:Hayla Ghazal
{{Short description|Syrian blogger and activist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox YouTube personality
| name = Hayla Ghazal
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| channel_handle = HaylaTV
| channel_display_name = Hayla TV
| years_active = 2013-present
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| subscribers = 8.99 million
| views = 1.2 billion
| stats_update = January 11, 2025
| language = Arabic
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Hayla Ghazal ({{Langx|ar|هيلا غزال}}; born 1995)https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lists/384272-40-under-2017-hayla-ghazal is a Syrian internet personality based in Dubai.{{Cite web |title='It's all about keeping it light' explains Dubai YouTube sensation Hayla Ghazal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821050728/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/television/it-s-all-about-keeping-it-light-explains-dubai-youtube-sensation-hayla-ghazal-1.172970 |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/television/it-s-all-about-keeping-it-light-explains-dubai-youtube-sensation-hayla-ghazal-1.172970|date=28 June 2016|url-status=live |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The National News|archive-date=21 August 2021}} She is a Change Ambassador for Goodwill for the United Nations. She was awarded the Arab Women's Award for the New Media Category in 2016 and was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Arab Youth in the World Under 40 the same year.
Career
In 2013 Ghazal established her YouTube channel, HaylaTV, when she was 18 years old, initially as part of her dream to become a television presenter.{{Cite web |title=40 and Under 2017: Hayla Ghazal - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lists/384272-40-under-2017-hayla-ghazal |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Arabian Business |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Light |first=David |title=Dubai's Hayla TV reveals secrets behind 9million YouTube fans |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/local-events/dubais-hayla-tv-reveals-secrets-behind-9million-youtube-fans |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Khaleej Times |language=en}} In a 2016 interview with The National, she stated that she wanted to be a presenter from the age of eight years old.{{Cite web |date=25 August 2021 |title=The UAE's most popular video bloggers on what it takes to become a hit |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/the-uaes-most-popular-video-bloggers-on-what-it-takes-to-become-a-hit-1.231249 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The National News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825024609/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/the-uaes-most-popular-video-bloggers-on-what-it-takes-to-become-a-hit-1.231249 |archive-date=25 August 2021 }} Initially her channel was English-language, but after she switched to creating content in Arabic in 2014, its popularity increased.{{Cite web |last=Ahmed |first=Afshan |title='It's all about keeping it light' explains Dubai YouTube sensation Hayla Ghazal |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts-culture/television/it-s-all-about-keeping-it-light-explains-dubai-youtube-sensation-hayla-ghazal-1.172970 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The National News |language=en}}
By the time she was 20 years old, the channel had one million subscribers and 100 million views.{{Cite web |date=2016 |title=Hayla Ghazal |url=https://emirateswoman.com/awards-2016/young-achievers/hayla-ghazal/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Emirates Woman |language=en}} At this point half of her audience was Saudi Arabian, and the largest age bracket was 18-23.{{Cite web |date=7 March 2016 |title=Arab YouTube star appointed by UN to fight for gender equality |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/life-style/fashion-and-beauty/2016/03/07/Arab-YouTube-star-appointed-by-UN-to-fight-for-gender-equality- |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Al Arabiya English |language=en}} Two years later the channel had 3.1 million subscribers. By 2021 the channel had nine million subscribers. Content on the channel includes make-up, style and cookery. Other, especially early, videos explored limitations placed on women in the Arab world, using comedy to explore the topics.{{Cite web |last= |date=20 December 2016 |title=These Are The Four Arab Women You NEED To Follow on YouTube |url=https://lovin.co/dubai/en/feature/four-arab-women-you-need-to-follow-on-youtube/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Lovin Dubai |language=en-US}}
