Hijab in the K-Pop Industry
In an industry built on conformity, wearing hijab was my most radical act of self-expression.
Seoul’s beauty industry is a machine. Perfect skin. Perfect hair. Perfect conformity. As a backup dancer for K-Pop agencies, I was told exactly how to look.
I reverted to Islam at 22. When I started wearing hijab, my agency moved me to choreography — off camera.
But here’s what nobody expected: my choreography got better. Without the pressure of being watched, I focused purely on the art. Three of my routines went viral. Studios started calling.
I’m now the creative director of a dance studio in Gangnam. Every young Muslim girl who walks through my door sees that she doesn’t have to choose.