The Interview: Dance Sensation Yousra Mohsen On Trailblazing Her Way To The Top
Dancer, model, creative force, boundary-breaker – Yousra Mohsen commands the stage, and this Lebanese pioneer isn’t afraid to secure the spotlight
“Criticism DID NOT BREAK me. It crowned me.” Yousra Mohsen tells Bazaar Arabia, when asked if she ever thought of shutting down, retreating from the attention of her chosen career, which has attracted both cheers and censure. Working in fashion – both in front of the lens as a model, and behind it as a choreographer. It was, rather surprisingly, her “first language, dance, which always felt like a safe place” which caused consternation in some quarters.
Ask any little girl what she wants to be when she grows up, and chances are the answer will invariably include ‘a dancer.’ And for Yousra, who started training aged five and has a foundation in classical ballet, contemporary and jazz disciplines, graduating from Académie internationale de la Danse, that option was a very real possibility from the start. “I was absolutely one of those little girls. As a child, whenever life became heavy, dance was there to hold me. The idea of making it my profession lived quietly in the back of my mind for years, though I only voiced it out loud when I turned 16. At that time, I was also a professional showjumper, so my life was divided between two passions. Eventually, I had to choose.” And she chose dance. After touring the world with Lebanon’s Caracalla Dance Theatre, the Beirut-native moved to Paris at 17 to turn her dream into reality. “I was young, driven, endlessly passionate and full of energy.” Yousra realised as a teenager that “I wanted a life where art and travel intertwined, where dance became my passport to the world. And today, I’m dancing and shooting all over the world – exactly as I once dreamed.”
Social media can thrust you into the spotlight, but also be a beacon for faceless naysayers. Although Yousra was lucky, being guided by a nurturing mother who she tells us “Has always been my pillar,” her profession wasn’t considered a conventional one in the region. “In our culture, anything outside the ‘safe’ professions – medicine, law, business – is difficult to understand. I don’t blame them for that and I’ve made peace with it,” she says. “In the end, I only needed my mother’s faith and my own determination.”
“Artistic careers are unfortunately still often seen as hobbies, not professions,” she elaborates.
“I had to explain what cabaret really means and to dismantle the stereotypes around dance and sensuality. But I accepted that responsibility. If I had to walk a harder path, it was also to make it easier for those who would come after me.”
Shunning ‘safe’ options, Yousra took her place in the spotlight at the Crazy Horse cabaret in Paris. Such a bold move was par for the course for this boundary-breaker, who took on the stage name Laïla Liberty. “I learned very early that if your existence provokes discomfort, it means you are touching something real, something powerful. I was opinionated, outspoken… Challenging norms and creating space where there was none before.” Her moniker links to her roots; Laïla means ‘night’ in Arabic, while Liberty represents “freedom of expression, freedom of the body, freedom of women to exist and choose for themselves. At the Crazy Horse, our stage names are given by the artistic director just before our very first performance, moments before the curtain rises. It was a powerful and symbolic birth of this alter ego, one that perfectly reflects my essence,” she recalls.
It is no wonder she looks up to and waxes lyrical about fellow feminists like Nawal El Saadawi – “who fearlessly spoke about the freedom of women’s bodies and minds in the Arab world” – and Maya Angelou. Others she admires include Pina Bausch “she transformed dance into raw human truth,” and Maya Plisetskaya “for her integrity, strength and refusal to conform.” She also cites regional stalwarts like “cultural powerhouse” Fairuz, Um Kulthoum “an unmatched presence”, Hiam Abbas and former Bazaar Arabia cover star Elyanna for “representing a new generation of Arab women who are bold global and unapologetically themselves.”
Being a master of movement also feeds into her career as a model; “We are trained to embody emotions, characters and stories. That sensitivity and awareness of the body is a powerful tool in modelling and acting,” she says, adding “It allows me to express far more than just an image.” When not performing, you’ll see her channel her own aesthetic which consists of tailored sets, oversized blazers, loafers, vintage bags and bold accessories. “But I also adore ultra-glamorous, elevated looks. Brands I resonate with are Mugler, Saint Laurent, Jacquemus and Alaïa,” she says.
At 27, she’s already graced a multitude of fashion shoots and glossy covers, toured with singer Mika, opened the ETAM show during Paris Fashion Week, stepped into the production, artistic and movement direction sphere and launched a host of projects. But she is proudest of “representing Lebanon and proving that Arab women – all women – can do anything.”
Yousra acknowledges the debt she owes her adopted home of France, but is always drawn to her native homeland. What brings her back? “A sense of responsibility, but also of love. It feels like the right moment to return what I have received; to transmit the experience, discipline and vision I gained during a decade in Europe. Sharing, teaching and creating space for others feels like a natural continuation of my journey. Mentalities are evolving. Dance and art are no longer seen with the same suspicion they once were and I am proud to have been part of that awakening.”
Dubai has created an ecosystem that has encouraged her to create an entertainment agency in the UAE, bridging European expertise with regional vision. Yousra also teases the imminent drop of a very personal project, something that helps share her story, and “inspire young women.” She is fizzing with delight that is contagious; you can sense her next chapter is going to be even brighter than her first. She smiles, saying, “My definition of success hasn’t really evolved over time. It was almost always the same and very clear to me: to do what I love and love what I do. If I wake up excited for the day ahead, then I have already succeeded.”
She signs off our chat with advice for the next generation. She is fiercely passionate when she says, “We are often taught to be quiet, to obey, to shrink, to soften our dreams. But I want you to do the opposite. Raise your voice. Dream wildly. Take up space. Never allow anyone to place you in a box that was never meant for you. Be yourself, be courageous, be unapologetic. Be strong. And above all, be free.”
Images Supplied
Lead Image Credits: Dress, Poa, Sofia’s Archives. Tights, Dhs135, Falke. Shoes, Poa, Dries Van Noten. Necklace, Dhs1,335; Ring, Dhs1,930, both LES NÉRÉIDES
Talent: Yousra Mohsen. Make-Up: Raynald Croix Bernard. Hair: Alexia Amzallag. Production Manager: Jana Cikara. Post Production: Abdel Kebdani. Production: Media Up. Special thanks to Le Georges. Photography by Ismael Nebchi. Styling by Tahi Guy Roland Nebchi.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia February 2026 Issue