Egyptian Pop Diva Ruby

Egyptian Pop Diva Ruby

Ruby is one of the most-talked about performers. She is Egyptian, rather than from more liberal Lebanon like many current stars. Her raunchy moves, bare midriff and revealing clothing have had conservative MPs clamouring for a ban. Raphael, 25, is a fan: "I like Ruby. She dances like there ain't nobody watching. She doesn't care about the camera, she's just out there dancing," he says. But many other young people, both male and female, say she is pushing it too far. Ahmed Esmat, 17, says she is "mis-using her body". "If the video clip doesn't have some kind of strip dancing it won't get popular - but not every one likes to watch this. "When a couple of friends discuss the clips, they watch and enjoy them, but then they start to say: 'This not singing - it's covered up pornography.'" Ruby's producer Sherif Sabri is well used to this debate. He says Ruby's video clips are "artistic, tasteful and rhythmic". "Sexual is a good word, but I would say really it's more sensual," he says. He says it is other artists, not Ruby, who are pushing social boundaries: "I think she started a trend, which has not been followed correctly. I definitely don't agree with the way some imitate these videos. A lot of it is very vulgar."