Stay True to You!
If they don't want all of you, they deserve none of you
Assalamu Alaikum and welcome back to the Hijabi Culture newsletter. It feels as though so much has happened since my last update, but we'll take it topic by topic. It was my first week back at work after some much needed annual leave and heading back to my desk, was as traumatic as I thought it would be. I’m still settling into the role but i can only pray that it’ll get easier. The next couple of weeks are going to be extremely busy as I get trained on producing the breakfast and lunch bulletins; I'm telling myself to enjoy the experience and that once I have it under my belt, I have more opportunities to branch out.
Social Catch-up
If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen that I was in Paris last week, mainly to watch the French Open (my favourite Grand Slam) but also I'll jump at any chance to get to Paris. It was an absolute dream of a trip, seeing all my favourite landmarks in the sun and hopping around the city- from Sacre Cour, the cobbled streets of Montmartre to the Gardens of Versailles - it was a trip I'll never forget. I've been a tennis fan for a while but I'd say in 2019, my interest reached its peak and I've followed it closer since. I love watching live sport and live tennis is no exception. It was a quick game but I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope I'm selected in the ballot again next year- On to the grass court season!
Podcast-updates and plug
I have recorded the next episode of the Hijabi Culture Podcast as a video podcast which is very exciting but also very different. I've been thinking about doing this for a while but I finally bit the bullet and who better to do it with than Team USA Taekwondo athlete Patricia DeArmas. It's an incredible episode and I can't wait to get it out but you can enjoy a quick snippet here. I've always said, my favourite thing about the podcast is the accents- I love an accent and an American one and this episode brought me so much joy. Seeing Muslim women feeling confident and powerful in their Hijabs is beyond empowering and I hope once it’s ready for your ears- you’ll find it just as inspiring.
If you haven't already you can listen to the first episode of Season 3 here- with the gorgeous Modestly Maha. We talk about all things fashion, modesty in the West and how Hijab fits into it all as well as her Hijab journey as a Muslim in New York, post 9/11.
Workshop reflections
In the previous newsletter, I mentioned the first HC workshop that I put together and Alhamdulillah it was a great opportunity- but it also taught me a lot of things. My biggest take from the entire experience was ‘stay true to your brand and your message’. It’s easy to fold, when you’re under-pressure, especially if you think you’ll lose the opportunity, but at that point it’s more important than ever to stand your ground and walk away if they don’t truly accept your message and what you stand for. Our motto is ‘More than our Hijab’ and it’s about pushing Muslim women to be their best and to show them that their Hijab isn’t a barrier. If someone doesn’t want me to talk about my job or university or my platform when delivering a project, then it’s not for me, because without university, HC wouldn’t exist. If I didn’t study Journalism, I wouldn’t have been able to develop my interview skills or have the courage to tell these stories and if i didn’t go out there and pursue my dreams, I wouldn’t be able to relate to the struggles of young Muslim women today. I received some really positive feedback after the presentation from the girls and it left me feeling as if I’d done something worthwhile and with the desire to do this on a bigger scale (Inshallah).
Exciting News!
Hijabi Culture is now an affiliate partner with Hayaa The Label which i’m so excited about because since I first wore their Hijabs, I’ve become obsessed. They are easy to wear, lightweight, breathable and come with a matching tube hat, which has released so much strain on my head and ears from the tie cap i used to use. I’ll pop a link to some of my favourites below, in case you want to have a look!
Premium Jersey lightweight Hijab in a gorgeous truffle colour
Modal Hijab with a matching under hat
A general link to the website with my affiliate link!
That’s all from me this time, hopefully the next newsletter will be a feature on the HC Podcast guest.
To stay up to date on all things HC, make sure to follow me on Instagram here and the podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcast and Amazon Music and Inshallah soon Youtube!
Have a lovely week!
Haleema