Loading ...She didn't win MasterChef but Amanda Saab definitely made an impact
Earlier this year Amanda Saab‘s appearance on the popular American reality show MasterChef drew a great deal of media buzz.
Saab, a Lebanese-American food blogger and chef, was hailed as the first hijab-wearing woman to appear on an American cooking show. Although she didn’t win, her appearance on the show definitely worked to dispel a lot of myths about Islam for viewers and fellow contestants.
“When I applied to be a contestant on MasterChef, I did not know what to expect. When I was announced as a contestant, I was absolutely blown away by the amount of support and encouragement I received,” Saab told StepFeed.
“It is incredibly empowering to know that I have inspired others to follow their passion, just by following mine.”
Through her appearance on the show, Saab recognizes that she was able to give viewers and fellow contestants a different perspective on Islam, contrasting the often negative portrayal in mainstream American media.
“I was normalizing Muslims; specifically Muslim women wearing hijab. I was able to demonstrate that Muslim women are not oppressed, are free to express themselves and are able to follow their passions within the guidelines of Islam. Many people believe that Islam is restrictive when in fact it is the opposite. Islam provides the framework and structure to be successful,” she said.
“Many of the contestants shared with me that they had never had the opportunity to have an in depth conversation about Islam with a Muslim. I was approachable and open to answering all of their questions.”
Source: stepfeed.com