Before settling on a cafe to meet with Amira Mansour (better known online as The Communication Expert) I had one non-negotiable: matcha had to be on the menu. We landed on WatchHouse in Marylebone. I was a few minutes late, but so was she; an unspoken rhythm we seem to share.
I’ve had the joy of working with Amira at our in-person Beauty Class events, where she closes the day with her signature coaching ritual: part confidence boost, part emotional release and always a few (good) tears. Though much of her client base is male, her natural ability to speak to women about self-worth, boundaries, and everything in between, is powerful and rare.
Amira shows up exactly as expected: glowing skin, her golden curls in a neat bun, and immaculate nails (I’ve never actually seen her without a perfect set.) Of course, she orders a matcha latte with a swirl of honey and we get right into it. Our conversation circled around one major theme: women’s confidence. How we build it, how we lose it, and what it actually means to own it.
Here’s what Amira had to say:
Beauty Class: Your journey from corporate learning and development into coaching is compelling. What shifted for you?
Amira: It was never one big lightning bolt, more like hundreds of small realisations. But if I had to pick a catalyst, it was a two-month work exchange I did in Brazil back in 2018. I’d just ended a ten-year relationship, and I finally had space. Real, uninterrupted space, to sit with my own thoughts. I realised I was performing confidence instead of living it and recognising that changed everything for me.
Beauty Class: How does communication affect women’s confidence in particular?
Amira: It’s everything. Your words, tone, energy. They all signal how confident you are before you even speak. Non-verbal cues matter but it has to stay authentic. Adapting how you speak doesn’t mean losing who you are.
Beauty Class: What if you’re shy?
Amira: Quiet is a superpower. The loudest person isn’t always the most confident so honour your quietness. Also, remember everyone thinks they’re the main character, you’re not alone in feeling like all eyes are on you.
Beauty Class: Boundaries are such a hot topic right now, especially for women. Why do we struggle so much with them?
Amira: Because we’ve been raised to prioritise everyone else. When we start saying no, or even just asking for what we need, it feels so unnatural and the guilt creeps in. But guilt doesn’t mean you’ve done something wrong, it’s just unfamiliarity. So set the boundary anyway, feel the guilt and then watch your life expand.
Beauty Class: How does culture and upbringing shape the way we communicate?
Amira: Massively. Our cultures shape our beliefs about what’s acceptable, what’s ‘too much,’ and how women should behave. I grew up with a lot of beautiful traditions, but also messages like “don’t be too loud,” or “don’t draw attention.” And I know women from different backgrounds can relate to that. There’s also this fear of the evil eye; that if you shine too brightly, someone will try to dim it. That sticks with you. But I’ve learned to unpick the beliefs that no longer serve me, and keep the ones that do. There’s power in understanding your cultural lens, and even more in learning how to choose what stays.
Beauty Class: What advice do you give to women who feel invisible in male-dominated spaces?
Amira: Start with your strengths. You don’t need to become someone you’re not to take up space. Assertiveness doesn’t mean aggression, it means clarity. Know what you bring to the table and practise articulating it without apology. If you’re not used to speaking up, write it down first and edit out the self-doubt. Then say it like you mean it.
Beauty Class: Self-doubt is huge and recurring, especially for high-achieving women. How do we work with it?
Amira: Reframe the feeling. Don’t dismiss the doubt but make space for it. Then ask: Is this new? Is this fear or a sign I need to upskill? It’s often both. And remember, you’ve done hard things before.
Beauty Class: How can we refine how they show up day-to-day?
Amira: Know yourself by spending intentional time alone. Five minutes of stillness, gratitude journaling, a coffee without distractions. It’s those tiny rituals that create major self-awareness.
Beauty Class: So let’s talk beauty. What are your go-to rituals when you're not feeling confident?
Amira: It starts with a good outfit laid out the night before, a fresh blow-dry and moving my body to shake off stuck energy. But one of my biggest resets is a full-body scrub, everything-shower, collagen face mask, and my Elemis Pro-Collagen cleansing balm. Then I like feeling like I’ve poured something back into myself. Also, mascara. I don’t know what it is, but a couple of coats and I feel like I can take on the day. It used to be a classic kohl pencil eyeliner but now my Diorshow mascara is a must.
Beauty Class: Any new beauty discoveries?
Amira: I’m obsessed with my CurrentBody LED Mask Series 2 - it’s my new favourite thing. And not just because of the glow it gives you, it’s the discipline of those 10 minutes. It’s a moment I carve out just for me, every morning to feel centred and show up as my best.
Beauty Class: And finally, do you see beauty rituals as a form of communication?
Amira: Absolutely. It’s in how we introduce ourselves, before we even speak. Our presentation is all information and energy. Even something as simple as a skincare routine says “I’m worth the effort.”
Needless to say, we couldn’t agree more. Amira has a way of leaving you with the sense that confidence isn’t a performance, rather a practice. It’s something you return to, over and over again until it becomes who you are.
Interview by Jacinta Ruscillo for Beauty Class
Photography by Lauren Leadbitter
Styling by Sidney Korboe
Makeup by Jacinta Ruscillo using Charlotte Tilbury
Amira wears COS and & Other Stories.