Sophie Habboo's Iraqi heritage
From Made in Chelsea to mic'd-up chats on NearlyParents and Wednesdays (the podcast she co-hosts), she's built a name as one of the UK's most relatable and refreshingly honest voices.
We sat down with Sophie to talk about life beyond the cameras, including opening up about her Iraqi heritage on her dad's side.
Supplied: Rebecca Spencer
CosmoMe: For those just discovering you, how would you describe yourself in your own words?
Sophie: I spend most of my time co-hosting two podcasts, NearlyParents and Wednesdays. When I'm not podcasting, I'm either presenting, broadcasting, or working for the social media company that I co-founded, JamPot Productions. I get to share my life online with an amazing community, which I'm so grateful for. My husband Jamie Laing and I are also expecting our first baby, which is very exciting!
CosmoME: How did your journey into the public eye begin, and how did you find your place in it?
Sophie: My journey into the public eye began when I joined Made in Chelsea seven years ago when I was 23. I did the show for three years, and then COVID hit. I had just started dating Jamie, who was also on the show, and we made the decision to leave together so we could have a bit more peace in our lives and relationship. As you can imagine, being in a relationship on reality TV can be a bit chaotic and it thrives off drama. A couple of years later, we got engaged and decided to start a podcast together called NewlyWeds (or NearlyWeds as it was originally called leading up to our wedding). To this day, I'm still amazed by how successful it's been. Everything has kind of grown organically from there. During lockdown, I also started a podcast with my best friend Melissa Tattam called Wednesdays, which we literally launched around our kitchen table to have some girly chat and gossip. It's now become one of the UK's top charting podcast, which is just unbelievable to me.
Supplied
CosmoMe: Can you tell us about your Iraqi heritage?
Sophie: My Iraqi heritage comes from my dad. He's half Iraqi, and my granddad, who we called Papa, was full Iraqi. I've definitely grown up with that culture being a big part of our lives. Interestingly, my mum also knew a lot about Middle Eastern culture, because her uncle had lived in the region for years. It was quite a natural cultural blend when my parents got married, and my sister and I grew up in England being very immersed in that side of our heritage.
Supplied – Sophie and her father, Patrique Habboo
CosmoMe: Where in Iraq is your family from, and what did they do before they left?
Sophie: That's quite an intense story. My family is originally from Baghdad and they actually owned a hotel there called the Baghdad Hotel. Obviously, it was a really difficult time during the war, and sadly a lot of bad things happened. Some of my family moved to Michigan in the States, and some are still in Baghdad. But yeah, they ran the Baghdad Hotel, which is pretty cool to look back on.
Supplied: Sophie's great-grandparents, Fahima Habboo and Jalal Yacoub Mansour Habboo, who owned a hotel in Baghdad, the Baghdad Hotel. Photo credit: The Habboo family.
CosmoMe: Growing up, did you feel a strong connection to your Iraqi heritage, or has that connection deepened over time?
Sophie: I think the connection I have with my heritage has definitely deepened over time. Growing up in a Western culture, especially during the time of the Iraq war, I sadly experienced some really nasty comments. At one point when I was in school I pretended that 'Habboo' was a Spanish name. When you're young, you don't really understand identity fully, and you just want to fit in with everyone eating ham-and-cheese sandwiches while you're eating something completely different. But as I've grown older, I've become so proud of that part of myself and have educated myself more about where my family came from. I just really wish I spoke Arabic, that's the one thing I regret not learning earlier on.
CosmoMe: Are there any traditions, values, or stories from your Iraqi background that have stayed with you?
Sophie: The biggest one for me is the emphasis that we put on family. My Arab side of the family is really spread out—some live in Miami, some in Michigan, some still in the Middle East, but we've remained such a close-knit unit. Over the years, we've actually grown closer. I invited everyone to my wedding in Spain two years ago, and they all flew over for it, which meant the world to me. There's such a strong sense of family in Arab culture, it's really warm and connected. I think, in contrast, English families can sometimes be a little more reserved, so I really value that depth of connection we've kept.
Supplied
CosmoMe: Do you feel there's enough visibility for women with mixed cultural identities in UK media and the creative industry?
Sophie: I think as a society, we've made a lot of progress for both women and people with mixed cultural identities over the years. Growing up in a predominantly British place, I did feel the need to protect or downplay that my family originated from somewhere else at times, but now we live in a day and age where people are much prouder of where they come from. There's still work to do, of course, but it's been amazing to see more diverse stories and faces being represented. I hope we continue on that path because mixed identities should be celebrated, not hidden. Media and the creative industries, in particular, thrive off of variety in viewpoints and experiences. The more diverse voices we bring front and center in the media, the more culturally rich and colourful our world becomes.
Supplied: Pip Bourdillon
CosmoMe: When life feels overwhelming, what keeps you grounded?
Sophie: It all goes back to family. Especially as I get older and I'm building a family of my own, I've realised more and more that family is what really matters. In this industry, you're surrounded by lots of exciting, glamorous things but when it comes down to it, it's your people that keeps you grounded and connected to what's real.
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