I’m so excited to share with you the news I’m about to reveal. Remember a few months ago I posted sneak peeks of a project I was working on with Instagram? Well, it’s finally time to fill you in on what really went down!
Instagram launched a campaign to show how people from around the world use its platform to create businesses that inspire others across all different spaces from travel, to fashion, to sports etc. They chose one representative for each category and they chose me for the “Beauty & Fashion” segment! Click here to see the video they filmed highlighting my journey with PFH.
Out of all the other more qualified, more established influencers around the world who have more followers and more experience, somehow they still chose me. I was truly humbled to be a part of the project and had a blast getting to know the Instagram team along the way.
This experience taught me a lot. It reconfirmed to me my message of never doubting yourself or getting discouraged of what you’re doing because you don’t have a million followers. I know that may sound petty but that’s how many people measure success these days. At the end of the day it’s not just about that. It’s about the QUALITY of your content and not the QUANTITY. When Instagram chose me for this project I had only 16K followers at the time, and that clearly didn’t stop them from considering me for the position. They said what they loved most about my page was the diversity I displayed with my content but above all, they loved how confident I was in who I am as a Muslim woman.
Please understand that the only reason I’m sharing this is because I sincerely hope that it will inspire YOU to be confident in who YOU are. You do not need to act like something you are not in order to fit in or to fit some sort of mold. Don’t pose in a way that you think is “trending” because everyone else is doing it. Don’t wear something because you see everyone else wearing it. Don’t pretend to like something or someone just because everyone else is. Let your decisions be driven by your purpose not by people. Let your friendships be based off of genuine feelings and not followings. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Be 100% authentically YOU and that is what will resonate with your supporters.
Have a purpose that is above and beyond yourself, which will keep you grounded and keep your journey meaningful. Just because someone has tons of followers or has been doing something longer than you have doesn’t make them better or above you. Opportunities will come your way whether you have 500 or 500,000 followers because, luckily, GOD is the one who controls rizq (blessings) and there’s nothing anyone can do to get in the way of that. Love God, work hard, be humble, be YOU, and enjoy the ride <3
Check out the video on their Instagram Business Page and let me know your thoughts!