Meet Sally Al-Rawi

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Al-Rawi

Hi Sally, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up back in the late 90’s — early 2000’s in Iraq, Baghdad, as a 4-year old little girl, I sat in the evening at my grandparents house, in front of that iconic “Vintage Tv with Antenna” that ALMOST every household had and endlessly admired the iconic Models on the runway shows and daydreamed that I would be able to do that too when I grow up.

UNTIL I was struck by “The Lightening of Cultural Beliefs” and that it is “IMPOSSIBLE and SHAMEFUL” to
do such thing, especially coming from a Middle Eastern background.

That childhood dream was gone with the wind, got lost as the years went by, and one day, it CAME back, shinning like a vibrant rainbow in my mind and heart. Suddenly, I couldn’t help but to reignite that passion back into my life and started to pursue Modeling.

It was not an easy journey at all. Challenging cultural beliefs and norms, going against the grain and breaking free out of “The Tight Box of Limitations”
that society has customized for us to fit in, while we were born to stand out.

However, this did not stop me!
Each and every one of us has a
“God-Given Gift”. Some were lucky enough to embrace and pursue it in this lifetime, while others buried it beneath the self-limiting beliefs, projections, and limitations of others.

So, this is why I do what I do today.
I want to be a “Source of Inspiration”
to those around me, & ESPECIALLY women who come from the same background that I come from, women wearing the headscarf.

I want to show them the possibility of having a dream come true. That you can be RAW, AUTHENTIC, and simply YOU, while believing in whatever it is that you believe in. That you NEVER have to sacrifice who you are, your morals, values, essence, and beliefs in order to fit in or even please anyone other than the creator. That you can simply be elegant, beautiful, and MODEST at the same time, while pursuing your dreams and passions.

Lastly, I want to be a “Walking Masterpiece”, a work of art, vibrating with many different colors, fabrics, admired for my authenticity and uniqueness, while incorporating my passion for art and creativity into the world of fashion, the same way an Artist’s canvas is admired at a museum.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey towards embracing my individuality and authenticity as a headscarf Muslim Arab-American
woman Artist has not been easy at all.

Challenging societal, cultural norms and beliefs both in the Eastern and Western societies took years of discomfort, outgrowing past versions of myself,
and gaining the confidence to be unapologetically loud about my unique identity, while carrying a very important message behind my work and that is doing what I love for the sake of “Influencing and Empowering Women”’who come from a similar background that I come from.

One of the BIGGEST driving forces behind overcoming those challenges, is that I have a message, purpose, and a mission to influence others in a positive and an empowering manner.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a freelance Artist, based between Michigan and New York City. My work mainly revolves around Editorial Fashion and Beauty Modeling. For the past 7 years, I have worked with many different Local Fashion Brands, collaborated with other Creatives, and International Artists as well.

Back in June 2023, I was selected for an Acting Role in New York for an Arabic short film that I was very pleased to be apart of and that will be released on movies and t.v platforms very soon.

I also attend Wayne State University, and currently pursuing my Bachelors degree in Psychology and looking forward to furthering my education and becoming a Clinical Psychologist.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The fashion industry is constantly changing and designers are always keeping everyone on edge with their incredible and unpredictable fashion designs and trends.

As far as shifts, I am definitely starting to see more acceptance, inclusivity as well as diversity within the Modeling Industry and it makes me truly happy, that women of color, headscarf, cultural backgrounds, and minorities like myself and many others, FINALLY have a space to express their uniqueness, individuality, as well as their sense of fashion style.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://linkfly.to/303068GdSMr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sally_alrawi_/