World Hijab Day: Celebrating the diversity of the hijab

I began to wear the hijab when I was around 17 years old, albeit I wore it on and off throughout my teenage years — but it was after wearing it for the month of Ramadan that I decided to keep it on.

On the contrary to what some people expect, I was the first in my immediate family to start wearing it. I attended an Islamic school for over ten years and enjoyed studying my faith.

I found Islam as a way to escape manmade expectations of what a ‘successful’ person looks like — I wanted to be successful in both this world and the next.

Having a relationship with God and working on my personal development brought me closer to prayer, and of course, when we pray, we cover our heads, further perpetuating my decision to wear the hijab full-time.

So as a British Muslim woman, working in the fashion industry and choosing to cover my head, being able to celebrate a day that cements this decision with my fellow hijab-wearing women is a beautiful feeling...