By Jummanah Abu Samra, Maliya Naz, Azmia RicchuitoIf you’ve been trying to keep up with Ms. Marvel, then you know the superhero is championing new milestones for Muslim representation on screen. When you hear breakout star Iman Vellani and co-creator Sana Amanat tell it, you realize their real superpower is taking the notion of representation to a totally new level: normalization. Iman…
By JUMMANAHNetflix’s Egyptian/Swiss/American hit star Yasmina El-Abd has made a major comeback with her new role as Princess Safiya in the newly-aired HBO Max series Theodosia. El-Abd has been in the entertainment industry since the age of nine; she’s appeared in commercials, music videos, and musicals. She was also a TV presenter for National Geographic Kids…
By Tasnim BroudGrowing up in the suburbs of Cairo and watching her father fix his car’s engine, little Tahani Amer discovered her unwavering passion for engineering. Getting married at the age of 17 and still chasing her dreams with all the growing responsibility — even passing her first advanced calculus class with an “A” without being acquainted…
By Noha AlgahimiNagin Cox, once fascinated by Star Trek and Carl Sagan’s Cosmos as a little girl, is now a Tactical Mission Lead on the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover. Growing up in an environment where women were perceived as “useless,” as a Muslim teenager, Cox became determined to dismantle the stereotypes cast on her and chase her…
By Fatimah SFadwa Hammoud has been in the public service world for several years now. Immigrating to the United States from Lebanon at age 11, Hammoud lived in Dearborn, Michigan, known for its large Muslim population. Hammoud has served as the leading prosecuting attorney for Wayne County and on the Dearborn School Board. In 2019, Hammoud was…
By sarahmohrShereen Malherbe is a world-renowned British-Palestinian author and journalist who has contributed to a variety of media platforms including Muslim Girl, Middle East Eye, and Sisterhood Magazine, to name a few. She lives in England, recently having moved back after ten years living in the Middle East. She keeps herself super busy with her writing. She…
By sarahmohrRecently, Dr. Aneesah Nadir released a book on marriage preparation that is indispensable for single Muslims or even friends of single Muslims. Dr. Aneesah is a pioneer in the field of Muslim mental health. She taught social work at the university level for decades, long before psychology became a hot topic among Muslims. Her work has…
By sarahmohrThere is a great deal of recognition in the US right now of the importance of land acknowledgment for the Indigenous people, who are the rightful owners of the territories in North America. Many people are now emphasizing the next step as working for land return, returning more sovereignty to Native Americans. To gain more…
By sarahmohrAttorney Zarinah Nadir has recently published her wonderful layperson’s handbook Legally Savvy on what everyone needs to know to make good legal decisions. The basic premise of the book is to know how to deal with legal issues in day-to-day life and when to get an attorney involved. Basically, Nadir suggests not to wait to call…
By Fatimah SAlthough several celebrities were noticeably absent from this year’s Met Gala, one of the year’s biggest fashion events, Somali-American model Halima Aden’s absence was a point of confusion for many. Each year, celebrities come to the Gala for a night of fashion to benefit New York City’s art galleries, and this year’s attendees included Rihanna,…
By Shifah BelaiStudents around the world are currently returning to school for their first semester of a new grade. Most will be attending the same school as they’ve done for previous years. But for students like Mahbuba, many will be starting a new stage in their life. Mahbuba Sumiya is a college freshman due to start at…
By JUMMANAHIn case you’ve missed it, KUVRD’s educational posts have been going viral for a while now on Instagram. However, their mission doesn’t stop here. KUVRD is a streetwear brand that is all about “reviving Arab heritage” by making such authentic products as Keffiyeh, tatreez shirts, bucket hats, and jackets — and even more. In an…
By Tasnim BroudWe all aspire to live and work in a gender-neutral world, where discrimination, racism, biases, and inequity are obsolete. Women’s underrepresentation in the tech community has been a recurring subject of controversy and is a concerning reality. I had the honor and pleasure to chat with Dina Ayman, a major figure in the tech community….
By JUMMANAHThe LA-based Saudi independent artist, singer, songwriter, and pleasure activist, Rotana Tarabzouni, will release the first season of her straight-to-camera sex education comedy show F*D & Blessed. Tarabzouni was named BBC’s 100 Most Powerful Women. She collaborated with Vogue Arabia, Fendi, and Lucky Brand in their “New Class” campaign about “a generation of those who…
By AmaniIn the next wave of Palestine advocacy, Alana Hadid is making sure she’s staying in front of it. The Los Angeles-based fashion designer has emerged as one of the most active celebrity voices trying to make sense of the Israeli occupation for social media. Alongside her influential family that includes half-siblings Bella, Gigi, and Anwar…
