We’ve all heard the expression ‘be the change you want to see in the world’
And at just 21 years old, that’s exactly what Nawal Sari has done.
Despite still being at uni, this influencer is already defining the modest fashion movement in Australia and beyond.
Nawal started wearing the Hijab when she was in year 10 at school. Around that time, she noticed a real gap in the representation of stylish Muslim women on social media.
“I didn’t think there was a space for people like me in this industry because I’ve never seen it,” Nawal revealed on the latest episode of Girlfriend’s Beauty Boss podcast.
So, Nawal decided to redirect her focus and study international studies at uni instead. But she quickly realised that it wasn’t creatively stimulating enough for her, and added communications onto her degree.
Around the same time, she started working for a small business who specialises in modest fashion.
“They basically showed me the ropes and I was like,’ this is a market’. I never really saw it cause I was so in my own bubble,” Nawal says.
“I thought ‘okay, I could try to do something and put my own flair on it’ and it kind of took off and became what it is now.'”
“For me, it’s about showing diversity in the media world, but it’s also showing both non-Muslims and Muslim girls that ‘we’re here and this is how we dress and it’s okay and you’re allowed to be proud of it and not feel like you have to change yourself to suit any style,” Nawal continues. “That’s what fashion is. It’s fun. It’s creative. It’s personal.”
With over 130,000 Instagram followers, Nawal’s message is making an impact on women all over the world.
“It’s now at the point where I’ve had girls message me overseas that I never thought I’d even reach and say ‘hi, because of you I felt more confident with the Hijab on and I’m really proud of it,” Nawal says. “Other girls have messaged me to be like, because of how vocal you are, I’m now more intertwined with the community and more understanding of it, which is great.”
Nawal is proof of how when you just show up as 100% authentically you on social media, incredible things can happen!
For more about Nawal’s career journey, as well as her biggest beauty tips including how she preps her skin before an Instagram shoot, tune in to the latest ep of the Beauty Boss podcast below!
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