Sarah Guirguis If you keep up with news about all things art, cinema and entertainment, you have probably come across her segments before. A dazzling presenter on CBC’s “It’s Show Time”, Maha AlSagheer is easily one of our favorite faces to see on television. We wanted the scoop on her life behind the scenes so we asked her about her family, inspirations and career challenges.
Walk us through your get-ready routine for television.
I have to go to sleep very early and have my outfit laid out the night before. I also have to get my hands on the script a few days prior to the show so I can have time to read through it and research the topics we’ll be covering. We are an entertainment show but we also talk about significant topics like history of cinema, festivals and art. We do chit-chats where you have to have some background knowledge as you engage in them. As you can expect, I wake up very early, head straight to work for hair and makeup and then we go live.
We can assume being a presenter comes with its own set of challenges. What about this job came naturally to you and what did you have to work on?
I minored in filmmaking and majored in mass communication so cinema has always been my passion. Since I was a kid, I had an obsession with films and grew up wanting to become a cinematographer. What came naturally to me was the passion to go beyond the superficial stories and promote the significance of this field. What I had to work on was my tendency of being camera-shy. At first, it was very hard for me to look straight into the camera.
Who have been your favorite interviewees to meet along the way?
I have so many favorites. If I had to pick one, it would probably be Nadine Labaki because I had always been a fan of her work. I was specifically moved by her film, Kafr Nahoum, so I was so excited about interviewing her. I had so many questions and she was very nice in person.
Tell us about your experience winning your first media award.
I actually thought they were joking when I first heard about it. I got a phone call and the man on the other end was telling me that they want to honor me with an award and I legit thought it was a prank call. Then, I thought maybe I misunderstood so I asked him if they wanted me to be an MC, the person to present the award. He said, “No, we voted and we picked you,” and then an official invitation came in. I couldn’t believe it.
You recently launched your own collection of handmade bags. What was the inspiration behind it?
Designing a leather collection was right up my alley. I took a lot of courses in art & design and I still have a passion for it. The inspiration behind the bag collection is Fayrouz. I don’t know what about winter reminds me of her but I decided to go for long leather bags with uneven cuts and add calligraphy of some of her song lyrics. As for the waist bags, I wanted to offer something both pretty and practical. I like to keep function in mind and these turned out to be the most popular and were sold out immediately.
For the busy woman, do you have any tips on how to balance work with family life?
When it comes to work and family life, I always put family first. If you decide what your priorities are and what you cherish most, you will know what to do. For me, family is definitely the most important. That’s why I waited a long time before I became a TV presenter. I could have gone after this career a while ago but I wanted to raise my kids myself. I didn’t want a nanny to raise them – not that it’s wrong for those who take that route but I needed to be there for them growing up. To balance, you need to have good time management and I’m not the best at it but I try. For example, if I have long hours one day, I try to spend a lot of time with them the next day. If I have to work for a couple of consecutive days, I plan and carve out time in the week just to be with them.
Do you have any female figures who have inspired you throughout your career?
Of course, my mother and aunt have been powerful women figures I look up to in my life. Aside from them, Oprah Winfrey has always been my inspiration. I’ve always watched her show and I read almost every book she wrote. She’s had a real impact on the way I think, especially when she gets experts to talk about self-help and how to work on your insecurities.
What obstacles do you believe most women need to overcome in the media field? What would be your advice?
You might struggle with wanting to present more important topics and to have more impact but you will always face limitations in the television field, whether in terms of budget or production. You have to work with what’s available to you at the end of the day. The media field is also very competitive. It is important to be cultured and knowledgeable. Keep working on yourself. You need to have your own voice and opinion. There are presenters who look great but barely make an impression while others, who are more influential, have great personality and presence even though they’re not the ultimate definition of beauty. I think this is key.
