“All I want is to share the beauty of the amazing ballet art form,” says fourteen year-old Stephanie Kurlow. “And inspire other young people who maybe don’t feel so confident to follow their dreams due to the outfits they wear, religious beliefs or lack of opportunities.”
Stephanie has a simple goal, she wants to be the first hijabi ballerina in the world. Talking about her faith, the poised teenager says, “Everything made sense for me in Islam. I like to be modest and I like to keep my dignity. I like to know the purpose of my life. I like to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid harmful things.”
The young ballerina not only has the smarts but she has the talent, last year she was awarded the Most Inspirational Young Star in Sydney’s Youth Talent Smash competition, yes while wearing the hijab. She is inspired by trailblazing women — African-American ballerinas Michaela DePrince and Misty Copeland, Amna Al Haddad who is the first hijabi Emirati weight lifter and Noor Tagouri, the first hijabi news anchor on American television.
