Meet the 2024 Class of Muslim Women To Watch
These inspiring women have rightfully claimed their spots as our Muslim Women To Watch for 2024 and then some. With the transformative global events of this year, they have become our shining beacons of light not only by choice but by their own sense of duty to their people and the world. They owe us nothing, and yet their chosen paths are paving a road for the rest of us. While they are bound by the common purpose of their identity, each has ventured beyond their skills for the service of humanitarian efforts and activism. As they disrupt their industries for the greater good, we must salute them with all due respect and admiration.
Our 2024 lineup celebrates Muslim women that are using their skills to not only serv e their communities, but also demonstrate why we must become powerful voices for change even in the hardest times to speak up. Our honorees are championing causes and embodying the perseverance needed to take the world by storm — and rightfully so.
Before the genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Bisan Owda’s life seemed nothing short of happy, adventurous, and… free. With her curls billowing in the wind, her radiant smile appears in almost every reel or photograph she posts, showing off her vibrant and playful personality through her red lipstick, love for cats, and spending time with her friends and colleagues. Owda is a talented storyteller who shared with the audience snapshots of her travels to places like Milan, Cairo, and Tanzania. She would share glimpses of her life in Gaza, and how empowered her country makes her feel as a woman and storyteller. Since the beginning of her career, Owda’s camera has always been fixated on people and their inspiring stories across the Gaza Strip.
However, on October 7, 2023, the trajectory of Owda’s life changed. Those posts of happiness now gave way to videos and photographs of an exhausted and displaced Owda, moving from one place to another. Her workplace, an area that became a second home to her, was desecrated. The neighborhood that she grew up in was destroyed and Owda and her family were forced to live on the streets. The filmmaker who once shared her excitement with the world now sits on the side of the road and laughs bitterly as the world celebrates 20 aid trucks being sent to Gaza.
A woman whose life was once filled with happiness, now tearfully declares that she no longer believes in hope and that humanity is a lie. Yet despite how Israel has looted the life of 25-year-old Owda, she has emerged as one of the leading journalists from the Gaza Strip. With over four million followers on Instagram and thousands of attentive users on her broadcast channel, not a day goes by when Owda doesn’t risk her life to report on the stories and conditions that the mainstream media have faded to broadcast.
If there is one thing about the journalists of Palestine that has shaken the world to its core, despite the horrific yet courageous stories that have emerged, it is the age of these reporters. The eldest, yet still under 30 amongst Bisan and Plestia, is Hind Khoudary. Before the genocide, Khoudary’s life was nothing short of successful. Her excellent talents in writing and storytelling have given her multiple impressive opportunities. She has been an alumnus of The U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) at Georgetown University; a writer in the Gaza Strip for We Are Not Numbers; a News Editor for Palestine Media Production, and her career continued to rise to great lengths, landing her a News Correspondent Position for Al Jazeera English, and Content Producer for World Food Programme.
Such an individual should continue excelling at life, but Israel, on October 7, desecrated Khoudary’s aspirations. Since the genocide began, Khoudary began to report on the sounds of bombs thundering outside her home and the eerie stillness in the air of Palestine. With a helmet on her head and a press vest on her body, she sets out to the frontlines to report on the stories of people whose voices our media have tried to silence. In her reporting, Khoudary saw 15 children and two babies killed; her husband’s family home was demolished; 500 martyred Palestinians in the Al Ahli hospital massacre; 19 martyred Palestinians at Gaza’s Phorphyrus Church; the transferring of patients from one hospital to another. Despite all the trauma that Khoudary sees every day, she continues her reporting, all while longing for her father whom she lost in 2012.
With just her phone as a tool for media reporting, Plestia became a widely followed and appreciated journalist for her brave and aggressive reporting on the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Her reporting first began on October 9, 2023, when Alaqad was explaining how her family and neighbors were taking shelter inside her home before she was interrupted by the sounds of bombs. Even the internet and electricity were cut off from Palestinians, leaving them in fear and anxiety because no one knew what was happening or what would happen next. That same night, as her home was burning behind her, Alaqad was forced to evacuate with her family, and she continued reporting. Every day and multiple times a day, Alaqad shared news on the massacres of families, the state of hospitals, and what the Israeli forces have demolished.
In one of her videos, Alaqad admits that she thought her grandparents were exaggerating when speaking about the Nakba; however, Palestinians are living through it in 2023. While the world may recognize Alaqad now for her reporting, she is a Palestinian woman who has had a successful career in journalism and communications.
