Paris Through Their Lens

When it comes to the Hijab, we either have a specific opinion about it already, or we’re completely oblivious and don’t know which side of the river to stand on…

In France, particularly in Paris, many Muslim women tend to either find themselves living there because of family, studies or work. We hear all the time about their struggles living in France, but what is the truth behind what the media shares? How are their lifestyles in such an international city like Paris?

On the 25th of October 2021, Zineb went to Paris for the first time. She didn’t know what to expect considering what gets shared on social media, from Muslim women getting attacked to not being able to escort their kids to school with the Hijab on, so she decided to discover the real Parisian lifestyle of Hijab-wearing women and shed the light on the real experiences they have lived, no matter how they are, positive or negative, and share them with you.

Paris Through Their Lens is a project that highlights 20 Muslim Hijabis, each photographed in their favorite district and interviewed to share a part of their experience in Paris with us.

District n1: Houda Lazrak

Houda Lazrak is a 31 year old Moroccan journalist and content creator that has been living in Paris since 2018. She decided to move to Paris to start a new life with her husband and gain new experiences in her field.

“I spend most of my days working on what passionately interests me the most, living in Paris has been such a good place to do so, since I’m inspired all the time to get creative and create, and have no excuses to fall into laziness” Houda says.

District n2: Ginane Chaaban

Ginane Chaaban is a 24 year old creative in visual arts and fashion, with an educational background in communication and audiovisual/cinema, as well as experience working as a photographer, director and in post-production.

“Something that has impacted me deeply in my life was depression. When I went over this struggle, I realized how important it was to talk about it and not be afraid to take time for myself, to not consider things too seriously. In the end, life is not a race or a competition. My vision of life changed and I’m trying my best to live and build the life I really want, even if it’s not always simple, but it’s part of life” Ginane says. 

District n3: Amina Rachid

Amina is a 26 year old creative, born in France, then moved to the Moroccan Sahara for the first 6 years of her life, and finally to Paris to continue her schooling. Amina is into fashion and photography, and is aspiring to work as a freelance photographer, “It’s hard to find a job here and be covered… The worst thing that happened to me was back in 2017, I was waiting for the metro in Paris to get back home, suddenly two people passed by and pushed me to the train track 2 minutes before it arrived. Someone quickly rescued me, and when I went to the police station to press charges, they checked the cameras and they couldn’t do anything because they couldn’t see their faces clearly, but the truth is they never cared about me” Amina says. 

District n4: Yasmine Tangou

Yasmine Tangou is a 23 year old Moroccan architecture masters student and self-taught artist. Being born and raised in two deeply different cultures, Italy and France, has been a challenge but also a richness for her. “I think what surprised me about Paris is the way it made me feel. It’s a city where people live for art, between art, creating art. Being able to connect and submerge myself in that world, and sharing it with people from different backgrounds has been precious. I like to see and experience beauty even in the smallest things. Paris has been the perfect city to romanticize my life” Yasmine says.

District n5: Sarah Fekkak

Sara is a 22 year old Moroccan men’s fashion designer, photographer, and content creator living in Paris with her family. She started wearing the Hijab when she was 19. “I was able to complete my bachelor’s degree with difficulty despite my skills, due to a number of laws that make it difficult for Hijabi women to live or rise through the social ranks. France has never made it easier for those who wear the Hijab to live there.”

“I wanted to pursue my graduate studies, but I wasn’t able to because the school that was interested in me didn’t allow me to attend due to my very ‘religious’ attire. But After launching my project to establish a high-end menswear brand, I feel more like myself doing what I love and keeping my principles” Sarah says.

Districts 6: Yasmin Azami

Yasmin Azami is a 26 year old marketing manager, art curator and photographer of Moroccan descent, who was born and lived in Italy until the age of 15 when her family decided to move to France, and she has now been living in Paris for 5 years.

“I’ve met so many interesting and passionate people that completely changed my life and made me realize what I’m capable of and what I really want to accomplish. And one of my biggest goals in this city is to succeed in all the projects that my friends and I have started, the potential for our art collective is huge, we have so many brilliant ideas and the members that are really passionate about it that I cannot wait to see it bloom” Yasmin says.

Districts 7: AÏssata Gueye

Aïssata is a 26 year old Senegalese-Mauritanian who has been living in the suburbs of Paris with her family since 2005. 

Aissata has always felt a deep connection with her African roots, which led her to study African civilisations and literature in Paris. She decided to major in Fulani literature and civilisations in order to enhance her knowledge about her cultural background. 

