After the horrific December San Bernardino attacks, Muslim teen Zarifeh Shalabi, who lives in nearby Fontana, was urged to stay home, her family worried for her safety and possible backlash. Cut to six months later, and Zarifeh was crowned Prom Queen of Summit High School after her non-Muslim friends campaigned for her. And we’re talking about an aggressive campaign. Many friends wore hijabs in solidary, and even had balloons printed with “Don’t be a baddie, vote for the hijabi.”
“We saw it as a chance to do something good, to represent something good,” says classmate, Sarahi Sanchez. “This was a way to prove we don’t have problems with bullying or racism.”
Zarifeh says her win proves that “they don’t see me as a threat. They see me as their friend.”
