Sarah Guirguis Follow along as Laila Ezzat, 21, one of the most sought-after models in Egypt right now, walks us through her typical work day.
Night Before
โI like to mentally prepare myself the night before and just de-stress.โ
How do you prepare? I have to check whether I need to bring shoes, clothes or makeup – I always ask before a shoot. Occasionally, I might be required to do my own makeup but thereโs a makeup artist most of the time. Then, I make a list of everything I need to take with me. That could be nude or black heels, tank tops and whatever they need for the shoot, and I pack a little duffel bag or carry-on with all those items the night before.
Do you do anything to relax? Before going to sleep, I usually sit in bed for about two hours and I watch a show or a movie. Sometimes, I look up podcasts to listen to because they help me fall asleep. Lately, Iโve been listening to The Joe Rogan Experience.
Night skincare: I exfoliate and cleanse my face, and then I apply a toner and moisturizer, and thatโs about it. After that, I try to go to sleep early especially if the shoot begins at 6am the next day. I like to aim for at least six hours of sleep.
Morning of
Morning skincare: On the day of the shoot, I donโt apply any makeup in the morning because thereโs usually a makeup artist who will do it on set. I just wash my face, moisturize and head out the door.
What do you usually wear to a shoot? I make sure to wear something really comfortable because I know I will be sitting for about two hours getting my hair and makeup done. I usually go for sweatpants and a big T-shirt or hoodie, depending on the weather.
On Set
โI always love being on set. I love meeting new people – the makeup artists, photographers and creative directors. I love all that; probably one of my favorite things about modelling is the cool people I get to meet that I wouldโve never met otherwise.โ
Hair & Makeup: Itโs fun but itโs not as glamorous as you would think. When it comes to makeup, we get to play with colors depending on the mood of the shoot so thatโs very fun. As for hair, I tend to cry inwardly when itโs being styled because I can imagine the damage thatโs going to happen to it.
Any challenges you tend to encounter? The hardest thing about modeling is the amount of time we shoot for, honestly. Some shoots take six hours, while others take twelve hours. An ad shoot can go on for two days. It can get pretty exhausting. I love my job but after the ten-hour mark, you wonโt find yourself in the mood to stand, look good and take pictures.
Midday snacks: I usually have protein bars with me, in case I get hungry. If itโs a long shoot, we usually get a lunch break and whoever is organizing the shoot orders food for everyone on set. Most of the time, that would be pizza or grilled chicken.
Your favorite type of shoots? I really enjoy the shoots that are more than just product shots, the ones that entail a lot of creativity and detail from the set to the hair and the makeup. It makes the experience different and a lot of fun.
How do you feel at the beginning and when youโre done? I tend to really pick up on peopleโs energies around me. It really depends on where weโre shooting, whoโs with me on set and the vibe going on. If the team is chill and fun, I will feel very comfortable and at ease. If I could sense tension on set, it would make me anxious. It also depends on how early I woke up that day. If too early, I will probably be half-asleep during the first hour but Iโm usually up and ready by the time I get my makeup done.
After the Shoot
โAfter the shoot, Iโm usually pretty exhausted. I take my makeup off in the car, as soon as I can. I always have a makeup remover with me because think about it, Iโve had heavy makeup on for long hours and my pores are probably screaming and dying.โ
Do you treat yourself after? If itโs not too late, I will go out and eat dinner. By that time, I usually feel like, โIโve worked a lot today so I just want a break and I want to see my friends.โ We would go to the cinema when we were able to do that.
Night skincare: When I get home, I wash my face again to make sure I have all the makeup off and I moisturize. Then, I put on a face mask either that night or the next morning to repair and refresh my skin from any damage.
We also asked Laila about her popular presence on social media. She said, โI love social media. Itโs probably my favorite thing to do. I love making videos, creating content and taking pictures. Sometimes, I reach a point where Iโm out of ideas and I have nothing to post. And Iโm experiencing that frustration right now and itโs on my mind 24/7. You start feeling stuck and you keep thinking, โI should be doing more.โ Because it is part of my job. Without this platform, I wouldโve missed a lot of opportunities and I wouldnโt have connected with so many people. Iโm really grateful for it.โ
Regarding future plans, Laila told us, โIโm working on something right now but itโs not time to announce it yet. Itโs very exciting for me because Iโm basically starting my own business. Iโve always been dreaming about it but I had just been waiting for the right timing.โ
Name two makeup staples you go to whenever youโre in a rush.
The clear brow gel by Benefit and Maybellineโs Fit Me concealer.