Before the start of the genocide. She attended the American International School of Gaza for high school before attending Eastern Mediterranean University. Alaqad then became an Editing News and Assistant Correspondent for Al Ghad TV; Editor-Chief for Gundam Newspaper; an interpreter for The Culture and Free Thought Association; News Editor and Social Media Manager for Press House; and an English Media Club Trainer for Press House; she is now a Human Resources Manager for StepUp Agency.
Serving as an Associate Professor at Rutgers University, Dr. Noura Erakat is the intellectual baddie we all should look up to. Besides teaching at Rutgers, Dr. Erakat is also an author, activist, legal scholar, and human rights attorney! Her book, “Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine” was awarded the Palestine Book Awards in 2019. In her own words, the book is an account of the Palestinian freedom struggle told through the relationship between international law and politics over a century (1917-2017) to better understand the potential of law in emancipation. Her relentless contributions to the Palestinian cause are worth commemorating; not only is Erakat outspoken about her stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict on social media she has also served as legal counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives and as a legal advocate for Palestinian refugee rights at the United Nations.
Moreover, she is also the co-founding editor of Jadaliyya, an independent ezine founded in 2019 to cover the Arab world and the Middle East, and an editorial board member of the Journal of Palestine Studies. Dr. Erakat has also been a frequent commentator on prominent American media outlets, establishing herself as an inspirational Muslim academic who isn’t afraid to speak the truth when needed.
The Congolese-Canadian Dalila Umutoni Nasser is a beacon of empowerment in the world of modesty modeling and body positivity. As a black Muslim woman, she stands tall as a testament to the beauty and resilience that resides within us all.
Nasser emerges as a vital conduit for English-speaking audiences seeking insight into the harrowing realities of the Congo genocide. With a voice as resonant as it is compassionate, she is more than capable of illuminating the untold narratives of the Congolese people with unwavering clarity and resolve. Yet, her impact extends far beyond mere advocacy, as she possesses a rare gift for instilling a profound sense of spiritual tranquility during Ramadan.
A young girl stands in front of a phone camera, surrounded by people and chaos, the politics of displacement all around her. Lama Jamous is Gaza’s youngest journalist, at just 9 years old. Her Instagram account, with over 800 thousand followers, is filled with short-form videos as she covers the war in Gaza. Working with her father, Lama reports on her experience through the Israeli aggression, and how she fled her home in Gaza City and was displaced again during the bombing of Khan Younis. Currently reporting from Rafah, Lama and her father show others the harsh conditions in the camps, such as lack of food, water, and shelter. Lama covers the displacement around her and the movement of Palestinians south. She also documents conditions in the camps and highlights diverse voices from daily life in the sprawling tent complexes of Rafah. Lama’s childlike innocence is a stark reminder of the children of Gaza living under such harsh conflict.
Lama says that she hopes to follow in the footsteps of other Palestinian journalists such as Wael al-Dahdouh, who she met while in Rafah. The work of Palestinian journalists in sharing the stories of Gaza during this conflict has been critical in amplifying the horror unfolding. In a place that the UN called “the most dangerous place in the world to be a child”, Lama’s work is incredibly brave. Sharing the voices of the children of Gaza amid this conflict has helped raise awareness of the conditions of displacement. Nearly half of the population of Gaza is children, and with humanitarian aid being blocked by Israeli protestors, their situation is more dire than ever. Lack of food, water, and supplies has led to starvation-level conditions in Gaza. Lama Jamous, at just nine years old, is becoming a powerful voice for the 1 million children in the Gaza Strip.
It is never easy being a successful business owner and showing outward support for humanitarian rights issues, especially with potential backlash or boycotts from customers. However, such fears don’t get to the successful entrepreneur, perfume enthusiast, fragrance brand owner, and Iraqi-American, Mona Kattan. She co-founded the billion-dollar empire, Huda Beauty, back when it was still a beauty blog. However, her love for the beauty world didn’t start then. As she was growing up, both Kattan and her sister Huda participated in beauty pageants from the ages of three to seven. She grew up in the state of Oklahoma before moving to Dubai where she reconnected with her Middle Eastern heritage through fragrances and perfumes. She describes that when Arabs use fragrances, they do so with “intention,” and that this part of the culture is loved so much that there are often rituals for it during holy days or important ceremonies.
With this being her driving force, Kattan launched her widely recognized and loved fragrance brand, Kayali, in 2018. What sets this brand apart from other fragrance brands on the market is that Kattan wants her customers to explore and layer different scents to find the perfect match. When this idea was pitched to retailers, Kattan was met with criticism that her idea just wouldn’t succeed. Despite this, many people adore her fragrances all over social media and now she uses this platform to advocate for more female entrepreneurs, and call for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine.
