MEET FAHIMAH THALIB

ON LEANING INTO FAITH AND PURSUING HER PASSIONS

“My crazy is existing in spaces where the hijab is not commonplace.” 

Fahimah boldly takes up space wherever she goes and that’s something we can all be inspired by. Whether she’s a speech therapist or a model, she brings an energy that’s captivating and pulls you in. We had a chat with her about how her life is centred around her faith and how embracing her crazy has opened doors for her that she didn’t think was possible.

MY STORY IS …

I have been sitting on this story for way too long. The truth is, I don’t feel like I belong in a list of Crazy. My life is so basic. I go to work every day, I come home and pass out from exhaustion and while the time away from scrolling on Instagram. Sometimes, I do some modelling, some days I get creative with people who want to collaborate with me, and once in a lifetime, a huge, amazing opportunity like Vogue Singapore comes along. 

I get asked to be in interviews, people want to know my opinion and story, but I feel like I was simply at the right place, at the right time. A right combination of luck and fate. 

Articles tend to paint me as “not your regular model”, maybe because I have a day job that’s totally unrelated to fashion. I’m not complaining about the description. I quite like it to be honest. But I also feel like it’s a little ‘over-glamourised’, Hannah Montana “You get the best of both worlds” angle when I’m totally regular - I don’t pursue modelling full time because the truth is: It’s scary. I’m a 34-year-old hijabi model. It’s not a steady income. I’m accepted now because the hijab is a hot button topic right now. In fashion, truly, one day you’re in and the next day you’re out, overused, too commercialised, too “regular pretty” etc.

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a superstar. I love the stage, I love microphones, I always wanted to sing. I’d watch superstars perform on a stage in awe, singers in a cool music video and I always imagined what it would be like to be in them.

I remember vividly during nursery, I attended the graduation concert for the Kinder children, and they had performances on stage. I told my mother that I really wanted to use the microphone like just, use it you know? My mother, ever the enabler, spoke to the teacher, and believe it or not, the teacher interrupted the concert program and invited me to recite Al-Fatiha (the opener in the Quran) on stage. I was over the moon. 

My cousins and I used to create our own shows, pretended we were in Asia Bagus, or we’d sashay around in our grandmother’s house, pretending we were contestants in Miss Universe. But it was only for play, and only for private consumption. Coming from a fairly traditional background, we were never encouraged to sing, act or dance publicly. In fact, we have always preached the value of modesty - and that included our dressing, our movements, and our voices. 

I’m not sure when my love for fashion started, but clothes and fashion have always been a big part of my life. We own a family business selling textiles and my mother is a great seamstress too. I could always count on her to alter my clothes or make me a nice outfit, even at short notice. I love to stand out in a crowd and Hari Raya with my cousins were always a bit of a fashion show. But I never took fashion too seriously, it’s like playing dress-up and it’s always for fun. 

If you were to ask young Fahimah what she would have liked to pursue, I would have said singing. A pop star gets to sing cool songs, star in their own music videos and wear all the cool clothes. It’s all the fun things rolled into one! 

Modelling started pretty accidental for me. When my cousin Selma was studying Fashion Design in polytechnic, she needed a model for some of her classes. I was a willing volunteer and that was the start of things. I happened to be pretty photogenic, and soon her friends too were using me. They were students on a limited budget and I never expected payment. It was a perfect pairing. 

Years later, Selma started her own modest wear label, Lully Selb, and she asked me to model for her first collection. This was the real start of my modelling career. Soon, I was seeking out other modelling opportunities and likewise, opportunities from other brands started streaming in. 

When the digital creative producer from Vogue Singapore, Vanessa,  approached me for casting, it was rather unexpected. She dropped me a DM on Instagram and I did not even know I was casting for Vogue. In fact, I nearly turned down the opportunity as I could not make it for the original casting date. Vanessa was so accommodating though, she offered to meet me on a public holiday, and I auditioned in the back alley of Suntec City. When they said they were interested in having me do a launch video, I said yes because it seemed like a great opportunity, even though I didn’t have many details. I assumed I would be the token brown hijabi model. It was big news for me when I realised on shoot day that I was the only model on set. It was such a big milestone for me. I never had agency representation before and so to be discovered by Vogue was such a big deal to me personally. 

But when the video finally launched, I didn’t realise it was such a big deal to other people too. It went viral, I gained many followers that week and people were messaging me over Instagram, telling me how proud they felt to see me representing. They were telling me they felt goosebumps when they watched the video, and they felt seen. 

How did you identify your passion and purpose?

