Maha Bayrakdar

Maha Bayrakdar Al-Khal (alternatively: Bayraqdar, Bairakdar,^[1] Birqidar,^[2] Birdkar,^[3] Arabic: مها بيرقدار, born on 26 February 1947) is a Syrian poet and artist. Bayrakdar sketched and wrote poetry at an early age; she completed fine arts studies in her native Damascus before obtaining a business administration degree in Munich, Germany. In 1967, she won the Miss Syria beauty pageant. In 1970 Bayrakdar married the Lebanese-Syrian poet Yusuf al-Khal and has two children with him, Ward and Youssef, both of whom are acclaimed actors in the Middle East.

Bayrakdar published four poetry books and is a prolific painter. In addition to poetry she writes and illustrates children's books and has written three television series, all of which feature her children in leading roles.