By Rumki Chowdhury
Here are five individuals who wore their hijabs like crowns, while inspiring all people, worldwide! These women show that their hijab did not deter them from following their dreams, thereby tackling down the stereotypical veiled woman behind bars. On the contrary, these five women have proven that their hijab kept them grounded, confident in embracing their own individual identities. Please note that these women are not listed in any particular order of significance; they are all equally significant and inspiring.
Tahera Rahman is the first full-time hijabi newscaster in the USA. Having graduated with a journalism degree from Loyola University in Chicago, she is currently a TV reporter for the KXAN News, an affiliate of NBC, in Austen, Texas. Rahman tells Loyola Magazine that she became the first Muslim woman to wear hijab on broadcast TV by never accepting “No” for an answer. After many rejections, Rahman had initially worked as a producer for WHBF-TV, the CBS affiliate, hoping that working behind-the-scenes would help her gain the experience necessary to make it in front of the camera. And she made it! When Rahman was offered her current position, she was in tears. She tells Loyola Magazine that she is grateful to her mother for encouraging her to continue applying for newscaster positions and she is to Allah, for everything. She is happily married to Sports MMJ, Reporter and Anchor, Adam Rossow and they are expecting their first-born.
Kubra Dagli is a worldwide renowned Turkish taekwondo champion in the proomsae category (freestyle). Sports runs in her blood: her father is a boxing coach and her uncle was her taekwondo coach when she was 13-years-old. Winner of the gold medal in the over-18 section in Peru in 2016, a winner of gold or silver medal at every national championship, she also won five gold medals, coming second only to South Korea. Turkey has established itself as a new force in the world of taekwondo, according to TRT World. Dagli wrote on her social media regarding the media coverage that she received: “They don’t speak of my success, but of my headscarf. I don’t want this. Our success should be discussed.” Did she ever receive prejudice because of her headscarf during competition? Once, when she was coerced to wear a bandana instead of a hijab in 2013.
Nadiya Jamir Hussain is a famous British chef, having won the sixth season of “The Great British Bake Off,” which rocketed her career toward numerous TV-appearances and about 25 book publications, including both fiction and cook books! She is happily married and a mother of two sons, and one daughter. Nadiya was a shy girl growing up and suffered panic attacks during her adulthood, but with the support of her loving husband, she pulled through. After winning “The Great British Bake Off,” Nadiya decided never again to tell herself, “I can’t do it!” As for hijab, Nadiya shared in the media that she has worn the hijab since she was 14-years-old “…not specifically because I came from a religious family, in fact I came from quite the opposite, it was something I found myself. It’s a sign of being a Muslim and practicing Islam. A sign of modesty. Hair is seen as something beautiful, you preserve that for specific people.”
Silma Ihram is known as the founder of Muslim education in Sydney, Australia. Born Anne Frances Beaumont, she found Islam in 1976 during her visit to Indonesia. In 1987, Ihram founded a primary school for 105 Muslims. As a Principal, she wanted to emphasize that Muslims can also be proud Australians. She fought hard to preserve the school against Islamophobic and racial attacks. There is even a documentary about her struggles entitled, “Silma’s School,” which was released in 2006. Noor Al Houda Islamic College was eventually taken over by the Australian International Academy from Melbourne, giving her time to focus on family and other projects. In fact, she became an active political leader, becoming one of first two Muslim female candidates running for the safe Labor seat of Auburn in the 2007 State Election. Moreover, Ihram founded The Australian Muslim Women’s Association in 2011. Not to mention, she is a published author. Winner of many accolades for contributions to the Muslim community, Ihram is married and is a mother of six. Her ambitions include eventually opening up an interfaith college.
Dr. Hawa Abdi (1947-2020), a.k.a. “Mama Hawa” to Somalis worldwide, was a humanitarian activist during times of war and famine. She grew up on a farm in Mogadishu, where she lived a simple and beautiful life until the government collapsed in 1988 and strangers came knocking on her door. Suffering from the consequences of the collapse, these people had come to her seeking refuge and a strong believer in hospitality, Dr. Hawa Abdi opened up her door. She watched children hold guns and many die due to both war and famine. Her community grew to 90,000 residents in a span of 20 years. She even built the Dr. Hawa Abdi General Hospital, providing 400 beds. Dr. Hawa Abdi’s humanitarian efforts to provide healthcare, education, sanitation and healthcare to thousands of displaced individuals earned her the nomination of the Nobel Peace Prize among other accolades. She leaves behind two children: Deqo and Amina. Her third child, Ahmed, passed away in a tragic car accident in 2005.
All five of these women have faced many battles in their lives, whether internally and/or externally. One thing was for sure: they boldly and proudly wore the hijab and their faith played a big role in their lives.
About the Author:
Rumki Chowdhury is Editor of World Hijab Day Organization. Moreover, she has her own editing services. She is an award-winning published author and poet. She has an MA in English Literature from Queen Mary University of London, a BA in English Writing from William Paterson University of New Jersey and an English Subject Teaching Degree from Gävle Högskolan in Stockholm, Sweden. She speaks Bengali and Swedish fluently! She has years of experience in the media and publishing worlds. Rumki lives with her husband and their three daughters.
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