16 April 2012
Our Muslimah Ainee Fatima! (Hunger games exclusive!)
When I was looking for Coveredgirl's new Muslimah of the month I wanted to find someone who is energetic, and inspirational. Someone who is a role model to all of the Muslim society. And just as I came across Ainee I was blown away with her creativity and talent. She is a poet, Generation change leader, and also does Makeup. Ainee is Indian and resides in Chicago, Illinois. She is earning a major in Islamic World Studies and Political Science. Also her name is 'my eyes' in arabic (too cute:).
At twenty-one years old, Ainee (3eyini) Fatima is a poet on the Chicago ‘spoken word’ scene. Most of her writing deals with the struggle of growing up in America as a young Muslim teenager and speaks eloquently with the issues her fellow brothers and sisters in faith face today.
This young American-Muslim was a 2009 finalist and winner of Young Chicago Authors’ Louder Than a Bomb (LTAB), the largest Teen Poetry Slam competition in Chicago. That year she was awarded a Girlspeak award and attended Brave New Voices, the international teen poetry slam with her team, Tribe Called West representing Chicago among the 50 amazing teams who competed.
In 2010, she was the duo slam champion at LTAB along side with her teammate Noor Hasan. With the help of award winning poets such as the founder of Slam Poetry Marc Smith, Louder Than a Bomb Co-Founder Kevin Coval, Robbie Q. Telfer,Roger Bonair-Agard and her coach, Paul S. Bellwoar, she continues to develop herself as a poet.
Her work with interfaith cooperation has been a passion since she began attending high school and took part in many of the interfaith round table events that were held after school in hopes to educate herself in the Interfaith movement. She hopes to continue with writing as she finishes college and hopefully publish a book in the future and make changes in her community through the help of IMAN,IFYC and OCONwith her passion in interfaith building.
Ainee has been recognized for her poetry nationally and by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She was also featured in the 2011 Inaugural edition of the State Department Newsletter along with a poem of hers. She will also be published in two books within the next two years as well.
Along with poetry, Ainee is also passionate in photography and has won local teen photography contests in Skokie and Niles. She was also a finalist in the Life is Simply Art (LISA) Art show in 2008 and 2009.
Here are some videos of her reciting her poetry.
Ainee works at Ulta as a Prestige Consultant. I first fond Ainee on tumblr because of her photos. What I first found was her Hunger games collection which I fell in love with. You can also go look at her Youtube channel where she does make up videos, Hijab tutorials, and other preps.
District number one- Capitol/Luxury
District 2 - Masonry/Stone
District 3 - Technology
District 4 - Fishing
District 5 - Power
District 6 - Transportation
District 7 - Lumber
District 8 - Textiles
District 9 - Grain
District 10 - Livestock
District 11 - Agriculture
District 12 - Mining/Katniss
(Ainee) This was my original District 1 picture, I was trying to represent Luxury in the best way possible, so I chose green and gold for the colors. But then I decided to discard it for the final set because Luxury was better represented in the way Effie and the Capitol citizens dressed. Anyways, I hope you guys liked the pictures!
Her artistic touch in her make up is very abstract, and I just adore how she pulls it off so easily with her hijabs. As an artist myself I even find that hard into doing with my art work. These are just a few of my favorites.
Now for a questionnaire with Ainee!
I understand that you work at Ulta as a consultant which is fabulous for your passion in Make up and a great achievement! As muslimahs in a diverse society we sometimes feel pushed away from the public. How did you find encouragement for this job?
Thank you! At first, I was really scared to apply for the job because I didn't think I would get hired in a place where it's all about presentation and how you look. They usually hire a certain type of girls, especially those who are good at make-up. But I went in for my interview and I originally applied as a cashier because I didn't expect much but the manager asked me if I did my own my make-up that day and she was impressed so she asked me if I would mind being a Prestige Consultant. I didn't know what that was at first but basically, it's someone who sells and works with high-end make-up. I was nervous to take on a heavy job as a first timer there but I got it! It's really important to bring your skills to the table when you go for your interviews. Presentation and how you handle yourself in an interview is so important. Never let your hijab stop you from getting a job or working in a field that you want, because retailers cannot discriminate against religious clothing, so always remember that. You have to really be confident and that's where I drew my encouragement from.
What kind of support did you get from family and those around you for your
makeup creativity?
At first, like most moms, my mom didn't like the fact I wore make-up. But eventually she grew out of it, I really like focusing on my Muslim sisters who need their make-up done. I've done a couple of hijabis for prom and I've styled them for it too! They have been super supportive because I'm working within the community, so they don't mind at all! I was an art student in high school for about three years and I didn't really have a way of pursuing it so I took it out through make-up because at the end of the day, I really think it's all art and creativity than aiming to look good.
Where did you find your talent in poetry did it just click or was it a cause and effect scenario? And How was it to read such strong Islamic pieces in front of an audience?
