In an interview with Now Lebanon published today I say:

It was difficult to find women for the calendar; many of those who had originally agreed to do it pulled out for various reasons, including because they couldn’t do full frontal nudity in keeping with Aliaa’s original photo. Also initially I had decided to include men but didn’t receive any professional photos which could be used. Finally, though, we managed to find an amazing group of women – diverse in their bodies as well as in their thoughts – to bring the calendar to fruition.

I am sure there were different degrees of comfort or discomfort with the project amongst the women involved. Some were more comfortable than others. I myself found it incredibly difficult to have my photo taken; it is possibly the most difficult thing I have ever done. I realised how deep-seated and negative some of my feelings were about my own body. It was such a painful process for me but by the time the calendar went public I was over it and no longer ‘embarrassed’ and for that I will always be grateful. Added to my own insecurities were ‘pressures’ from people who felt it was ‘inappropriate’ for someone in my ‘position’ to do such a thing, which only made me more determined. It’s interesting how uncomfortable nudity is the closer to ‘home’ it is. Aliaa’s nudity ‘tarnished the Egyptian revolution’, Golshifteh Farahani, an entire nation, and I and the Iranian women in the supporting video an entire nation but also the political opposition in Iran!

To read the full inteview, click here.