Let's face it. Gender barriers in our region are very real. We'll experience this from girlhood until well into our more wrinkly years. We'll see it in the workplace and on the streets, in our homes and in our day-to-day relationships. 

Some days you feel up to the challenge, other days you'll wanna crawl into a cocoon. That's all normal and, no matter what, we salute you. 

But we're here to tell you that there's one thing you absolutely should not do: never let your womanhood get in the way of your passions. 

Instead, be empowered by your gender. 

Don't believe us? Just listen to these young women talk about achieving their dreams, and see how this boiled down to one thing. They ignored people who said they couldn't do it and insisted on their talents so that people could #seetherealme. 

1. "It's really simple, just keep doing what you love." -- Nadia Dandachi

Hailing from Saudi Arabia, 21-year-old Nadia Dandachi has worked her way up in the music industry, despite barriers in the conservative kingdom. 

"With the years I felt that I really needed to share [my music] outside of the walls of my home," says Dandachi. So she made super artsy videos of herself playing a grand piano and uploaded them on YouTube. 

She would become Saudi Arabia's first YouTube piano star. 

"Compared to the amount of support I got, the haters were completely meaningless," says Dandachi. 

Oh, and on top of her YouTube stardom, Dandachi is a fifth year medicine student. Just listen to her. She's a beacon of positivity, so it's no wonder she's such a powerhouse. 

2. "I'm still a shy girl." --Malika

Lynn Fattouh aka Malikah burst into the Lebanese hip hop scene when she was just 16-years-old. And her dad almost stood in her way. 

"You're an Arab girl, a Muslim girl, and you can't do this," he told her. 

So she set herself up for a challenge. She would make her work great so that her dad could see just how important it was for her to share it with the world. 

After composing a collection of songs with powerful social messages, she had her dad listen to them. He accepted "as long as it doesn't get in the way of [her] studies." 

After years of hard work, she signed a record deal with EMI Arabia in 2003. 

She has been dubbed the "Queen of Arab hip-hop of the Arab world." 

Still she says, people ought to know that she's "still a shy girl". A shy girl that plays to crowds of tens of thousands, but a shy girl nonetheless. 

3. "I'm gonna share who I am with the world."--Nadya Hassan

"I think it's about Arabs knowing that I'm not trying to get away from our culture," says Nadya. 

"It's about letting others know who we are and what we're about." 

Nadya Hasan is an Emirati fashion and style blogger who has claimed the attention of over 140,000 people. 

Her blog, The Fierce Diaries, is considered to be one of the most influential blogs in the UAE. She's made appearances in renowned magazines including both Elle and Cosmopolitan. 

With a flair for elegance and luxury, Hasan brings about a piece of herself in her wardrobe. She seamlessly mixes street and luxury high end brands to create her own unique style. 

The best part of it for her is being her "own boss." 

4." See where your talent is and ignore what people say." --Aya Mostafa

Aya Mostafa is more than just her comedy skills (although she cracks us up relentlessly). She's fierce yet sweet, strong yet soft, intelligent yet smart. She exudes charisma and her words cover you like a warm blanket and lift you up all the same. 

Mostafa is a special effects makeup artist and comedienne with over 4 million fans. Listen to her story about her beginnings as a make-up artist. It's sure to crack you up! 

Are you inspired yet? The real you is an inspiration to everyone around you. Don't doubt that.