I grew up in Crimea, Ukraine, in a Muslim Crimean Tatar family, but they were not religious. My parents did not pray, fast, or read the Quran. My mother did not wear a hijab, and neither did my sisters at that time. Though we were part of the Muslim society, the culture and way of life of the majority were not Islamic.
When I was 13, I learned what hijab is — a form of clothing for Muslim women that includes a headscarf and modest, non-revealing clothing. I also learned that wearing it becomes an obligation at a certain stage of life. At the time, even in places where Muslims lived, wearing hijab was rare and often misunderstood.
I wanted to wear it.
My mother was strongly against it. She was afraid—not because she rejected Islam, but because she did not understand it and feared how society would react. She could not imagine how I would study, build a career, or live normally wearing a hijab.
At that age, I did not have enough courage to insist. Unable to fight the authority, I had to postpone my decision and adapt myself to the culture I was living in. I continued to pray, fast, and try to live a modest Muslim life without wearing hijab.
Years passed. Fourteen years later, I was living in Kyiv, Ukraine, leading my own company, working with top managers, investors, and teams. My life required visibility, communication, and constant interaction.
At the same time, I wanted to learn my religion and to be close to Allah. I started learning more about Islam, the Quran, and Arabic. I spent more time in the mosque and saw women confidently wearing hijabs.
Visiting mosques always required me to cover myself, marking my first step towards wearing hijab. Each time, I brought a bag with a long prayer dress and a scarf. Inside the mosque, I became a Muslim woman in hijab; outside, I returned to the world where many women wore short dresses and high heels.
It felt as if there were two versions of myself—one true, wanting to express her values, and the other adapting to fit Ukrainian cultural norms. I often thought, 'Why can’t I just be myself?' I never liked showing my body or hair, and I disliked the thought of being noticed only for my appearance. I wanted to be covered, to feel protected, and to feel authentic.
I was thinking and doubting how people I work with will react to my new look if I start wearing hijab. Though I was hoping they'd respect authenticity, I was still terrified. Partially, I never saw someone stylishly dressed in a hijab, and wearing one felt like giving up elegance and fashion. But the desire to align with who I am—a Muslim hijabi woman—was more important, which is why I began slowly—buying scarves and trying them occasionally. It felt unfamiliar. I did not recognize myself in the mirror. I looked different, but I also felt free.
Until one day, I made a decision.
I chose to wear the hijab fully.
That same day, I had a job interview scheduled. I conducted it in a formal setting for the first time while wearing a headscarf. I felt nervous and curious.
But the interview went well.
At that moment, I understood:
In business — and in life — people care far more about your substance than your appearance. And the biggest fear exists only in our heads.
From that point forward, I continued leading, speaking, building, and growing — but now fully aligned with my values and wearing hijab.
It was a turning point in my life, leading to the best moments. The most beautiful part was that I was feeling myself; I stopped being afraid to express myself, and felt confident and empowered as ever.
My mother, who before feared this decision, eventually accepted it—and today she even helps me choose my scarves. That transformation alone showed me how much people can grow.
It has been more than 11 years since I started wearing hijab, and I hope I will never have a reason to take it off.
However, choosing to wear the hijab was just a beginning.
The next challenge was to express fashion through hijab, style, and elegance — finding clothing that truly reflected who I was.
As a Muslim hijabi woman living in Ukraine, I wanted to look elegant, modern, and stylish. But the options available locally were extremely limited.
It took hours searching across websites, countries, and platforms for modest fashion clothing aligned with my values, beliefs, and Shariah rules.
The process was exhausting.
Fragmented. Inconsistent. Often disappointing.
At times, I felt overlooked — as if women like me were not fully considered in the fashion world.
After hundreds of talks and meetings with Muslim girls, I realized that it wasn't only my problem.
Women across Europe and North America were facing the same experience. Many had to travel to countries like Türkiye or the UAE just to find beautiful, modest clothing. Others settled for compromises.
That sense of lacking stayed with me, powering my desire for change and setting the stage for my next venture.
And that is how the idea for ModestBeauty.com was born.
Today, I am the founder and CEO of ModestBeauty.com — a global modest fashion marketplace. Our mission is to empower women to look gorgeous and modest at the same time without compromising their values.
ModestBeauty.com celebrates more than being an online modest fashion retailer; we support the recognition of modest fashion and show that modesty and fashion can go hand in hand, and that women around the world with modest beliefs can feel included.
Through ModestBeauty.com, our mission is to unite modest fashion designers from around the world and help women easily discover and shop the best modest fashion, with top-notch customer service and quick delivery.
Because modesty should never mean restriction. A modest fashion style can never require compromise.
Join a global community of women redefining modest fashion.
Discover your style with ModestBeauty.com.
Discover your style with ModestBeauty.com.