Dream Big and Reach The Impossible

- Since when were you interested in the pageant world? Is it a dream since childhood or is it more of a spur of the moment kind?

To be honest, I’ve never been interested in the pageant world but I have always loved beauty, makeup, fashion, and empowering other young girls. It was definitely the spur of the moment. In fact, entering the pageant started from a random thought. Like what would happen if I entered a beauty pageant? I literally applied online and forgot all about it. Then one day I received an email saying that I was a semi-finalist and I thought: what have I got myself into? It was definitely scary at first but I’m glad that I did it. Some of the best things in life come unexpectedly.

- Along your journey are there any friends/family that disagree with you entering the pageant?

Alhamdulillah, thank God everyone was super supportive of me. However, most people were shocked because it was the spur of the moment and definitely not like me. As I said before, growing up I was never interested in beauty pageants and also, I was a lot different from everyone here in New Zealand, especially as a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. Also, most of the other finalists were dancers, models and competed in other pageants whereas I don’t have any experience. But that didn’t stop me or gave me any doubts because I understood that being different and inexperienced isn’t a bad thing- it’s an opportunity to learn and to grow.

- How do you convince them that you’re positive about entering and how do you prove them wrong?

I think that positivity and optimism are super important in life. Life is short but it is worthwhile and meaningful. Everyone is given the same twenty-four hours per day where we go from moment to moment. And it’s what you do, your intentions, and how you feel that’s important. By being positive and optimistic you allow yourself to dream big and reach the impossible.

Sometimes we can compare ourselves to others and think that we are not good enough or that we don’t have a good past or some barriers are stopping you. But the thing is, you have everything within yourself to do anything and everything that you dream of doing. There are so much abundance and good in this world and we all have a share of it. You always have everything that you need and you are always enough. Sometimes we make excuses on why we can’t do something and sometimes we blame others or circumstances. But you can still make lemonade out of lemons and it’s how you respond to things that matter the most.

Don’t limit yourself to labels, excuses, or blame. Liberate yourself by being positive and optimistic and believing that you can reach your dreams and do the impossible.

- Can you tell us about your journey to becoming the first hijab-wearing woman in miss universe New Zealand?

So as mentioned before, my journey started unexpectedly. When I got the email I completely freaked out because I didn’t know what was going to happen next. But I’m glad I took the opportunity and challenged myself and even society.

So what happened was I went to ‘Stiletto Camp’ which was a weekend where I did photoshoots and video shoots as well as interviews and cat walking. It was also my first time to learn more about what Miss Universe was all about. When I heard its values, they really resonated with me and I just knew that I had to do it. Not for me but other girls. It’s always been my dream to help women feel empowered to be who they are and to follow their own dreams as well.

After stiletto camp, we had to wait almost two weeks to find out who the top 20 finalists were. It was the most gut-wrenching period of my life because I was scared of what would happen and it was like me trying to reach for the impossible because it hasn’t been done before. But alhamdulillah when I got the confirmation, I was overjoyed and yet even more scared because it felt like I was exposing myself to the world.

And I was really exposed because a couple of weeks later I went viral. Going viral is something else. I was shaking when I found out that I went viral. You get so many comments and people that you don’t know somehow knows so much about you. I had countless media writing articles about me. I was on TV shows, news, and the radio. It was crazy but it was also fun at the same time.

Then at one point all of the finalists went to Thailand for our retreat and we went to Thailand for ten days, and it was such a fun and exciting time. We ate so much food and I did a lot of activities that I wouldn't otherwise.

The grand finals definitely felt like a dream. I remember how my heart was so content and happy from coming so far. I knew that an opportunity like this doesn’t come very often so I made sure that I was present in everything. I didn’t know what was going to happen but I knew that I gave it my all and I trusted with whatever happened. Alhamdullilah, I am super grateful that I made it into the Top 5.

- By being in Miss universe New Zealand, have you reached your dream goal?

Yes, I believe so. It was such an amazing once in a lifetime experience and I loved every moment of it. It really shaped me into the woman I am today. Sometimes I do forget that I was in a beauty pageant because I am just an ordinary person. But I remind myself it’s the ordinary people that do extraordinary things. My dream was to help empower girls and I hope that entering a pageant as a Muslim hijabi it will inspire girls to be who they are and reach for their dreams as well.

- Are there any last words of encouragement?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help because people do want to see you succeed.

Love yourself so that you become confident and resilient.

What people think of you is just a reflection of themselves.

Have gratitude.

Life goes from moment to moment so make sure to stay present because you will never get it back.

Be kind to yourself because you are always trying your best.

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