EVERY DALB WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
SUCCESS, CHALLENGES AND STYLE FROM REMARKABLE WOMEN
In a world that often compartmentalizes, Dr. Ana-Maria Mihai is a living contradiction in the best possible way. She embodies a nurturing nature and an intense drive to push limits. This unique duality has not only shaped her path from general surgery to tireless work in regenerative gynecology but also defines a doctor who is as deeply human as she is scientifically brilliant.
''Balance isn’t about getting everything right all the time. It’s about making peace with the fact that sometimes, something will have to wait. And learning to dance with that reality - not resist it.''
ON WHAT DREW HER TO GYNAECOLOGICAL MEDICINE AND THE KEY MOMENTS THAT HAVE DEFINED HER CAREER SO FAR
I always knew I wanted to be a doctor — that was never in question. I’ve always had a naturally nurturing personality combined with an intense drive to push limits and challenge myself. In medical school, I was drawn to general surgery at first — until a life-changing moment occurred: my sister’s first pregnancy during my fourth year. Witnessing that journey, with all its emotion and vulnerability, made me realize that obstetrics and gynecology held something deeper for me — something profoundly human. Unknowingly, my niece Eva changed the course of my life.
Another defining moment was embracing academic life early on. I started writing research papers, speaking at conferences — this rhythm of growth and contribution became second nature to me.
But the boldest and most meaningful decision was to specialize in aesthetic, reconstructive, and regenerative gynecology. This came from the frustration of seeing so many women told, “You just have to live with this.” Women living in silence with pain, incontinence, intimacy issues, post-oncologic trauma. I refused to accept that. I dedicated myself to finding better answers for them — and it’s become the most purposeful work I do.
ON HOW SHE SEES THIS EVOLVING FIELD CONTRIBUTING TO A WOMAN'S OVERALL WELL-BEING, CONFIDENCE AND INNER HARMONY
A woman’s intimate comfort is non-negotiable. We can’t talk about quality of life without acknowledging that. I’ve seen women come into my clinic drained of hope — and I’ve watched them transform. Not just physically. Emotionally. Energetically. Their whole presence changes.
They come in thinking “this is my new normal” — the pain, the discomfort, the avoidance, the shame — and then they begin to heal. They feel whole again. They feel powerful. They feel themselves. And I feel privileged to be part of that process.
ON THE ANCHORS SHE USES TO BALANCE HER PROFFESIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE
I've never really pursued balance in the traditional sense. For the past 14 years, my professional path has been my compass — not as a sacrifice, but as a conscious choice. My personal and professional worlds are deeply connected. I don’t truly disconnect. Even in Santorini, while taking these pictures, I was still answering patient messages, planning future projects, thinking about what’s next.
It actually took me a few weeks to find the time to sit down and respond to this interview, and even longer to take these photos. I want women to know that what you see here isn't ease. It's effort. It's prioritization. It's the art of choosing what matters most in every season.
Balance isn’t about getting everything right all the time. It’s about making peace with the fact that sometimes, something will have to wait. And learning to dance with that reality - not resist it.
What keeps me grounded are my quiet anchors: yoga, books, long walks, deep conversations, and the people I love. And more than anything, the unshakable sense of purpose behind everything I do.
ON THE CHALLENGES THAT HAVE SHAPED HER MOST AND WHAT THEY HAVE TAUGHT HER
One of the hardest truths I've had to accept is that I can't save everyone. There are moments when patients come too late… or when the outcome isn’t in my hands anymore. And that used to break me.
Now, I ground myself in this belief: “Do your best. Always.” Even when the result isn’t perfect. Even when it hurts. I offer my integrity and my presence. And I’ve learned to trust this is enough.
I’ve also learned that leadership — especially as a woman — comes with resistance. There were moments when I felt underestimated, or unheard. Instead of fighting louder, I have focused on building. And in time, the work speaks louder than anything else.
''I offer my integrity and my presence. And I’ve learned to trust this is enough (....) in time, the work speaks louder than anything else.''
ON WHAT INSPIRES HER, DAY TO DAY
I am deeply analytical, detail-obsessed (blame it on being a virgo) — and for a long time I thought that made me difficult. Now I see it as one of my superpowers. I observe everything. I feel everything. And that’s where inspiration lives — in the tiniest details.
But more than anything, I am inspired by raw, unfiltered beauty: in people, in nature, in art, in resilience. I am drawn to women who radiate authenticity, who move with quiet power.
''Femininity is not weakness. It is strength with softness. Wisdom with grace.''
ON THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HER WORK, PERSONALITY AND FASHION STYLE
There's always a connection. Style is a mirror. Whether I’m dressing for a medical conference or a day in the clinic, I make sure I feel aligned—on the inside and out. That alignment gives me confidence, presence, and clarity. It took time to discover my aesthetic. I used to shop for trends or events. Now I shop for myself — for the woman I am and want to become.
If I could give young women one piece of advice: dress to feel good in your skin. When you feel connected to your own essence, you don’t need to try to impress anyone. You just… glow.
ON WHAT FEMININITY MEANS TO HER AND ON WHAT MAKES A WOMAN POWERFUL
Femininity is not weakness. It is strength with softness. Wisdom with grace. We’ve been conditioned to tone it down, to armor ourselves, to compete in masculine energy. But true feminine power doesn’t need to shout.
A powerful woman, in my eyes, is one who moves with intention. Who doesn’t need to dominate, but influences the room just by being centered. She creates, she nurtures, she leads — all while being unapologetically herself.
''Fashion isn’t a power in itself — it becomes powerful when it reflects who you truly are.''
ON HOW SHE CHOOSES HER WARDROBE
I am very intentional. If a piece doesn’t make me feel amazing, it doesn’t belong in my life. I’ve learned that the hard way — clutter in the wardrobe becomes clutter in the mind. I invest in pieces that fit my rhythm, my mood, my energy. Quality, design, and longevity matter to me. And most importantly — how the piece makes me feel.
ON FASHION BEING A FORM OF POWER OR SELF-EXPRESSION
It sbsolutely is. But only when it’s authentic. Fashion isn’t a power in itself — it becomes powerful when it reflects who you truly are. I always encourage women to get curious about their style, to explore, to refine, to learn. Take a color analysis session. Hire a stylist if you can. It’s not vanity — it’s a form of self-respect.
ON THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF ADVICE SHE'S EVER RECEIVED
“If you can’t say something good, say nothing at all.”
Words are energy. They build or they destroy. I learned to protect the integrity of my words — and that has taught me to protect the integrity of my relationships, too.
ON HER FAVORITE DALB PIECE
Hard to choose just one — but if I had to: The Swan Bamboo Knit Maxi Dress. I wore it in Dubai, and a woman stopped me in the street, looked at me in awe and said: “Mashallah…” That word stayed with me. It means “you are blessed, flawless, complete.” That’s exactly how I felt in that dress — powerful, serene, luminous.
HER MESSAGE TO THE DALB COMMUNITY AND TO THE WOMEN READING THIS INTERVIEW
Your power lies in your uniqueness. In how gently you treat yourself. In how bravely you show up — not as someone else, but as you. Don’t pour from an empty glass. Fill yourself with care, with beauty, with silence, with softness.
When you feel whole… the world feels you differently.✨
INTERVIEW FOR DALB - 2025 -
ANA-MARIA's OUTFIT PICKS