Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
I choose to focus on the positive.
I don't want to be taller; I want to be myself.
How boring would this world be if everyone was the same?
I mix things from my Somali culture and my American side.
Society puts so much pressure on girls to look a certain way.
I want to show people there's not just one way of being Muslim.
Always stay true to who you are - barriers can and will be broken!
Every little girl looks up to her mom so much - that's your first hero.
It's important to remember all the millions of people that are starving.
Being Somali, being Muslim, it's always something I've been very proud of.
Diversity and inclusion are always something industries should strive for.
There's always room to volunteer. I think that's a huge space to be involved with.
I feel like I'm here to bust those misconceptions and stereotypes of Muslim women.
What I do is I always try to educate myself about my neighbors, about the people I meet.
I think to be Miss U.S.A., first of all, you need to represent everybody, all of us here.
I love Somali foods like canjeero, a pancakelike bread; same for pizza, burgers, and sushi.
I haven't received any pressure to be anything other than myself, and for that, I am so grateful.
I made a lot of mistakes growing up, trying so hard to fit in. I got so lost trying to please everybody.
I think it's important to be diverse, and I hope we continue to see that as a trend in the fashion industry.
I know that for me, a lot of people will look at me and they'll think 'Somali' or 'outsider' instead of 'Minnesota.'
Moving to the U.S. was an adjustment. I noticed that the kids played in groups. Back in Kakuma, everyone played together.
When you're a kid, to be honest, you could be in the worst situation ever, but you're still going to have ways to enjoy it.
My goal is to send a message to Muslim women and young women everywhere that it's okay to break stereotypes and be yourself.
I will stand up for a girl who is being harassed or bullied for choosing to wear revealing clothes. I will stand up for that!
I think often the West does not understand the history and the privilege of wearing a hijab. They always think of oppression.
Skin care is so much more important than makeup. Makeup is for when you're having fun and going out. But your skin is forever.
I am proud of being a Somali-American Muslim, and my wardrobe has been an important part of my religious and cultural upbringing.
I feel best when I am modestly dressed. It's a choice I make and am proud of; for me, I don't think I have to show skin to be beautiful.
I want everyone to live to their full potential without having to fear someone will try to knock them down or discriminate against them.
Sometimes I'll go with a long hijab, or sometimes I'll wear my scarf and go somewhat business-y with a blazer. Every day is something new.
Wearing modest clothing is a belief, and I'm not going to say that every Muslim woman is in my shoes, but the majority of us do have a choice.
If there's one message I want people to take away is never compromise being your authentic self. Even if that means making others uncomfortable.
I don't just want to support only Muslim women. I want to inspire women across the board, and I'm hoping they won't allow things to get in the way.
I learned that when you stand up for what you believe in, you'll get a lot of support. But there are always going to be negative things said about you.
Be who you are. It's easy to feel like you have to blend in, but it takes courage to live your life with conviction and embrace the person that you are.
I want to go see Somalia because I've never been there, and I feel like I'm missing out. I want to learn that heritage; I want to learn about my culture.
I feel like with anything you choose to do in this world, there are always gonna be people who disagree. But I've had a lot more supporters than critics.
For me, being able to say that my first-ever photo shoot was with one of the most well-known and iconic fashion photographers in the world is unbelievable.
My favorite part of modeling is backstage. Every day you work with different people, and as much as people learn about my story, I get to learn about theirs.
I sleep with aloe vera on - it's super moisturizing and good for the skin - and I'll switch that up with honey, which I leave on for 10 minutes then wash off.
What I have learned is that designers are willing to tell the world that they are here to empower women from all different backgrounds and different walks of life.
If you think people are against you and that you're a target, things will start appearing that way. I just go about my day, and I don't think anyone is out to get me.
There is not one description of beauty - that in fact it has different faces, different stories, and different background, and it's important to embrace all of those.
I never grew up seeing women that looked like me in magazines or on TV and didn't feel like I had a place in the world of fashion. I am honoured to be part of that change.
For a really long time, I thought being different was a negative thing. But as I grew older, I started to realize we were all born to stand out; nobody is born to blend in.
There are so many Muslim women that feel like they don't fit society's standard of beauty. I just wanted to tell them it's OK to be different; being different is beautiful, too.
I say this all the time, but my hijab, it really is my crown, and it's something that I bring to the table. It's something that makes me unique. It shows the world who I truly am.
A lot of people have the misconception that, as a Muslim woman, I am somehow against women wearing bikinis. No, I want women to feel comfortable and confident in whatever they wear.
America has always been a land of diversity, basically made up of immigrants, and that is something I want to see continued. It's something I'm proud of when people think of America.
I feel bad for my little cousins who don't see themselves being represented, or the little girls in my community who won't have a chance to see a Disney princess... who resembles them.