I wrote short stories for myself and my friends through out Islamic School for many years. Then when I got into high school, I focused more on poetry but I wasn't good at all. It's actually really embarrassing for me to read my old poems! But my English Teacher in Freshman year "discovered" me and encouraged me to try out for the school's poetry slam team. In sophomore year, I preformed on a stage for the first time and it was scary. I still get stage fright till this day even though I've been performing for 4 years now. When you have a skill or talent, it's work...you need to practice to make it perfect and get better. No matter how good you are, you always need to practice and by writing all the time, I got better.
My inspiration for my islamic pieces come from personal experience but the courage for performing it is a whole other story. I feel like I have this talent for a reason. And as a Muslim poet, I feel like it's my job to speak out against islamophobia and for a lot of my sisters. That's what drives me, knowing I'm not alone in my struggles as a muslim living in America.
My inspiration for my islamic pieces come from personal experience but the courage for performing it is a whole other story. I feel like I have this talent for a reason. And as a Muslim poet, I feel like it's my job to speak out against islamophobia and for a lot of my sisters. That's what drives me, knowing I'm not alone in my struggles as a muslim living in America.
Islamic World Studies and Political Science is your major, So what do you plan on doing soon afterwards?
I'm probably going to go to Grad school afterwords but I don't have anything set planned though I don’t think there’s enough women, especially in America who can openly speak about Islam, so I’m really focusing to use my degree with the American Muslim community, more than anything. I can use my degree for community relations, international relations and diplomacy. There’s so many options out there and with Islam really being the forefront on many issues today, I think it’s very necessary.
For example:
Rashad Hussain, a hafiz of the Qur’an and a lawyer was only just recently (3 years ago) named special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Barack Obama. As envoy, he has sought to expand partnerships between the U.S. and the Muslim world and has been outspoken on the need to combat terrorism, stating in a speech to Muslim Foreign Ministers. He has a masters degree in Islamic Studies along with other degrees.
I haven't chosen a structured career path yet, I'm really focusing on making a difference and being in school. So, inshAllah with the time, it'll be revealed and make more sense to where I'm going to be headed but I hope I can be making changes through the Muslim American community!
Rashad Hussain, a hafiz of the Qur’an and a lawyer was only just recently (3 years ago) named special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to Barack Obama. As envoy, he has sought to expand partnerships between the U.S. and the Muslim world and has been outspoken on the need to combat terrorism, stating in a speech to Muslim Foreign Ministers. He has a masters degree in Islamic Studies along with other degrees.
I haven't chosen a structured career path yet, I'm really focusing on making a difference and being in school. So, inshAllah with the time, it'll be revealed and make more sense to where I'm going to be headed but I hope I can be making changes through the Muslim American community!
Ainee with Hilary Clinton at the Generation Change dinner.
I didn't know I was considered a leader, especially at the age of 19. But I learned that I was chosen because of my poetry and the hardships and struggles I face as a young Muslim Indian-American. So, when the day arrived, my father and I flew out to Washington, D.C. and it was the first time I was visiting but it was beautiful. I'm not going to lie, I felt a little bit like Nicolas Cage in National Treasure! But before the iftar, as the email said, there was an event called Generation Change and this was also the main focus of the event that year. We got to meet and connect to a lot of young Muslims making a change and I was surprised at how many people knew who I was and read my poems. When it was time for the dinner, we were all escorted to the famous Benjamin Franklin Room which was decorated so beautifully. We were all given a table number to sit at when we first arrived and I had a little trouble finding my own table. I asked a very nice lady to help me and she looked at my card and smiled, "You're sitting right at the front with Mrs.Clinton!" and at that moment, my heart was pounding. As if this whole evening didn't feel like a dream to begin with, it was simply mindblowing now.
I found my way to my table and I sat at the end next to the Ambassador of Afghanistan and Argentina. After a few moments, Mrs. Clinton came out and she gave a heartwarming speech about how amazing it was for her to be here with such amazing young Muslim leaders. I was named as one at the end of her speech, then after that, she came down from the podium and came around to shake everyone's hand at our table. When she came to me, she said "You're the poet from Chicago, right?" and I tried to sound calm as possible and replied with a yes. She thanked me for coming and I thanked her for inviting me then dinner begin. A 5 course meal that was fit for any King. After dinner, much of it was a blur...though I managed to get a picture with her.
The following year, I had the privilege of being invited once more and this time it was focused on young Muslim athletes. I got to meet Amir Khan, the pakistani boxer and Kulsom Abdullah, the hijabi weight lifter and the cast of Fordson. It was truly amazing to be surrounded by fellow muslims who were making strides in this world were much of the recent discrimination has been towards us. But inshAllah I hope to be invited again this year but we shall see!
And this is the conclusion of our Muslimah Ainee Fatima. Masha'allah she has accomplished so much at such a young age! She is such a good example to all the Muslim women, as a matter of fact for everyone. We should look at Ainee as a role model to follow your dreams.
-Malak the cat
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1 comments:
MORE POSTS LIKE THIS!!! looking forward to next months girl :-)
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