Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim....




The Mujahada in Prada

Thursday, May 6, 2010

~The Unlikely Hijabi~

aSalaam uAlaikum and Good Morning My Stylish Sisters!

I have missed you all soooo much! Insh'Allah everything is well with all of you and your families.  I am sitting here sipping my cup of coffee, enjoying a beautiful morning in the eye of the storm before I get swept up in the whirlwind that I call my life.

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I am a huge Lakers fan.  And anyone who knows the Lakers well,  knows Kobe Bryant and his amazing basketball skills.  But, did anyone know that he is an undercover hijabi?

Not really of course, but he DID recently participate in a controversial photoshoot that was released in this last weekend's Los Angeles Times where he is wearing white from head to toe, and wearing a scarf wrapped as a hijab in a couple of the pictures.

If you haven't seen the pictures, take a look:



Now, you would think that both of these pictures would cause a bit of a stir, maybe some criticism or even conversion rumors about Kobe coming to Islam.  Although men who wear a keffiyah or huta often throw it over their shoulders while working or just to keep it out of their way, it is not common practice for a man to tie it in such a manner as in this shoot.  What is most interesting to me, though,  is the fact that the picture that has created the biggest stir is not the "hijab" pictures, but this one:
In fact, Kobe was quoted as saying the pictures were "a little too artsy" but mainly complained about the cover picture as being too "doctored up" and photoshopped, he has made no mention of the pictures wearing the scarf. Honestly, when I picked up my Sunday paper and saw this insert I had absolutely no idea that it was Kobe until further examination.

Reviews about these pictures have been mixed. Some say they are horrible, ESPN anchors teased Kobe relentlessly after Tuesday's game, others even claiming they are racist. Personally, I think they show a very artistic, fashion-forward, and en-vogue side of a celebrity figure we normally see in a jersey and sneakers. I also think it was pretty brave of him to do such a styled shoot, and it shows how comfortable he is in his own skin. I don't think he has any certain future in being a supermodel, but it was a wonderful attempt to show an alternate side of an outstanding athlete.

So tell me ladies, what do you think? Do these pictures interest you?
Disgust you?
Appeal to you?
Offend you?
Let me know, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Ma'Salaama and GO LAKERS!

Fashionably Yours,
The (Purple and Gold-wearing) Mujahada in Prada