Women empowering women; Stories of Friendship and Sisterhood

Representing 'Women in Tech' are the NGO's President Hafsath Ali (left), accompanied by member Nazima Adam (right), the Manager Purchasing of Ooredoo Maldives. Friends and colleagues for several years, they've achieved a lot together and as individuals, over the years. PHOTO: THE EDITION/ HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

The Managing Director and Founder of Women's Centre by Yulia, Hawwa Leesha (left) and Yulia Shamoon (right) respectively, consider themselves housemates, friends, colleagues and business partners. PHOTO: HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA / THE EDITION

(From left to right) Fathmath Zara Shafy, Reena Mohamed, Aishath Ifaga, Aminath Shahama and Naifa Mohamed hailing from a troupe called 'Mirage' who have danced around the world together, most notably at the 2016 ITB Fair in Berlin. PHOTO: HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA / THE EDITION

Fazleena Abbas, known better as Angie and one of the first female DJ's in Maldives Angie, smiles beside her cousin and life long friend Reesha Shareef or Iyya, a TV producer at PSM. PHOTO: HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA / THE EDITION

Associate Sales Director of Hotel Jen Shafiyya Steinhilber, well known in the Hospitality industry, stands with Mariyam Waheedha, Board Director for PSM and veteran TV Anchor and Presenter. Mariyam calls Shafiyya's journey to success inspiring, while Shafiyya dubs her the ultimate inspiration. PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

The 79'ers are (from left to right) Former Assistant Principal of Iskandhar School Fathimath Nadia Hussain, Deputy Chairperson of Damas Company Mariyam Salih, Former Cabinet Minister and the CEO of SIMDI Dr. Mariyam Shakeela, Former Cabinet Minister and Former Principal of Aminiya School Dr. Amaal Ali, Former Businesswoman Aishath Nadhira and Faculty of Education's Senior Lecturer at Maldives National University Fathimath Shafeeq. Friends for half a century, their experience and caliber speaks for itself. The ladies extend love to the friends within their circle who couldn't make it to The Edition's photoshoot. PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

(Left) Dhafeena Hassan (Dhafy) stands with a friend she recently crossed Baa Atoll on an SUP with, Dive Instructor Shaziya Saeed (Saaxu), on her right. PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

Singer extraordinare and daughter of musical legend Nishfa Nashid (left) stands with her cousin and close friend, former Maldivian Idol Judge and amazing singer Zara Mujuthaba (right). PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

Nabee (Left) and Nabaa (Right), twins by birth but friends by right, are up and coming athletes on the National Badminton Team. They tell The Edition why they think women supporting women is crucial, in various aspects of life. PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

The uber-talent group of sisters, cousins and friends 'Faimini Boduberu' is a musical group that breaks stereotypes every day. From the left is standing Rishdha Shuja, Hishma Zubair, Shykha Sameeu, Lila Ibrahim, Aishath Rifga and Rishma Zubair. PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA

Childhood friends sometimes only grow closer with time, as seen with Dive Instructor/Watersports Instructor Lujain Hasan and her favorite travel partner, Imana Najeeb who is a hospitality professional that is "currently chilling!". PHOTO: THE EDITION / HAWWA AMAANY ABDULLA