoyed ourselves.
It made me so happy to see the big smiles of the young winners and see their eyes shine with joy. I really hope this award will encourage them to write with even more passion and dedication in the future. For sure to win such a prize at such a young age is a true great achievement that will probably shape the way these kids will look at themselves from this day on.
And probably also the way their families will look at them too.
I wish there were such competitions when I was little. I was so good at writing, always had a vivid imagination. To me it is not a matter of winning, taking part of it and having one's work selected as one of the best is already a great recognition...and that is what people need, to have their hard work and talent acknowledged!
This event was sponsored by Muslim Hands and the Yusuf Islam Foundation. Yusuf's daughter was there too and gave a beautiful speech. She looks so much like him! It was a pleasure to see her there.


Dreadlock Alien (poet) and another actor were the official entertainers

Khaleel was interviewed by Islam Channel, can't wait to see the official broadcast.
I am also looking forward to the next gala, the MOMO awards, where Khaleel has been nominated again as best solo performer! InshAllah he will win this time.


stage

Just me

Khaleel during his interview with Islam Channel