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A review by tariqah
Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim by Leah Vernon
4.0
The world could use a bit of this creative confidence and unashamed-ness Leah Vernon exhibits. She's everything you wouldn’t expect of a Muslim or model, whipping standards of the fashion world into new shapes, and declaring her faith not only by wearing a hijab but a f-cking gorgeous one at that.
“Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim” is like the how-to of her career path and character. The narrowing standards of societal beauty and mediated twists to her Islamic faith is what also pushed her to be so boldly creative. And of course, unashamed.
She begins with the woes of growing up in a household where her faith was harvested but also where the source of her pains and insecurities lies. It took trial and error, years of battling eating disorders and having to leave a toxic marriage for her to get where she is. On top of that, haters peered around every corner for their chance to shame and belittle.
Nevertheless, she still kept at being herself, and unashamed of it. This is a timely pick-me-up for women and girls looking to expand beyond the standards and limitations society--and even ourselves--tend to put down on us.
“Unashamed: Musings of a Fat, Black Muslim” is like the how-to of her career path and character. The narrowing standards of societal beauty and mediated twists to her Islamic faith is what also pushed her to be so boldly creative. And of course, unashamed.
She begins with the woes of growing up in a household where her faith was harvested but also where the source of her pains and insecurities lies. It took trial and error, years of battling eating disorders and having to leave a toxic marriage for her to get where she is. On top of that, haters peered around every corner for their chance to shame and belittle.
Nevertheless, she still kept at being herself, and unashamed of it. This is a timely pick-me-up for women and girls looking to expand beyond the standards and limitations society--and even ourselves--tend to put down on us.