Just as Yosra El-Essawy, Beyoncé’s former official tour photographer, was drawn to capture the deepest expressions of humanity, her life story was in itself a portrait of humanity – a heartening story of resilience, beautiful strength and courage that overshadows the struggles and pain she had to endure. Before landing the job of her dreams with Beyoncé , El-Essawy worked tremendously hard as a wedding photographer between London, New York, and Egypt. Born to Egyptian parents in London, the name ‘Yosra’ was not randomly chosen, but carried its own symbolic meaning since birth, El-Esssawy shared in a Facebook post. Though her mother was tiresomely rushed to the hospital, El-Essawy arrived shockingly “with ease” without much help from the doctor. Since then, her birth represented the word “yosra”, which is mentioned in a verse in the holy Quran: “Surely, with hardship comes ease” (Quran 94:5). Her name went on to shape her entire life philosophy. With hardship, and with rigorous passion and drive, she became a highly energetic and independent woman who was always scheduled and busy, and chased her love for art relentlessly. Though she initially received an honors degree…
How Beyoncé’s Egyptian Tour Photographer Found Courage in the Shadow of Cancer
June 30, 2022
