In Conversation with Mai’s Vault: The Power of Positivity in Every Story

We had the chance to sit down with Mai Maxwell, also known as Mai’s Vault, following her guest appearance in 80 Bako during Ramadan. In a heartwarming episode that raised awareness about breast cancer—uniquely in a positive and uplifting way—Mai brought her signature spirit to the screen. She opened up about this opportunity, her journey with cancer, the beginnings of her social media career, and, most importantly, her special bond with Mama Wafaa. Her responses were raw, heartfelt, and deeply inspiring, offering a glimpse into her resilience, optimism, and the impact she hopes to leave.

1. Your role in 80 Bako was a powerful way to raise awareness. How did you get involved in the project, and what did it mean to you?  

Khaled Mokhtar and I have been friends on social media for years, so I was already seeing a lot of buzz about the series before it was released. A week before filming, I got a message telling me that director Kawthar Younis wanted me to be part of it and asked if I’d be interested.

She called me and explained the series and how this particular episode was originally written in a much more depressing tone. But after seeing my story, she found it inspiring and wanted to shape the episode around my real-life experience, telling me “I want it to be uplifting and inspirational.”

At this stage in my life, I’ve already distanced myself from anything overly negative. But when she told me the episode would offer a fresh, positive perspective—something different from the usual portrayal of these stories in the media—I immediately booked my ticket and flew out for the three-day shoot.

2. How did you feel when you saw yourself on screen alongside Mama Wafaa?

It was overwhelming yet surreal. We were definitely a little scared at first, but once we saw the final episode, we were beyond happy. The response was incredible—we received so much love, and seeing how deeply it touched people made it all worth it. Moments like these remind you that when you put good energy into something, it comes back to you. Seeing how much it resonated with people made it 100% worth it.

3. What was your family’s feedback when they watched the episode?

Before it aired, my mother-in-law jokingly said, ‘So, you’ve officially found fame!’ On the day of the episode, we all sat together and watched it as a family. It was such a special moment, even though they don’t understand Arabic. Family and friends from Egypt were also reaching out to us, telling us how much they loved it, saying, ‘We did amazing, this was great!’.

4. Do you see yourself taking on more acting roles in the future?

I have so much respect for actors—people don’t realize how demanding this job is. I’m used to cameras, but honestly, I pray for Huda El Mufti because she truly gives it her all and deserves the best. I’d love to act again, but it’s not a joke—it’s serious, hard work. I don’t know if I’d ever do it full-time, but for a role like this, I definitely would.

5. You’ve been incredibly open about your breast cancer journey. What made you decide to share it so publicly?

At first, things can be shocking. I wanted to carry on as usual and ignore it, but I realized I was hiding something, and people were genuinely worried. More importantly, I had the opportunity to help others instead of just having them feel sorry for me. I have a platform—not just to make people laugh but also to spread awareness.

I reached a point where I couldn’t keep it to myself anymore. Even if you feel perfectly healthy, you have to get checked. I never imagined this would be my story, but early detection is key. That’s one message I really wanted to get across—no matter what, just get checked. I’m happy I shared my journey, and I did it when I was truly ready.

6. With International Women’s Day being a couple of days ago, what’s one message you’d like to share with women who have gone through similar experiences?

If anyone tells you that you can’t do something, they’re lying. After going through breast cancer, no one can ever tell me I can’t do anything, I feel strong.

You never truly know how strong you are until you’re faced with a struggle—then you realize, I’m so much stronger than I ever thought. So just know that you’re a lot stronger than you think you are. 

7. Looking back, how did your journey in content creation begin?

It was all a complete coincidence. If someone had told me back then that my mom and I would become well-known together, I wouldn’t have believed it.

At first, I was supposed to become a doctor, but I didn’t like the field. So, I tried working at a law firm instead—I didn’t want to disappoint my parents, so I kept exploring different paths. But sitting behind a computer all day, barely talking to anyone, just wasn’t for me.

That’s when I decided to start a jewelry business with my mom. I would buy jewelry from Egypt, take it to the U.S., and sell it with her. We’d sit together, and I’d film stories just for fun—us talking, laughing, just being ourselves. Every time I posted something with Mama, it would blow up.

I spent hours photographing jewelry, but a five-second clip with my mom always stole the spotlight. Over time, I started sharing more of these moments, and before I knew it, I never looked back.

8. Was Mama Wafaa happy about getting more exposure on social media, especially as an Arab parent?

At first, she wasn’t happy at all—she kept saying it was ‘3eib’ and telling me to take it down. Her friends would call her, saying they saw me on social media, and she got worried.

But I made sure to use social media as a safe space, something relatable not just for Egyptians but for people everywhere. And once she saw how much people loved her, she completely changed her mind.

9. Do you feel that sharing this kind of content about Arab culture gave you a stronger connection with your audience and helped you reach more people?

At first, I was hesitant to share my home life, especially while living in the U.S., where everything felt so open—no curfews, friends going out freely. That wasn’t my reality. But when I saw so many people living the same way, I realized I wasn’t a ‘weirdo’.

10. When did you first feel that you were truly making an impact and influencing people who watch you?

I always say that impact doesn’t have to be tied to sadness or hardship—that’s my mission. We can connect through laughter. I truly felt the weight of this during COVID. Through the videos my mom and I created, we were bringing people joy, reminding them of the warmth of family, of the little things like food and shared moments. People who had lost their mothers or grandmothers would tell me, ‘Your mom reminds me of her’ That’s when I realized—we’re doing something meaningful, and we have to keep going.