As a wearer of the niqab, Nouf finds herself navigating through layers of stigma and misunderstanding that often shroud this choice in controversy rather than respect. Through her narrative, she aims to unveil the significance of the niqab beyond its fabric—as an assertion of identity, and a deeply personal decision that demands equal representation and respect. “Why Do I Wear a Niqab?” is not just a question Nouf answers; it also opens the doorway into a dialogue about choice, freedom, and the diverse expressions of individuality. Her story is a testament to the courage it takes to stand firm in one’s beliefs, especially when they are clothed in misconceptions. Even though a majority of Saudi women cover their faces, they still face criticism and a lack of representation online. With Nouf’s experiences and insights, we explore the nuanced realities of women who choose to wear the niqab, challenging stereotypes and celebrating the diversity of personal expression within our communities.
Nouf Al Dossari, a Saudi content creator and videographer, shares a powerful story of resilience. Born with a challenging health condition, she faced a kidney and liver transplant early in life. After moving to Saudi Arabia from the United States in 2020, she wanted to explore her cultural roots and began sharing her journey online. Despite initial struggles and self-doubt, support from loved ones helped her overcome these obstacles. Today, she inspires others through her content, covering everything from her health battles to her cultural explorations. Her journey is a testament to overcoming the many challenges in life and finding one’s voice in the process.
“Back when I was living in the US, my style of clothing was modest streetwear—not an abaya, it would just be my hijab, a jacket with a long, flowy shirt, and jeans. I was exhausted from spending hours trying to find modest outfits in the US, After moving to Saudi Arabia, it was a full relief. I don’t have to worry if an outfit is too revealing, too tight, etc, I have my abaya on and done. I can freely do anything I set my mind to. I feel more freedom being in an abaya, hijab, and niqab than I felt in the US to be very honest with you,” she shared.
In what ways do you feel empowered by your choice to wear the niqab? Are there specific aspects of your life where you feel it enhances your sense of self?
My entire family wears the niqab and it made me feel inspired to wear it as well. In the beginning,, I felt so weird and unsure how to manage and throughout the 2 years of wearing the niqab, I somehow kept losing it in ubercabs, cafes, you name it. It was very difficult, but after getting used to it, I felt a sense of extra protection for myself. I became even more confident having it on, especially when my followers became inspired by it. I had one follower who told me that the only reason she wore a niqab was because she felt inspired by how I carried myself with it. With that, I felt honoured and never believed how much I could inspire someone.
The Niqab was a choice I made on my own, I was never forced and my family is very open to it but they draw the line when it comes to social media presence, which I have learned and understood the reason for. Unfortunately, social media can be a little scary but fun at the same time; it all comes down to how you handle it. Continuing on my journey of content creation, I promised myself to wear my niqab despite the social pressures I receive from my followers asking me to take it off. They always tell me that I should show my face, etc, but I always ask them, are you here to see how I look or my work? That ends the conversation there.
In your experience, how have you seen perceptions change when people get to know you beyond your choice of clothing?
I believe we should always get to know a person before we judge them, because you never know how amazing a person can be unless we take the time to get to know them first. Before I fully opened up about myself on social media, I had people tell me that I was wearing this type of clothing because I was forced or oppressed, etc., when that’s not true. If my choices make me comfortable, then I tune out everyone’s comments. I think we should base people on what they hold that allows them to be creative rather than base them off of what they wear or how they look.
How do you believe our society can better respect and appreciate individual choices in terms of clothing, especially when it comes to modest fashion?
I think in our society, we lack the openness to educate ourselves, and we are too quick to judge; it’s a natural instinct we all hold. Once we begin educating each other on our culture and traditional fashion, it will be a better world to live in. Another idea is trying out other people’s clothing. I am someone who loves to learn about other people’s cultures, and I enjoy trying the food, listening to the music, and dressing up in the traditional attire. It’s absolutely beautiful to experience. I had the honour of experiencing wearing Desi clothing, and it was so breathtaking; I felt like a princess after wearing the traditional dresses. As a society, we should try to be open to experiencing other people’s values; once we allow that, we will gain more knowledge and have a better mindset in the fashion sense.
What would be your message to those who may not understand or may have misconceptions about women who wear the niqab?
I was not forced to wear a niqab, and it didn’t keep me away from anything in life. I am still enjoying life like any other person, I feel absolute comfort and protection while having a niqab on. What you see on the news is 99.9% misinterpreted and false in my opinion. I only suggest that you can better understand the veil by meeting a niqabi and getting to know them better. That way you gain knowledge and build trust.
What would be your advice to fellow niqabis who feel insecure about their choice because of others’ opinions?
If you are thinking about starting to wear a niqab, I only tell you to go for it, and everything will fall into place. With time comes ease, so make sure to have patience and to have lots of faith. If you trust yourself, then that’s all that matters. Don’t listen to those who see negativity, because in life, no matter what you do, someone out there will make sure to find something that they don’t like.
Any final thoughts and messages you’d like to share with our readers?
Don’t change for others; be yourself, be unique, and be bold with every step you take on your path to success. If your dreams and goals are taking forever to reach, it only means you are on the right step. You are not behind, and you are not early; you are exactly where you are meant to be, and you should be proud of that. Most importantly, please don’t compare yourself to other people because that is the worst thing you can do to yourself. You need to understand that your path to success is very different from others’, so focus on you and only on you!
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