Mohamed Ramadan and Manuel Arnaut photographed in Cairo by Malak Kabbani
For this spring issue of Vogue Man Arabia, we are featuring on our cover one of the most divisive and bombastic figures in the region’s star system. While some may not consider him an obvious choice for Vogue, Mohamed Ramadan, the self-proclaimed “number one,” is this month’s leading man. An accomplished actor and performer, the Egyptian star comes from humble beginnings, but upholds a strong work ethic – which we witnessed on set and that has served to catapult him to the top.
View this post on Instagram
He has also achieved incredible success due to his strong personality and sense of humor. But why are so many people always scrutinizing the imitable artist? My take on it is that Ramadan is particularly strong on social media platforms – on Instagram alone he counts more than 17 million followers – where nowadays, it is so easy to bully in cancel culture’s best style. But don’t get me wrong, Ramadan is not entirely innocent. He often produces content that goes viral, due to its intentionally provocative nature. He surely believes that more is more (including what he wears and his artistic persona), and is not shy to showcase his wealth and access – from flying on a private jet to swimming in a pool with a baby white tiger. “The rejection I faced was a great motivator because it indirectly contributed to increasing my ambition and determination,” shares the performer in our candid interview. “Historically, controversy is persistent with real stars. It is just normal and a sign of success. No debate, no success.”
View this post on Instagram
While at this cover shoot, where photographer Malak Kabbani captured a more intimate side of the artist, one of the things I enjoyed witnessing was Ramadan’s kindness and friendliness to anyone who approached him – and believe me, it was a lot of people! He always posed with a smile, took children in his arms for selfies, and returned a question to his fans. If you ask me, it is this quality of remaining open and kind that makes him Number One. Whether the haters like it or not.
Read Next: Mohamed Ramadan Reveals His Most Intimate Side in Vogue Man Arabia’s SS21 Issue
