Just when you thought nothing can be kept a secret in the social media era, you are shocked at the fact that Katy Perry was in Egypt and you found out after she left.
The essence of Perry’s 35th birthday bash entailed that the intimate and special celebration remain a secret, with no data or coverage reaching media outlets or the public. The international megastar was keen to celebrate with 70 guests, without the public’s interference.
Haytham Atwan, Co Founder of Nubia Tours collaborated cohesively with events director, Mohamed El Shazly, and Stardust Founder, Nesma El Shazly to ensure a breathtaking experience for the artist. This trip was postponed for five years, as Perry had initially planned to celebrate her 30th birthday in Egypt, but things didn’t go according to plan.
We sat with Stardust CEO and Founder, Nesma El Shazly who gave us a detailed insight on what was happening behind the scenes during Perry’s visit.
VIA Stardust
“As an artist Perry believes very much in the Pharaonic heritage and it’s history because she is fascinated by it. This is why she chose Egypt as a destination to celebrate her birthday, because it is a historical place and it is part of her beliefs. Perry stayed in Egypt for almost two weeks, and she spent most of her time in Luxour and Aswan. Nubia Tours were responsible for her itinerary which included Siwa, and two parties which Strardust organized at Edfu Temple and the Pyramids,” El Shazly stated.
Her birthday party’s theme at Edfu Temple was oriental, and for the farewell party by the Pyramids, the theme was bedouin. At both events Music Producer and Composer, Hisham Kharma‘s music was playing, which the guests liked due to it’s fusion of oriental melodies, trendy and modern flavour.
VIA Stardust
“Perry didn’t want people to know about her arrival because of the trip’s intimacy, but she said that once she leaves, she is going to post about Egypt as ‘this is a dream come true,’ and I consider this as her gift to Egypt. She was happy to an extent that she wanted to promote the destination, talk about her experience and how it was a trip of a life time for her and her beloved ones,” she explained.
Thankfully, the star kept her promise and her posts are considered an aid to boost the tourism sector, making a big difference in the tourism flow towards Egypt. Celebrities are credible to many people who look up to them and trust their opinion, this is why it is a significant public relations campaign for Egypt, El Shazly added.
Perry’s obsession with Egypt was also present in the way her guests dressed and how the parties were themed. All of her guests wore t-shirts with Nefertiti’s silhouette, they painted Pharaonic shapes on their faces, and her birthday cake was shaped like Nefertiti’s head.
As organizers, El Shazly and her team got to witness the two parties they organized, which included some surreal moments. The parties included speeches by actor Orlando Bloom, as well as his mother who wrote her a poem. Perry’s farewell speech got really emotional, as she cried after feeling overwhelmed with the trip and the bonding that took place during the trip.
El Shazly said, “She mentioned something very important in the speech, which is the fact that she and all of her friends disconnected from social media when they arrived to Egypt. She told them that it has been a dream and a great adventure, let’s ease our way back to social media and brag about Egypt.”
Stardust was in charge of the entertainment and the parties’ technicalities and logistics, and adding the final touches to the setup and output. Perry wanted her birthday theme to be blue, which included everything from the seats to the stage. Egyptian Project were the event’s entertainment, as the organizers believed they are the best fit for the theme.
The catering included oriental food, and alcohol was prohibited during both events, and in every corner there were people representing the oriental heritage, such as a man playing oud and a goatherd. The goatherd was accompanied by baby goats, which was a remarkable highlight of the trip, as the guests kept playing and taking pictures with them.
“The insight that I got out of this experience is that Egypt has a lot of beautiful and unique places that have a very high potential to host events that can amuse someone with Perry’s caliber. We have the vision, creativity, and Egypt’s special flavor that cannot be found anywhere else in the world,” El Shazly said.