Leana Deeb is a young Palestinian-Uruguanian who has embraced her identity as a hijabi Muslim woman and a fitness content creator. She continues to expand her online presence with over 18.8 million followers across Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
In the summer of 2023, Leana chose to wear the hijab after quickly rising to fame on TikTok. With dedication to Islam and modest wear, she deleted all of her previous content on social media and began to film new content for her Lift with Leana app. In her content creation journey, she has partnered with Bloom, created a modest gym wear line with Gymshark, and inspired millions of fans online and during the Life with Leana tour.
Muslim and non-Muslim supporters are in awe of Leana’s love for Islam and the hijab. Despite the risk of losing her already existing fan base by putting on the hijab and deleting hundreds of videos, Leana Deeb details her unwavering faith and commitment to her values.
Her content across all channels aims to support others in their unique journeys to embrace their highest, healthiest selves. She produces fitness, journaling, and nutrition content to appeal to her large audience.
Hailing from Sudan and making her mark in Australia, the Sudanese-Australian media presenter and writer Abdel-Magied’s path was anything but conventional. Originally with a background in mechanical engineering, she defied expectations with her groundbreaking community service, which ultimately got her named “Young Queenslander” in 2010 and “Queensland Australian” in 2015.
Abdel-Magied has emerged as a leading voice in advocacy for Sudan. With unwavering courage and conviction, Abdel-Magied has taken to social media to break the silence surrounding the Sudan Crisis, shedding light on the plight of innocent civilians enduring unimaginable hardships.
Fighting for the right to education, becoming a voice for the children who want peace and global change, and becoming a symbol of courage for young women around the globe to never think that their voice is too small, or to underestimate themselves, Malala Yousafzai’s story is one that many of us have grown up with in our youth years. She was born on July 12, 1997, in Swat Valley, famously known as the “Switzerland” of Pakistan. Since she was a child, Yousafzai carried an immense love for education, especially because her father was an activist for education and ran a learning institution. When the Taliban took over the Swat Valley in 2007, life for young girls immediately changed for the worse. There was a ban on education, dancing, and television, and suicide attacks were at an all-time high.
A total of 400 schools were destroyed by the Taliban. However, this did not deter Yousafzai. She began her activism by condemning the Taliban’s unlawful actions on Pakistani television, and in 2009, Yousafzai went undercover as an anonymous writer for BBC News Urdu. She was only 11. That same year, she was displaced, and when she returned, her voice only became stronger. On October 9, 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head by members of the Taliban. However, still, she continued her activism. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, the Simone de Beauvoir Prize in 2013, the Ambassador of Conscience Award in 2013, and the National Malala Prize in 2011.
On October 11, 2023, just four days after the genocide in Gaza began, Vice News shared a video on social media that showed a female Palestinian healthcare worker, clad in her white lab coat, tearfully crying out that her husband had been martyred. Whilst doing this, she simultaneously repeated that she bore witness to none other than God, and continued to remember Him during such a devastating loss as she ran towards her daughter. Female healthcare workers in Palestine have seen the most grotesque and jarring sights in their hospitals, and medical careers, and have had to perform major medical procedures like surgeries, in unspeakable conditions.
Dr. Duha Shellah is a Junior Doctor from An-Najah National University in Palestine and a journalist who has been sharing stories of the plight of medical professionals on the grounds in Gaza. In January 2024, Shellah published a research article, “War on Gaza: the impossible duty to care for the critically ill”, and she included testimonies from her friends on the frontlines. However, in the context of female healthcare workers, this isn’t even the worst of it.
Many individuals are surprised that Palestine even has female medical professionals. When Shellah attended the World Health Summit as a speaker, she recalls that the first question she was asked was, “How come you are educated, Dr. Duha?” And she thought to herself “Is the world noticing us, and if they are, why is it so surprising that Palestinians are educated?” Not just in Gaza’s genocide, but in many revolutions and crises overseas, female healthcare workers have stood as pillars of strength for every woman who has been affected by injustice and violence.
In Palestine, female healthcare workers stand as towering figures of resilience and bravery. They navigate challenges that go far beyond medical obstacles. Every day, they step out onto the frontlines with dedication, serving their communities where resources are next to nothing and the risks are unbelievably high. Their courage is unparalleled as they face not just the health crises common to all, but slow and painful deaths of children, youth, and the elderly. These women are not just healthcare providers, they are carriers of a type of strength never seen before in medical history. Even while death follows them with a stretcher, these women continue progressing forward.
Who is your favorite trailblazer of this year’s #MuslimWomenToWatch list? Let us know on socials!
