Samia Gamal, one of the most celebrated Egyptian dancers in Egyptian cinema, never realized her dream of marrying famous musician Farid el-Atrash despite an eleven-year-old romance between them. In an attempt to forget her ill-fated love, Gamal accepted the first marriage proposal that came her way. The proposal was from an American named Shepherd King who embraced Islam, renaming himself Abdalla King. The married couple flew to Texas where they lived together for a few months during which time King squandered all of Gamal's money. They got divorced and she flew back to Egypt, and into the limelight.