Shaimaa Elhowily holds a BA in Sociology from the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, Egypt. During her studies, her research focused on community sustainability and women’s rights.

After graduation, she interned in journalism, where her research focused on human rights in the Middle East and the causes of violence in the region. She also wrote about art and community development. In 2018, she researched and published on female genital mutilation. In addition, she has worked as a freelance researcher on anti-Semitism in Egypt for a film production company and as a freelance graphic illustrator.