Life was all what it was cracked out to be: supportive, close-knit family, friends that were ‘lifers,’ opportunities that were presented once in a blue moon- Beena Yusuf was living her dream. Living in Dubai with her husband, employed with the U.S. Consulate, and has turned into an international fashion designer. Beena knew what she wanted out of life, and that was to attain happiness. We always tend to say happiness, but why do we always forget to say health?
Rewind 2018. The world-famous beauty, fashion and pop culture publication SHE Magazine came to Beena to become its CEO and Editor-in-chief. Two issues were published in the U.S., making this the official SHE Magazine USA. The highly fashion-forward publication known for its visually stunning designs, high-quality photography, elegant typography, and creative layouts creates an inviting and visually appealing experience. This was the epitome of living her dream. Beena was becoming the Queen of the editorial world. Little did she know, life was about to take a huge turn and bring her to-be empire down.
Beena manifested her dream life. At a young age, she wrote down in a notebook that she would one day walk a runway, despite feeling she was not tall enough or pretty enough. But it was not easy being young Beena, though outspoken and a dreamer, she was often bullied in middle/high school. Having a foreign name and unique features, she would come home from school in tears, not letting her parents know; she would hide in her mother’s closet, where her mother kept a stack of beautiful magazines that she would marvel through and find solace in.
This Magazine was called SHE- a high-profile publication that was originally from the UK and born to Hearst Publication in 1954. The women featured in the magazine were beautiful, powerful and elegant. Little did young Beena know, she would own this Magazine 20 years later.
Beena thought she would end up in medical school, and her dreams of owning a magazine or walking a runway would just be a distant fantasy, when she had the epiphany that this life isn’t for her. Beena was drawn to another calling; she just didn’t know what it was yet. After moving to her dream destination, Dubai, with her husband, Beena landed a job with the US State Department there and had seemingly achieved all of her life goals. Right? But something was still missing.
Beena was drawn to how elegant and majestic women in her culture looked without exposing themselves and began designing her own “bishts” or capes, an elegant gown that is worn by Middle Eastern women. Her designs modernized the traditional garment and Beena’s husband knew that she needed to give this a real shot. So this husband of the year candidate got all of her designs made as a surprise and encouraged Beena to post about them on social media.
Beena was floored when she saw her designs come to life and the response on social media was just as enthusiastic. Thousands of likes and comments started pouring in, and eventually, Pakistan Fashion Week reached out. Beena’s fashion line “B. Poshi” was a huge hit and completely stole the show when models took to the runway with her clothes as “Run The World” by Beyonce blasted in the background. Immediately after the show, high-profile clients, including the members of the Dubai Royal Family, were buying all of Beena’s pieces.
After seeing the success of Beena building this fashion brand from the ground up and catching attention internationally, SHE Magazine Official reached out to Beena (Yes! The same SHE Magazine young Beena would engulf herself in her mom’s closet) and asked her to take over the publication in America, and a few months later she became the CEO and Editor of SHE Magazine USA. A dream she thought was just for the dreamers, was now brought to life.
Beena took SHE Magazine USA to new heights by covering high profile models/influencers and featuring celebrities on her covers that brought SHE Magazine USA new audiences, including front covers from two top shows featured on Bravo TV.
All of this came to a grinding halt on October 14, 2019. Beena’s parents found out her younger brother’s heart had stopped in his sleep, and he had fallen into a coma. The doctors said he wouldn’t survive, and if he did, he’d never live a meaningful life. A nightmare that one could never imagine happening to a young, healthy guy. Against all odds, Beena’s brother is alive today, is completely coherent and is able to communicate with everyone. Still nonverbal and immobile but has the willpower of Iron Man and struggles every day to come back to his life. After having spent the last 4 years taking care of her younger brother, who has always been one of Beena’s biggest supporters, Beena knew what she had to do.
“I remember I was in the ICU with my family and I received an email from H-E-B, saying they wanted to hold my magazines in the entire state of Texas, and I look up as the attending Doctor said, ‘your brother might not make it.’ “ Beena recalls.
Complete paradigm shifts. A dream and a nightmare all in one breath.
But the thought of going back to the editorial world sounded like a curse word. She swore she would never go back, having the guilt of trying to come back to her dream while her parents and brother were suffering. Then in 2022, finally received good news after 4 years of caregiving and pain. Beena and her husband were expecting. A gift they didn’t know they needed. A huge blessing. Beena’s pregnancy seemed easy, no cravings, no pain, just easy. Until her baby shower in May 2022, she complained of seeing white dots in the right side of her eye. Her vision was starting to blur, and rendered unable to drive, she started swerving on the right side. Her OB had doubts something was not right.
“I remember I was at my baby shower, I had the worst headache of my life, I could barely see anything out of my right eye, I was dizzy, my husband had to hold me, I couldn’t even walk straight. My friends told me something was not right about me.” Beena recalls.
She was admitted five days later. Her MRI scan showed a huge white mass in her brain. It was a benign brain tumor. An emergency cesarean was done while she was eight months pregnant, and just three days later, brain surgery. Beena gave birth to a beautiful baby girl; she came into the world healthy and happy. But Beena was forced to heal from postpartum and heal from brain surgery, all at once.
“My daughter forced me to recover. She needed me, but really, I needed her. My miracle child who saved me.” Beena recounts her experience.
Recovery was tough for Beena, it took a year to heal the brain, but it will take a lifetime to heal from the trauma this family endured. But Beena’s resilience prevails. Despite all the hardships, she is re-launching SHE Magazine USA with an entirely new panorama. Beena calls herself SHE 2.0. SHE Magazine USA will come back stronger, bigger and better. Telling the story of all of those unsung heroes like Beena and her brother.
The strength Beena realized she had after the ordeal life put her through showed her that she is finally that hero she was looking for in the pages of SHE Magazine when she was a child. And these heroes are everywhere we just don’t hear about them all the time.
In a remarkable journey filled with unexpected twists and unwavering determination, Beena Yusuf, the Editor in Chief of ‘SHE Magazine USA,’ has proven herself to be a real-life SHERO. From the trials and tribulations of life, from cardiac arrests to brain tumors all in one family. Beena’s story is a testament to the power of dreams and resilience”. I went through the unimaginable, imagine bringing home a new baby with your head and stomach full of stitches. My arms and wrists were black and blue from all the IV’s, I would cry when my husband would take pictures of me with my new baby, with my head half shaved and my arms all black from all the bruising. I cried for me, my parents, my brother and for my baby who had to see her mother in so much pain. But I stood up and I did it. I made myself get better, I prayed, I cried and prayed more. And here I am now. I am ready to make my comeback. No one could do what we did; maybe that’s why it happened to us, we are the example, and we will prevail.” Beena recounts.
“We are so excited about what SHE Magazine USA is going to do in 2024. The types of stories we are going to cover, the topics we will discuss and just making sure that every woman out there is reminded that they aren’t alone. Life is hard but we have to come back harder. The power is within you. I had people remind me of my greatness this year, when I wanted to give up on my dream, because of well…life, now I want to be a vessel for other women and provide a larger than life platform to make their voices heard. SHE Magazine will aim to do just that.” Beena said when reached out for comment.
You can stay up to date with the publication at https://shemagazineusa.com/
Instagram: @beena_poshi @Shemagazineusa
