She studied fine arts at Helwan University in Cairo and independent film making in Chicago, Illinois. Manar's work has appeared in the Daily News Egypt, All Headline News (AHN), Al Helwa Weekly, Women News Network (WNN) and Bikya Masr. Her writing and reporting focuses on politics and women's issues in the MENA region (Middle east and North Africa). Other than traveling the world, Manar dreams of retiring in a small European village - with no internet - by the age of 40. Tags: Arab Spring