“This piece traces the quiet strength it takes to choose faith in a world that constantly asks Muslim women to choose visibility over devotion.”
I’m Still Muslim explores the daily challenges many hijabi and Muslim women face as they navigate faith, professional life, and societal expectations of beauty. The work reflects the pressure to present oneself in ways deemed acceptable or attractive - often equated with wearing one’s hair out - while choosing the hijab as an intentional act of faith.
The braided hair referenced in the work symbolizes transition and continuity. These braids were the last set completed by the artist with her mother before she reverted to Islam, marking an intimate moment of care, lineage, and closure. The act of braiding becomes both memory and threshold - honoring what was held, while making space for what follows.
The hijab represented in the piece is the first shayla the artist wore that brought genuine confidence. Rather than concealment, it signifies clarity, grounding, and spiritual alignment. Together, the braids and the hijab speak to a shift from external validation toward a faith-led identity.
This piece is about womanhood, inheritance, and the quiet strength it takes to choose Allah in a world that constantly asks you to choose otherwise.
