Last year, international pop-star Yuna added model to her crowded resume as she became the face for Uniqlo’s first hijab line in the UK. “Muslim girls, we love fashion! Whether we wear the hijab or not – it’s our choice – and it’s time the industry took note. Finally, fashion stores are open to that idea,” says the singer and fashion icon. “There’s a lot of buying power from the Middle East. Girls from Dubai want to be able to wear Asos, and you have people travelling all the way to the States just to go shopping.”
Yuna says there’s one key to the perfect hijab – material. “You have to find the right one according to how you like to style your scarf. So for me, I like wearing the turban, so I would need something that’s not so slippery. So satin isn’t a good choice for me but the sheen on it is really nice, so you can tie a head wrap with those kinds of materials and use some pins to help you out…. I like viscose, and cotton works really well. Stay away from thick materials.”
Five years ago, Yuna came to Los Angeles to work in the music industry where she refused to compromise on her modesty and faith. “Normally, if you’re a girl doing [pop music], you have to be ‘pretty’ – meaning showing off your body, your hair. That’s a normal thing. I get it, I have nothing against it, but it’s just not me.”
To date, Yuna has released three critically acclaimed albums, and has worked with Pharrell and DJ Premier. She sings in English and Malay, and performs sold out shows in London and Singapore. She landed on the US Billboard R&B chart with “Crush,” a duet she performed with Usher.
