Minq

Helping You Look and Feel Good

  • New
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Fitness
  • Lifestyle
  • Style

How Muslim Model Maria Al-Sadek Is Winning The Fashion World While Staying True To Herself

By Madeleine Staley
June 25, 2019

René Cervantes

Breaking the news and fashion norms, rising model Maria Al-Sadek is taking the industry by storm.

Maria Al-Sadek

Although popular retailers have recently been making strides towards diversity in representing different body types (such as Nike’s new plus-size mannequins), Al-Sadek further diversifies fashion by representing Muslim values of modesty in her stylish Instagram pics. In an age where see-through crop tops and barely-there bikinis dominate front-page fashion news, the model’s choice of the hijab and full-length dresses has caught the attention of many.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxIoeGpBaeF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

But she’s not doing it for likes or as a bold fashion statement. “If I didn’t wear a headscarf, people wouldn’t instantly see my culture or my religion,” she explained to the New York Post in an interview. “I’m really proud of where I’m from. I like having that symbol and people knowing what I’m about.”

René Cervantes

The 27-year-old influencer lived in Mobile, Alabama for most of her life with her Puerto Rican mother and Palestinian-immigrant father. She was 14 when she first wore the hijab – a headscarf Muslim women traditionally wear to symbolize modesty, obedience to the Koran, and cultural pride. However, as a fashion-obsessed teenager, Al-Sadek was often disenchanted with the lack of representation of girls who looked like her in magazines and advertisements.

“I just didn’t feel like I fully fit in, even though I’m so into [fashion].”

René Cervantes

René Cervantes

Now living in Brooklyn after graduating from the University of Southern Alabama in marketing management, Al-Sadek is basically a self-made model. What began as a fun hobby posting Instagram pics of herself in outfits quickly grew into over 400,000 followers. Before too long, she was getting calls to model for companies like Marc Jacobs and Armani.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BteaAjPhklX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Al-Sadek reflects back to her younger self and hopes she can impact other young Muslim girls by staying true to her values while pursuing her passion. Her presence in the female fashion world will likely be a huge stride towards inclusivity in the representation of who a woman is in the media. Hopefully there will be a day when articles like this won’t need to exist because all women are represented equally.

Maria Al-Sadek

So what do you think? Is she a catwalk queen or not really your scene?

Giphy

    Primary Sidebar

    Most Popular

    Australian Surfer Miraculously Found Alive After Ending Up On Remote Island 8 Miles Offshore
    NewAustralian Surfer Miraculously Found Alive After Ending Up On Remote Island 8 Miles Offshore
    Anthony Yates
    Mechanical Fault Prompts Delta Air Line To Make Emergency Stop On Remote Volcanic Island
    NewMechanical Fault Prompts Delta Air Line To Make Emergency Stop On Remote Volcanic Island
    Anthony Yates
    Lawyer Involved In Airplane Altercation After Trying To Skip The Exit Queue
    NewLawyer Involved In Airplane Altercation After Trying To Skip The Exit Queue
    Anthony Yates

    Editor's Picks

    California's Teen Dies Saving Friend From Drowning
    NewCalifornia’s Teen Dies Saving Friend From Drowning
    Anthony Yates
    Dramatic Bodycam Footage Shows Cobb County Officers Rescuing Kids From Hot Car
    NewDramatic Bodycam Footage Shows Cobb County Officers Rescuing Kids From Hot Car
    Anthony Yates

    Trending

    Family Saves Ducklings From Storm Drain In Heartwarming Viral Video
    NewFamily Saves Ducklings From Storm Drain In Heartwarming Viral Video
    Anthony Yates
    Sunnyside Woman Dies After E-Bike Battery Bursts Into Flames
    NewSunnyside Woman Dies After E-Bike Battery Bursts Into Flames
    Anthony Yates

    Secondary Sidebar

    Can't Miss Stories

    Brave Climber Survives Grueling Ordeal After Breaking Her Leg Up A Remote Mountain
    NewBrave Climber Survives Grueling Ordeal After Breaking Her Leg Up A Remote Mountain
    Anthony Yates
    Vermont Man Dies After Trying To Rescue Turtle On I-95
    NewVermont Man Dies After Trying To Rescue Turtle On I-95
    Anthony Yates
    Woman Upsets Friends After Legally Adopting Cat She Abandoned
    NewWoman Upsets Friends After Legally Adopting Cat She Abandoned
    Anthony Yates

    Must Reads

    Woman Confesses To Blaming Gross Airplane Fart On A Kid In Viral Video
    NewWoman Confesses To Blaming Gross Airplane Fart On A Kid In Viral Video
    Anthony Yates
    California Man Suffers 'Life-Threatening Injuries' After Dispute Over Pokémon Cards
    NewCalifornia Man Suffers ‘Life-Threatening Injuries’ After Dispute Over Pokémon Cards
    Anthony Yates

    Popular Picks

    Allegiant Air Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Passenger Makes 'Verbal Bomb Threat'
    NewAllegiant Air Flight Makes Emergency Landing After Passenger Makes ‘Verbal Bomb Threat’
    Anthony Yates
    Dominoes Restaurant In Herriman, Utah, Destroyed After Car Accident Triggers Gas Explosion
    NewDominoes Restaurant In Herriman, Utah, Destroyed After Car Accident Triggers Gas Explosion
    Anthony Yates

    Helping You Look and Feel Good
    • About Us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    Do Not Sell My Personal Information Change Consent