Engy Abdelaziz, founder of Girlie, is on a mission to revolutionise feminine health in the Middle East. From a childhood spent moving across countries to founding the region’s first Arab female-led seamless period underwear brand, Abdelaziz combines a love for design, sustainability, and female empowerment into her business.
A Global Childhood and a Passion for Connection
Abdelaziz was born in Menia, a small town in Egypt, but her childhood spanned continents. “I spent most of my childhood in Japan, moved back to Egypt for three years, and when I turned 11, my family and I moved to Kuwait, where I lived until I was 17,” she said.
In 2012, she moved to Toronto to study Statistics and Actuarial Science at the University of Toronto, falling in love with the city and living there for twelve years. “I’m a big foodie. I love to host, I love to cook for those I love and I love going out to try new restaurants with friends. I love working out, but only if it’s spinning or pilates, and I don’t think Matcha tastes like grass,” she added.
In 2023, she married her best friend, and a year later the couple moved to Dubai to be closer to family and plan a brighter future for their children. Abdelaziz considers her network and friendships among her greatest personal achievements. “Being a third culture kid with doctors for parents, I often had to do a lot on my own. You might think that must’ve been tough, but it’s my biggest blessing. Experiencing so many cultures and meeting so many different people allowed me to build unbreakable connections that have played a huge role in who I am today.”
The Birth of Girlie
Abdelaziz started using period underwear in 2022 after several friends recommended it. “I was sceptical at first and even a little grossed out, but from the time I put on my first pair, my life was truly changed for the better. I was so comfortable that I’d sometimes forget I was on my period,” she said.
When she moved to Dubai, she struggled to find comparable products locally. “I thought, what if I made this? What if I bring this awesome product to the Middle East? I want this, and I think all Middle Eastern girls deserve better. That’s when I started working on Girlie.”
Girlie is not just about the product. “Seamlessness and quality set us apart. We’re the first 100% Arab female-founded business to offer seamless, high-quality period underwear in the region. They’re made from luxurious, soft, and seamless material that feels great on your skin and lasts up to two years. Beyond that, Girlie is a safe space for women to discuss feminine health and empower each other.”
Lessons Learned and the Road Ahead
Abdelaziz’s journey has not been without challenges. “Keeping my perfectionist self under control has always been tough. I tend to do too much and be disappointed when things don’t go as planned. That hit me hard in March 2024 when I collapsed from stress and had to be hospitalised for three days. It was a wake-up call to prioritise self-care.”
She now plans her work around her menstrual cycle, exercises moderately, prays, and takes magnesium supplements to manage stress. “Education about the menstrual cycle and female circadian rhythms has been a game-changer in keeping my stress levels down,” she said.
Abdelaziz believes that success in business is about more than just a product. “A profitable business is a community. It’s something people want to be part of and identify with. There’s no cutting corners. Effort in equals results out. Garbage in, garbage out.”
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: “Listen to your gut. Never be afraid of failing. Cut through the noise. While every opinion is valuable, not every opinion is actionable.” She adds that embracing failure as part of the journey has been crucial for Girlie.
Sustainability is also central to Girlie’s mission. “All our packaging is fully reusable and recyclable. Our product itself is a sustainable alternative to pads and tampons. If every woman in the UAE switched to period underwear for one year, we’d save around 2,700 tons of landfill waste. That’s mostly plastic that could take up to 800 years to decompose.”
Abdelaziz draws inspiration from her grandmother, who built a real estate empire while raising three children despite not having a university education. “She had fire and vision, and I hope to be even half the woman she was,” she said.
Looking back, Abdelaziz has no regrets. “I wouldn’t change a thing. Challenges made me tougher, and privilege got me here.” For her, both personally and professionally, the key priorities remain family, friends, God, education on feminine health, sustainability, human connection, and female empowerment. “As I’ve matured, I’ve learned to choose quality over quantity in every aspect of life. A few good ones are better than a million mediocre ones,” she said.
For more info, visit the Girlie website.