In 2016 Ghazal was appointed a Change Ambassador for Goodwill for the United Nations, the only appointee from the Middle East.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Campaign |date=24 February 2016 |title=Dubai-based You Tube star Hayla Ghazal chosen as UN ambassador |url=https://campaignme.com/dubai-based-you-tube-star-hayla-ghazal-chosen-as-un-ambassador/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Campaign Middle East |language=en-US}} Other ambassadors included Ingrid Nilsen, Jackie Aina and Taty Ferreira.{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Geoff |date=2 March 2016 |title=7 Female YouTube Stars Will Fight For Gender Equality As 'Change Ambassadors' To The UN |url=https://www.tubefilter.com/2016/03/02/youtube-partnership-with-united-nations-global-production-initiative-female-empowerment/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Tubefilter |language=en-US}} The same year she met with Pope Francis with 11 other bloggers, including English beauty blogger Louise Pentland and Mexican-American blogger Dulce Candy.{{Cite web |date=25 August 2021 |title=Pope reveals fondness for beauty vlogs in meeting with YouTubers {{!}} Pope Francis {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/29/pope-francis-encourages-young-to-create-digital-personalities |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825014916/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/29/pope-francis-encourages-young-to-create-digital-personalities |archive-date=25 August 2021 }} In the meeting, the Pope encouraged the group to "help those of their followers who feel lost". In 2017 she paused content production to focus on her education. In the same year, Enab Baladi featured her work as part of a growing body of online Syrian comedy.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title=ثورة الكوميديا السورية على "يوتيوب" {{!}} عنب بلدي |url=https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/170199 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Enab Baladi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826234249/https://www.enabbaladi.net/archives/170199 |archive-date=26 August 2021 }} She also worked with Unilever as a judge in a "vlogging" competition with a $35,000 prize, aimed at women in the Middle East; her co-judges included YouTubers Alanoud Badr (ar), Haifa Beseisso and Mimi.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title=Unilever launches vlogging contest |url=http://www.tradearabia.com/news/RET_321564.html |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Trade Arabia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826224258/http://www.tradearabia.com/news/RET_321564.html |archive-date=26 August 2021 }}{{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title=Unilever Launches Forsaty Campaign to Nurture Regional Vlogging Talent on YouTube |url=https://www.menaherald.com/en/business/media-marketing/unilever-launches-forsaty-campaign-nurture-regional-vlogging-talent-youtube |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=MENA Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826224255/https://www.menaherald.com/en/business/media-marketing/unilever-launches-forsaty-campaign-nurture-regional-vlogging-talent-youtube |archive-date=26 August 2021 }}
Personal life
Ghazal lives in Dubai.{{Cite web |date=25 August 2021 |title=The UAE's most popular video bloggers on what it takes to become a hit |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/the-uaes-most-popular-video-bloggers-on-what-it-takes-to-become-a-hit-1.231249 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=The National News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825024609/https://www.thenationalnews.com/arts/the-uaes-most-popular-video-bloggers-on-what-it-takes-to-become-a-hit-1.231249 |archive-date=25 August 2021 }} She has a BA in Business Marketing from the American University in Dubai.{{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title=她是阿拉伯世界的papi酱，而且还年轻9岁{{!}}界面新闻 · 歪楼 |url=https://www.jiemian.com/article/639425.html |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=jiemian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826230826/https://www.jiemian.com/article/639425.html |archive-date=26 August 2021 |language=zh-CN}} She runs two boutiques in Dubai, under the name Hayla Couture.{{Cite web |title=Hayla Ghazal |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/lists/100-under-40-world-s-most-influential-young-arabs-625956-htmlitemid625918 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Arabian Business |language=en-US}} She is also a certified mental health practitioner and life coach.
Honours
- Forbes Top 10 Arab Women Social Media Influencers.{{Cite web |title=Hayla Al Ghazal|url=https://magtheweekly.com/detail/19557-hayla-al-ghazal-haylatv |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Mag the Weekly |language=en}}
- 100 Most Inspirational People in the Emirate Dubai
- Arab Women's Award for the New Media Category (2016){{Cite web |date=31 March 2024 |title=Al Qassimi named Inspirational Woman of the Year at Arab Woman Awards 2016 - Arabian Business |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/industries-culture-society/al-qassimi-named-inspirational-woman-of-year-at-arab-woman-awards-2016-656372 |access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Arabian Business|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331193454/https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/industries-culture-society/al-qassimi-named-inspirational-woman-of-year-at-arab-woman-awards-2016-656372 |archive-date=31 March 2024 }}
- 100 Most Influential Arab Youth in the World Under 40 (2016){{Cite web |date=26 August 2021 |title=الشباب العرب الـ 100 الأكثر تأثيراً في العالم تحت سن 40 - أريبيان بزنس |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826192026/https://arabic.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/society/2016/mar/28/410311 |archive-date=26 August 2021|url=https://arabic.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/society/2016/mar/28/410311|access-date=11 January 2025 |website=Arabian Business|language=ar}}