Queen Rania, Sheikha Mozah Top Arab Women Role Models

DUBAI, Mar 8: Jordan's Queen Rania and the Qatari emir's wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned are the most popular role models for Arab women, according to a survey by Yahoo! Maktoob Research.

Almost one-fifth of more than 3,600 respondents viewed 40-year-old Queen Rania as a role model for women, while 16% voted for 51-year-old Sheikha Mozah.

The Jordanian queen enjoyed far more popularity among women, receiving 27% of their vote compared with 17% from men.

Queen Rania and Sheikha Mozah

Rania, a commoner from a Palestinian family, married Jordan's prince Abdullah in 1993.

She is known for her distinguishable taste in fashion, and has established herself as a campaigner for universal education.

A mother of two boys and two girls, Queen Rania says on her website: "I just wake up and feel like a regular person. At the end of the day you are living your life for the people that you represent."

The Qatari first lady has been engaged in education and social reforms, along with several development projects. Sheikha Mozah chairs the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, a private non-profit initiative to promote the small gas-rich country.

Unlike the wives of other Gulf Arab monarchs, she is a visible public figure. She was in the limelight late last year, appearing with her husband Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani when Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The findings of the Yahoo! Maktoob Research survey were released prior to the International Women's Day on March 8.

Thirty-six percent of those polled did not pick their role model from the choices that included Egyptian writer and activist Nawal El Saadawi, Tunisian actress Hend Sabry, Egyptian film director Inas Degheedy, Egyptian filmmaker Ateyyat Abnoudy and journalist Octavia Nasr.

Most popular role models for Arab women:

1.    Queen Rania (19%)

2.    Sheikha Mozah (16%)

3.    Nawal El Saadawi (4%)

4.    Hend Sabry (2%)

5.    Inas Degheedy (1%)

6.    Ateyyat Abnoudy (1%)

7.    Octavia Nasr (1%)