Dubai's Hayla TV reveals secrets behind 9million YouTube fans

When you can boast nine million YouTube subscribers the media possibilities are presumably endless. We’ve witnessed those with a far more modest following use their channels as a path to superficial fame and fortune on countless occasions. Dubai’s 26-year-old Hayla Ghazal, though, has chosen to build her platform — Hayla TV which she established almost a decade ago — for an infinitely more worthwhile cause.

Ghazal employs her socials to spread positive and powerful messages in order to enhance female empowerment and has gone on to become a life coach and mental health practitioner. As a result of her endeavors the Syrian native was appointed Change Ambassador for gender equality as part of a collaboration between YouTube and the United Nations. She partnered with the Verified campaign under the United Nations and was selected as the only female Arab content creator to film with the current Pope.

Next month Ghazal will be appearing at VidCon Abu Dhabi from December 3 to 6 at ADNEC. The content producer will accompany a host of personalities across a variety of panel discussions, workshops and Q&A sessions at the UAE’s debut edition of the world’s largest celebration of digital creators and online video.

We caught up with the star to find out more.

How does it feel to be part of VidCon? What unique feature about you do you believe demands your inclusion?

I am very excited to be part of VidCon to participate in a panel about women empowerment and mental health.

How quickly did you adopt social media when you came across it? Was it an instant relationship?

I started my YouTube channel back in 2013. My childhood dream was to work as a presenter and I found that making videos from home was the most suitable environment for myself and my family. I would make videos in between my studies and classes at university. I loved every process of creating them from the ideation to filming and editing. I remember stacking books to lift the family camera to film. I started off with English videos but the moment I shifted to Arabic, the channel began to grow rapidly.

How do you think being a social media star in the Middle East compares to elsewhere in the world?

When I first started my channel, I used comedy to highlight misconceptions about women and to encourage young girls to be ambitious. I would dress up as different characters portraying a typical Middle Eastern family and used storytelling to create impact.

You took a break from making videos a few years ago, why was this?

After four years of creating content on social media, in 2017 I announced that I was not going to be making videos anymore. Since then, I indulged in higher studies and certifications on top of my Bachelor’s degree to become a licensed and certified mental health practitioner and life coach. In my practice, I go to the root causes and subconscious mind programming that is causing mental, emotional or physical pain for my clients. With the incredible amount of knowledge I have gained, I returned to my social media platforms to share how people and young women can transform their lives.

Is there a secret to getting over nine million subscribers? Why do you feel people responded to your content? Do you feel TV is still important?