My name is Aisha, and I am a eighteen year old woman from Iran. I come from a Persian family that follows Islamic traditions. When I was younger, my parents made the decision to cover me in a niqab because they believed it was the best way for me to protect myself from unwanted attention.
Growing up, I always felt like I had to hide who I truly was. I wore long pants and loose shirts that covered my body, even during the summer months when everyone else was wearing shorts and t-shirts. I never felt comfortable with my small breasts or skinny legs, but I knew that if anyone saw me without my niqab, they would judge me for not being "normal."
As a teenager, I struggled to find my place in the world. I was surrounded by friends who were experimenting with makeup and dating, while I felt like I couldn't participate in those experiences. It was difficult to feel isolated from everyone else around me, but I knew that my family would never accept me if I stopped wearing my niqab.
Eventually, I moved away from home and started attending college where no one knew me or my backstory. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could be whoever I wanted to be. Without anyone watching me, I started to wear shorter skirts and tighter shirts. I even started wearing makeup for the first time.
While I still wear a niqab most of the time, it feels different now that I'm not hiding behind it anymore. I can be myself without worrying about what other people think. Sure, there are still times when I feel self-conscious or insecure about my appearance, but I know that those feelings won't define me forever.
I hope to inspire others who are struggling with their identity to know that it's okay to be different and to embrace the person they were meant to be.