On her debut cover story by Justin Anantawan, Khadija Omar, Miss World Somalia, highlighted the pertinent issue of discrimination against hijabis and Muslims in general, citing examples of killings that had taken place as a result of Islamaphobia. As a Somali Canadian resident, her voice has always been loud in the fight against this dispeakable vice. An excerpt of the cover story, reads as below.

Islamophobia has been on the rise in Canada in recent history. The most deadly incident of islamophobia took place in 2017 when a gunman killed 6 and injured 19 people in a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City. This past summer of 2021 saw Canadian Muslims wearing religious garb being targeted.

On June 6 in London, Ontario, a man killled 4 members of a Muslim family who were going for a walk in what was later identified as a track attack. He was able to identify them based on their Islamic dress. On July 12 in Hamilton, a driver shouting racial slurs targeting Muslims tried to run over a Muslim mother and daughter wearing hijabs in a parking lot. Khadija Omar a hijabi model, make up artist and Miss World Somalia contestant has been using her voice to combat Islamophobia and promote hijabi beauty.

She writes, Hijab is a head covering that is worn by a Muslim woman to maintain modesty and avoid the male gaze. It represents generations of strong women and is my outlet for self-expression. On social media I showcase colorful hijab styles of my religion. As a child, I was ashamed, as I was discriminated against for wearing hijab and saw stereotypes of hijabi women in the media. Islamophobia exists today and takes the lives of innocent people. A Muslim family shouldn’t have to be killed for going on a walk. We have much to do to erase it.

Make up: Khadija Omar

Photography assistant: Ashlet Soull

Cover story: Justin Anantawan