“The idea of working In Africa is a huge source of motivation for me… I could say that living in France as a black African Muslim woman is something that impacted me deeply. In fact, my identities are a considerable challenge for me, even more with the current political environment in France. Living in a country in which I feel neither safe nor respected can be a burden sometimes. Nevertheless, Al Hamdulillah I have the chance to pursue studies that give me hope to one day live and work in a country where I will feel content Inshaallah. And if ever I decide to stay in France I wish to work in a field that will allow me to be part of the change I’ve been waiting for, since I also study international relations” Aïssata says.

Districts 8: Sabrina Myriam Lenoir

Sabrina Myriam is a 21 year old Algerian living in the east of Paris.

“Creating has always been something that drives me through life, from a podcast host to being an artistic director… 

Something that has, and will maybe always impact me, is having half of my family not having the same beliefs as mine. Growing up, it was complicated to understand how I was supposed to practice Islam when my family wasn’t practicing it. I now know that despite all the bad sides of having a multicultural and multi-religious family, it unintentionally helped me be proud of what and who I am.

I’ve been wearing the Hijab for 6 years now and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. I decided to wear it after understanding how important it was for me and my faith and how it could bring me closer to my Lord. In 6 years I’ve never regretted wearing it, not even once” Sabrina says.

Districts 9: SANA Najib

Sana is a 24 year old Moroccan digital marketing & social media manager born and raised in Parisian suburbs.

“Being raised by the most amazing single mom has deeply impacted my life in French society where people of color, and especially women, have to work extra hard to offer their kids half the chances others get quite easily.

I have never felt shy to practice my religion as my non-muslim friends are the most supportive people I know. They always adapt to me, like needing to find a spot for salat, adjusting plans when fasting, etc. The only fear I would have is to be too much of a burden, although I know it’s not the case and they’re always glad to help me find solutions” Sana says. 

Districts 10: Fatima Zahra El yamani

Fatima Zahra is a 26 year old Moroccan who has lived in Paris for almost her whole life. She studied English in university and taught it for more than 4 years and is currently searching for her next endeavor while traveling around Asia.

“Now that I am more than 7000 miles away from Paris, I can’t help but compare my old lifestyle to the one here in Bali. Although I love Paris, it is a very fast paced city and it can feel very overwhelming sometimes. I guess it’s part of its charm too” Fatima Zahra says.

Districts 11: Amélia Guey

Amélia is a 22 year old model, content creator and student in digital communication.

“My parents are from Sénégal and Portugal. My ethnicity is my strength, I do know life in France is easy compared to what our parents have been through years ago! They’ve been struggling for so many things, and I think today France is so late compared to other countries in terms of accepting people’s diversity, showing respect, just the basic principles… As a hijabi in France, I know that I can’t work easily, I have to put so much more effort compared to other sisters who don’t wear it and that’s a really big problem here, because with or without a hijab, my skills are the same” Amélia says.

Districts 12: Myriam Liv

Myriam is a 27 year old personal trainer, she studied literal Arabic at university, and then sport sciences to become a personal trainer.

“All of my training is dedicated to women and focuses on a woman’s body skills and achievements. Sports have impacted my life immensely because this discipline taught me how I could push my limits in sports the same way I could in life. 

I thought about taking off my hijab during work hours, but when I traveled to Asia and saw how people can live and be accepted in society with the Hijab, I realized that my country doesn’t respect and tolerate our choices to be free. From this trip, I decided to work with my Hijab or not work at all. And now I can work all the time with it, and dress as I want. I admit that it’s not always easy, but I manage myself and I believe that everything comes and goes from the Lord, so faith helps me to be patient and determined” Myriam says.

Districts 13: Ghada Bouchehit

Ghada is a 24 year old fashion & beauty enthusiast, born in Algeria, raised in France, and moved to Paris to study Fashion Luxury & Brand Management.

“Working in Paris made me realize that compromising won’t always bring me any peace. I got tired of trying to find the perfect ‘Hijabi look’ that will both fit my Islamic values and the context in France. I realized that I do not have to let go of a piece of what I believe in order to please other people, and that wearing my hijab as I want will give me power and allow me to stand for what I believe in without necessarily voicing it. Alhamdulillah I moved to Dubai last year and I’ve never felt more pretty, free, and confident than now” Ghada says.

Districts 14: Ikram Smaili

Ikram is a 23 year old football coach and photographer of Moroccan descent, born in France and has lived there her whole life. She’s been playing football for 14 years and coaching a young girls team for 4 years now.

