In these images, broader conversations about women's rights, cultural identity, and diaspora politics naturally surface.
By reclaiming my image on my own terms, I resist the restrictive narratives surrounding what it means to be Muslim and to navigate spaces where Yemeni women are rarely seen. When I'm out in public, strangers often make guesses about my heritage — never Yemeni. Their surprise when I reveal my identity has become familiar. I am frequently told, "You're the first Yemeni woman I've ever met," or simply, "first Yemeni."
A through line in my work, beyond its autobiographical nature, is identity itself. The mere act of presenting my image becomes a form of activism - one that crosses cultural boundaries and confronts those who resist Yemeni women. This resistance often comes from within my own Arab community. I sit with these challenges, even as the world feels like it's crumbling around me, questioning whether my coping mechanisms are enough to soothe the anxiety that comes with simply existing.
I continue to carry my culture - in my walk, in my being, and in the roots of my hair - proudly, without fear or shame.