As a Muslim, I believe life’s purpose has been clearly delineated, but the means by which we reach that purpose can vary greatly from person to person. The search for passion and purpose is an ongoing process for me, but I count myself lucky to be able to find purpose in the work that I do every day. I graduated from university not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wanted to make a difference and make every day count. I’m grateful that I found a career in speech therapy. As a speech therapist, it gives me great meaning in my life to be able to help people literally find their words and their voice again. I think a lesser-known fact is that speech therapists help people with swallowing difficulties as well, so being able to rehabilitate people to a point where they are able to eat their favourite foods again is also a joy. 

Modelling is a side passion that allows me to get creative. I’ve also started to embrace this somewhat accidental role/purpose of being the “diversity” representation, and I hope people feel seen when they see me in ad campaigns, fashion or stock photos. 

What is it like being an Arab in Singapore? 

As a kid, I did not understand what an Arab was, I did not understand where Yemen was and that my ancestors came to Singapore from generations back.  It was also hard to explain what you are to your friends and people who are not familiar with the race or culture.

Being Arab is being in a small, highly interlinked community. Being a Singaporean Arab of Yemen origin is of course very different from being an Arab living in Yemen. I’ve since learned to embrace and appreciate the richness and complexity of the culture, but I still do feel like a third culture kid - not Arab enough to be considered Arab, and only fitting into that alien “Others” in the CMIO Singapore model.

As a minority within a minority community, I think we’re in a special position to understand the perspective of the various other groups. But as a minority within a minority, people try to fit you into moulds that they understand. I don’t blame them, I tend to agree with whatever label people give me: “Are you Malay/Indian/Pakistani/Mixed?” “Yes”. It saves me from the unnecessary small talk trying to explain what I am.

What were some of the ways that eased the difficulties you faced through your process of self-discovery?

I think having a good network of supportive people; people who can cheer you on, listen attentively and give you their two cents (when appropriate) is always helpful as you find your way and discover yourself. I think having faith and believing in a higher purpose, something beyond yourself can also keep you going when the going gets tough. There are always going to be people who rush you and give unsolicited advice — take it with a grain of salt. Sometimes people may project their own fears, insecurities and expectations. Try not to let it get to you. (Haha! It’s easier said than done, but it can be done.)

For those who feel that they are not able to find the motivation to work towards their purpose, what would your advice be for them?

Have a healthy dose of curiosity and go through life with a great sense of wonder. Ask people questions, have an interest in others and maybe from talking to others, you may become inspired for your own journey. You will find your purpose in the smallest things if you look for it. I discovered speech therapy because I asked a friend how a common friend was doing. I became a model because I loved watching America’s Next Top Model and always wondered if I'd make a good contestant! And I said "yes" to opportunities to build a portfolio and showcase my range. No goal or fantasy is actually too big or insurmountable. If you take baby steps towards it, you will perhaps get somewhere.

Has there been a memorable experience when you felt that you reached through to someone?

As a speech therapist, I love working with patients with aphasia (a communication disorder that affects your ability to comprehend and express language, commonly after a stroke). I feel that my ability to help them with understanding language and communicate again is so rewarding. There have been many, many memorable patients over the years where I feel like I've hit a breakthrough with my patients and helped them to communicate. Some may never learn to understand and express themselves as per their premorbid self, but I know many of them still have important ideas and thoughts to communicate.

With regards to modelling and the hijab, I've had girls tell me that they feel inspired to wear the headscarf when they see me style mine. After the Vogue video, I also had people send me DMs and tell me how they felt so proud to see me represent, how they felt seen, how they had goosebumps watching it. I did not think that I would have such an impact. Honestly, I'm afraid of the role-model position, I think that's a heavy role to carry, but I feel touched when people come and share these with me.

Finally, what is your approach when it comes to self-care and taking care of your mental health?

To be honest, I don't think that I have a specific approach to self-care and taking care of my mental health! I have a support system of friends whom I can rely on and always feel I can chat with and talk about my feelings. I can get quite anxious at times, I try to reason things out and do things one step at a time. Lastly, I always allow myself the indulgence of a good cup of coffee. 

What is your crazy?

My crazy is … existing in spaces where the hijab is not commonplace. 

I don’t know if that’s a crazy if you’re merely existing, you know what I mean? And my crazy is related to the hijab because I feel that it’s the one thing that makes me stand out. It feels like people don’t think a hijabi should be in healthcare (because of how nurses haven’t been able to wear the hijab) and modelling (because it’s deemed as not modest).

photography Revathie Dhanabalan