The woman behind the hijab

Zena Ibrahim uncovers the uncomfortable, delving into the underrepresented and often misunderstood experiences of Muslim women who choose to wear a hijab.  

Zena’s journey is an exploration of identity and values, not religion. As a former nude model, she confronts the moral judgement and scrutiny around the covering (and uncovering) of female bodies.  

Rejecting divisive labels and identity politics based on appearance, Zena declares her commitment to living her truth as a modern Muslim woman. Her message is powerful: women have the right to respect, self-determination, and bodily autonomy. 

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx 

About the speaker 

Dr Zena Ibrahim holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Doctor of Dental Medicine from the University of Western Australia. 

As a member of the Access Department at UWA, Zena represented and advocated for students with chronic illness, disability and mental illness. She has also volunteered with not-for-profit organisations to support people with mental illness. 

Zena returned to her birth religion (Islam) only months before giving this talk. She is a vocal activist and advocate for women in Islam and mental health within the Muslim community.