I usually ignore nasty comments on social media because it’s an anticipated challenge that comes with sharing anything online - but lately I’ve gotten an increasing number of comments, particularly from other women, with critiques about how I choose to live my life. Just this past month, I’ve gotten dm’s saying I don’t dress appropriately, that I’m an embarrassment to my cultural community, and that I’ll go to hell for speaking about topics I am passionate about. I grew up in a community that was particularly judgmental and critical of me as a young girl. There was gossip about what all the young girls were doing - from their school outfits and coursework, to who they hung out with and how religious they were. It was unfair to the girls in the community (boys were pretty immune to these critiques) and ended up causing conflict and unnecessary competition between them at a young age. I was so excited to leave that behind when I moved to NYC, and move forward in a mature and supportive way. I was determined to uplift women and support their happiness - whatever that might look like for them. I want to make it clear that I believe cultural and religious beliefs are deeply personal, and people should be free to express themselves however they feel comfortable. We have no right to interfere with how other people are living if it isn’t harming anyone else. I try to lead my life with kindness, and bring happiness to the people around me. I’m not claiming to be a perfect role model for anything - whether that’s modesty, religious beliefs, politics, or anything else. If what I do bothers you, you don’t have to follow along. I am someone who supports women dressing however is empowering to them (whether that’s rocking an abaya or a bikini at the beach), having kids or staying single and solo-traveling the world, and advocating for the topics they believe in whether that’s LGBTQ rights or religious freedom. There’s enough love and kindness for everyone. I encourage you to let people live their lives however they want to - and you should do the same. 💜