Sometimes it occurs at a high school or college campus; other times it happens at the Masjid or some MSA event. The segregation between sisters and brothers may or may not be enforced, but you are bound to see similar heads grouped together like small islands separated at a distance…

“It’s too old-fashioned.”
“It’s too conservative.”
“It’s too long, it’ll cover my awesome top.”
“I like this short hijab style, so what if it doesn’t really cover the bosom? Fashion forward!”
“If I wear it . . . all I’ll get is stares.”

As we checked into our hotel room, the portrait on the wall grabbed my attention. There was such a phenomenal difference between myself and the girl in the portrait. With my green abaya and khimar I felt like a queen, with no one being able to judge me by my body.

I’m still a newbie at this; at a stage where the wardrobe malfunctions have been reduced, but not quite at the stage where I’m used to the slight loss of peripheral vision when I drive.

I never thought I would take the word “unattractive” as a compliment. The concept of hijab has changed the way I view myself and the world around me.