An Egyptian pioneer of Arab female journalism and a patron of the Arab female press — Rose ElYoussef was not just a legend, but she stole our hearts throughout her life journey.

Who is Rose ElYoussef?

Fatma ElYoussef — also known as Rose ElYoussef, was born in Lebanon in 1898. Rose was an Egyptian journalist and stage-actress, widely named as the Arab world’s first woman journalist.

She completed her primary education in Tripoli. After losing her mother during childbirth, she moved to Egypt with her father at the age of ten. Her father later moved to Brazil, leaving her in the care of a Christian family led by Lebanese-born Egyptian Eskander Farah, who would play a significant role in shaping her life—particularly her decision to start acting.

Rose’s Beginning

She began performing at the age of 14, starting with minor roles. Her breakthrough came when none of the actresses agreed to portray an elderly woman, and she boldly stepped in to take the part herself.

From 1912 to 1925, she gained recognition as a prominent theatre and stage actress, performing with both the George Abyad and Youssef Wahbi groups.

Her fame peaked between 1923 and 1925, earning her the nickname “the Sarah Bernhardt of the East” and praise from both Egyptian and international critics. She also became a favorite among high society.

Her Journalistic Debut

In 1925, she founded the influential news magazine Rose ElYoussef. Known for its bold use of caricatures and fearless coverage, the magazine tackled topics at the time such as religion and sexuality, often capturing the spirit of Egypt’s ‘flapper era’.

The Cairo-based weekly continued to push boundaries—most notably in 1994, when it became one of the few Arab publications to publish sections from the ‘Satanic verses’ of Indian-American novelist Salman Rushdie.

Rose’s Achievements

Rose sadly died at the age of 60 on April 10, 1958.

Through her work, Rose El Youssef broke through social and political agreements, going against the rigid prejudices imposed on women of her time — that denied them the right to self-expression and limited their presence in public and political life.

A pioneer in both journalism and theatre, she emerged as a powerful symbol of modern Egyptian culture during the ‘interwar period.’ Her legacy endures as a prominent figure in the history of the Egyptian press and performing arts. In 2002, director Mohamed Kamel El Kaliouby honored her legacy in the documentary ‘The Legend of Rose al-Youssef.

The Arab Human Development Report 2005: Towards the Rise of Women in the Arab World described her as “a pioneer of the stage and one of the earliest actresses”, and celebrated her as “a woman unique in her time.”

As Rose herself once declared:

“I made this woman myself.”

At El-Shai, Rose El Youssef is not just a role model — she’s a light that shone through dark, hard times. Her legacy continues to inspire us, guiding the spirit and vision of our magazine.