The hijab is the 'centrepiece' of these outfits rocked by young Toronto Muslim women - Action News
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The hijab is the 'centrepiece' of these outfits rocked by young Toronto Muslim women

Two young Toronto women recently started a YouTube channel to put together and to rock trendy looks revolving their hijabs.

YouTubers want to challenge notion that hijab is restricting

Toronto women challenge hijab stereotypes

8 years ago
Duration 1:27
Two young Toronto women say they want to prove you can wear a hijab and still be fashionable while being modest.

With the glistening Lake Ontario as her backdrop, Haleema Mustafa is strutting her carefully-curated outfit on the boardwalk-turned-catwalk.

She is dressed in a black shirt and pants with a denim button-down draped over her shoulders. Her look is topped off with a scarf, neatly knotted on her head.

For Mustafa, that headscarf isthe "centrepiece" of her ensemble.

"I base my outfits around my hijab hijab always comes first," she said. "It's a part of how Iportray my modesty and my religion. It's the one thing in my outfits that is constantly there."

Haleema Mustafa is strutting her carefully curated outfit. (Tina Mackenzie/CBC)

The 18-year-old wanted a creative project for a summer pastime and Snapchatteda callout for collaborators.

And Huda Doulahanswered her call.

The two young women recently started a YouTube channel to put together androcktrendy looks revolving their hijabs.

Huda Doulah, 19, says there is 'no limit to fashion with your hijab or without.' (Tina Mackenzie/CBC)

Reaching young Muslim women

Doulahstruggled with wearing a hijab at first. She hopes the YouTube videos can showMuslim girls and women who may be grappling with wearing a hijab how they can maintain modesty and still be stylish.

HudaDoulah, style YouTuber

She said she would've loved to have Muslim women style bloggers andvloggersto look up to when she was younger. But now that void is increasingly being filled bysocial media withMuslim style starsincluding U.K. stylist and YouTuber Dina Tokio.

"That's what a lot of women need," Doulah said. "That'sdefinitely what Ineeded."

"Seeing someone represent us was a big deal for me."

There is a perception that the hijab is limiting, Doulahsaid,but for her, it encourages her to be more creative with her look.

The young Toronto women want to inspire Muslim girls and women who may be struggling with wearing a hijab. (Tina Mackenzie/CBC)

"That is absolutely why I got into fashion; to prove the point that there is no limit to fashion with your hijab or without," she said.

Doulahsaid she feels empowered wearing ahijab.

"When you accept it, it's like the most beautiful feeling ever, because it is who I am. It is part of my identity."

Huda Doulah said she would've loved to have Muslim women style bloggers and vloggers to look up to when she started wearing a hijab. (Tina Mackenzie/CBC)

'Muslim women need to be everywhere'

Mustafa andDoulah said they want to use YouTube as an outlet to showcase their style but also challenge the notion that a hijab is restricting.

"There's the idea that without [ahijab],you'reprettier,you'remore liberated,you'renotoppressed. Those are thestereotypesme andHaleemaand a lot ofYouTuberstry to defy," Doulah said.

'Muslim women need to be everywhere,' says Haleema Mustafa. (Tina Mackenzie/CBC)

Mustafasaid she wants to make Muslim women more visible through their YouTube channel.

"Muslim women need to be everywhere," she said. "In popular media, in television shows, YouTube. Go for it, do whatever youwant."

Haleema Mustafa wants Muslim women to be more visible in media. (Tina Mackenzie/CBC)