The Rising Media Star
Nala Kamel is crafting tales of success through her captivating charisma and unparalleled dedication to the world of entertainment
Edited By: Malak Elkaddadi
Photo Taken By: Alia Moatasem
From the way she dresses to the way she talks, Nada Kamel carries an aura of approachable simplicity mixed with a sharp mind and professionalism; the markings of a charismatic presenter.
Kamel is a TV presenter, master of ceremonies (MC), and founder of the Nala Says program on YouTube, where she hosts celebrities. Some of the milestones in her career include being one of the official MCs for the Cairo International Film Festival, and interviewing a plethora of young celebrities like Mariam El Khosht, Amr Wahba, Hoda El Mufti, Ahmed Dash, Tara Emad, May El Ghety, Mayan El Sayed, Marwan Younis, Layla Ghaleb, Amira Adeeb and many more.
Kamel studied Communications and Media Arts (CMA) at AUC, graduating with high honors in 2023. But four years before her graduation, in November 2019, she founded the now-popular show Nala Says.
“It all started when I auditioned to be a host for a Magdi Yacoub Fundraising event. I absolutely fell in love with hosting, and that’s when I decided to pursue it more and see how good I really am,” explained Kamel passionately.
She recognized that her character was very suitable for a TV host, adding that she is a talkative person who enjoys holding conversations and interacting with people.
When Kamel started her show, her first interview was with Egyptian actor Ahmed Dash. She revealed that she was very nervous at the beginning, and had not yet gained the proper skills for interviewing people. At the time, she would just ask a question and quickly move on to the next one.
Nonetheless, the interview with Dash is one she will never forget, not just because it was her first, but because she really enjoyed the process of delving into the lives of others to gain deeper insights about their experiences and learn from them.
“Talking was always something natural for me. Of course, I get nervous when I interview important people, but as time passed, I gained the experience of conducting an effective interview,” said Kamel in a confident tone.
This involved being more receptive and open-minded towards guests, she learned to ask follow-up and open-ended questions, listen more, and build an organic conversation instead of conducting a rigid interview.
As Kamel grew more confident, she became devoted to investing the time and effort needed to build a reputation for herself. This was when she started participating in big events along with her show.
The Rise Up Summit, Creative Industry Summit, and MINT Incubator event by Egy Bank were all milestones in her career, from which she gained knowledge and expertise.
When asked about the most important events she participated in, Kamel’s eyes sparkled as she proudly admitted that the events that stood out the most for her were the Cairo International Film Festival as well as the Gouna Film Festival in 2021 and 2022.
“Experiencing the red carpet for the first time was a feeling that I will never forget. It was something else. I felt like I had achieved something very special,” said Kamel with a smile.
This experience granted her the opportunity to get in contact with important people and move to the next step of her career.
After attending the two film festivals, the organizers of the Cairo International Film Festival approached Kamel. They offered her to be one of the official MCs of the film festival alongside Sherif Nour Eldin, a popular TV and radio presenter.
Kamel mentioned that achieving such a level of success early in her career was unexpected, especially since she had no idea how things would unfold.
Business Finance alumnus Ibrahim El Shorbagy, who participated in these events with Kamel at the early stages of her career, fondly remembers Kamel as one of the presenters with the most unique energy and passion she brings to her work and everyday life.
“I knew that her enthusiasm and passion were always qualities that would set her apart from others and help her make it to the top one day,” El Shorbagy said.
El Shorbagy also mentioned that while observing the development of her character, he noticed a gradual increase in her confidence and professionalism in her work over time. It was very clear that she had worked on her verbal communication skills, which made her have a stronger presence, on and off the stage.
This growth in confidence helped Kamel realize that she was in a major she no longer wished to pursue.
“Other than the fact that I work hard and stay disciplined in what I’m doing, my parents were always supportive every step of the way, from the moment I decided to switch majors from political science to mass communication at AUC,” said Kamel.
At the moment, Kamel is filming episodes for her show “Nala Says” with actors who played leading roles in Ramadan TV shows, where they discuss their acting journey and filming experience.
Kamel still wants to continue her show while staying consistent with being a presenter and participating in big events.
“My advice to people who want to pursue a similar career path is to always go out of your comfort zone in order to get exposed to different environments and meet new people,” said Kamel.