“To be honest, I feel more French than Moroccan, not because I don’t love my country, but whenever I go visit I feel that I can’t fit in. Whenever I talked, however I acted, I was tagged as ‘Zmagria’ and it hurt me… When I put my Hijab on, I was no longer welcomed in France, people that I thought I knew suddenly became hostile towards me, and I began to see looks and attitudes that I never encountered before. So I said to myself ‘I feel more French than Moroccan, but I’m not in my place here either.’

How does a fabric change everything? 

I played football most of my life, but because of my hijab, I’m not welcomed on the field anymore. They had the audacity to tell me straight in the eyes, ‘take it off or you don’t play.’

It was my choice, I’m still me, I’m still the Ikram from before wearing the hijab. How can not seeing my hair change everything? As if my person was determined by my hair. I never questioned my choice nor my faith, I’m so proud of wearing it and I’ll never have regrets. Facing hardships makes me stronger” Ikram says.

Districts 15: Wahiba Mizbar

Wahiba is a 30 year old web developer of Algerian descent, born and raised in Strasbourg, currently living and working in Paris.

“My faith, the environment I was raised in, the humility and resilience of my parents, my friends’ support and my husband’s strength are all things that deeply impacted my life. I’ve been wearing the Hijab for 10 years now, and I’m sure that my life would be so different if I wasn’t, simply because people would see me as a human being and not a piece of cloth… I would regain my individuality and be able to go outside without eyes pointed at me. But I also wouldn’t feel complete without it” Wahiba says.

Districts 16: Yaëlle Soilihi

Yaëlle is a 27 year old creative, born and raised in Paris. Yaëlle has always loved fashion and eventually started modeling. She later created her own brand, and recently decided to create her own creative agency where she can fully imagine innovative concepts for her clients and create aesthetic productions that inspire her.  

“I guess my spirituality marked a turning point in my life. It has deeply influenced my daily life, my work ethic and decisions in life. I do think I belong in Paris, it’s one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I have my family, my routine and habits here, and it will always be a part of me. But I would never live in France forever, I feel like I would be happier in another city, another country which would fit better with the lifestyle I want to live” Yaëlle says.

Districts 17: Khadidja Souar

Khadija is a 21 year old student of fashion and art living in Paris.“I recently started working as a stylist for various magazines and fashion houses. It’s a profession that excites me because it allows me to unleash my creativity. However, it’s often challenging to establish oneself in the fashion world and maintain authenticity. We often come across superficial people who encourage you to be the same. Nevertheless, I have always stayed true to myself and never changed my personality or identity” Khadija says.

Districts 18:Kaoutar El Bouomri

Kaoutar is a 25 year old Moroccan model and financial consultant. She moved to Europe in 2017 to continue her studies and found herself in Paris after graduating.

“Solo travel has taught me adaptability and the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone. Now, it’s extremely reassuring to know that I can embrace solitude as an opportunity for self reflection.

I think that modesty is far from being a criterion of a perfect Muslim. Perfection is for Allah, we live in a world full of imperfections and we are part of them. I firmly believe that being modest is just a small part of the whole journey. I would rather be surrounded by non-modest yet kind hearted Muslims than the opposite. Being Muslim is an attitude that not only modest people can adopt” Kaoutar says.

Districts 19: Goundo Gassama

Goundo is a 24 year old creative born to Malian parents, both of them arriving separately to France in the early 90s.

She’s currently a retail assistant in a store in Paris. 

“To see Hijabis as a homogeneous group is a mistake. All you have to do to include is to invite, get to know the

human being behind the veil, talk to us and then ask your questions so we live freely and in harmony with the

freedom of others and respect even the choices we wouldn’t make for ourselves. Our humanity is

stronger than our identity. Stronger than our appearances. Stronger than our life choices. Stronger than our

differences. Accepting this is humbling for us all” Goundo says.

Districts 20: marois Bensalah

Marois is a 22 year old born and raised in the suburbs of Paris. She’s a student in biomedical sciences and works at a toy store during the weekends.

“I’ve always wanted to wear the Hijab since I was little, but as a young Muslim girl living in France, whenever a career interested me, I always had the reflex of asking if it accepted Hijabis even if I was only 10 years old and wasn’t wearing it. I had to give up on my dream of being a history or science teacher. I also would’ve loved to be a social worker but it’s the same thing – they wouldn’t accept Hijabis in public function jobs, and my love and interest in art is sadly not strong enough for me to work in this field. I could study abroad and work in London as a lot of Hijabis do, but I personally love France way too much to leave it. Maybe one day I’ll be able to be a teacher here or whatever the hell I’ll want but for now I’ll struggle for my dreams. I’ll create the space I can’t find. I won’t lose it to racists and politics. I love the power that comes with dressing modestly and I won’t exchange my privileges for anything in this Dunya” Marois says.

END.