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“I was so ecstatic, happy and full of life until reaching home and wondering what my mother would say? Would she disown me? Would she shun me? Islam was clearly not part of our Latin culture.”
“[My coach] He said listen: ‘you are going to be Abdul El-Sayed for the rest of your life. You can use it either as an excuse or motivation.’ For me, it’s been a motivation throughout my life.”
"My business advocates for inclusivity, access, options, and a broader understanding of wellness. The diversity of my identities is deeply intertwined with my ability to build a relatable and authentic platform that empowers women from diverse backgrounds."
Join MALA and UFC Gym coach Mike Jaber for an introductory class to boxing on Wednesday, October 4th 2017 at the UFC Gym in South Loop Chicago . Limited spots available!
"Starting out, there weren’t many South Asian or Muslim role models in entertainment to look up to. When I entered this industry, I always hoped to achieve even a little of what Spike Lee did in bringing issues of my community and others to the forefront in entertaining ways."
"So now, I am a queer women and trans rights activist, a thinker, a sexuality workshops facilitator, and a fashion designer. I’m a complex human. But I am also just a regular person in search of belonging, love and purpose."
“Trying to figure out who I am as a person and understand my identity has been difficult. You know trying to combine being mixed, with being Muslim, with being female has been hard. I don’t really feel like all of these labels or categories fit with who I am all the time.”
In CNN Films' "We Will Rise: Michelle Obama's Mission to Educate Girls Around the World," the First Lady, Meryl Streep, Freida Pinto and CNN's Isha Sesay take a journey to Morocco and Liberia, where they meet young women overcoming incredible odds to change their lives. In honor of the United Nation's "International Day of the Girl", MALA is thrilled to present this special screening of "We Will Rise" to the general public at Columbia University.
"What I am surprised about is that I’m still hopeful. We need to get our voices heard no matter how many times they tell us to shut us up. We are not irrelevant. They are."
“I remember in the first few days of my life in the US, I was given advice from an American business consultant. He told me, ‘You might be offended by what I say, but I’m giving you this advice to help you.’ His advice was to not put the name Mohammed as part of my legal name in the US.”
