We recently connected with Zaynah Ayan and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zaynah, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my mother—the most selfless and compassionate woman I know. She was my first real example of a person who strives to be a beacon of kindness in a world that may not always be so kind. My mom sacrificed a lot to make sure my siblings and I had a wonderful childhood despite our impoverished circumstances. I never knew how dire our situation was because she greatly shielded us from those hardships. Even as the oldest daughter of five children, I was never overburdened with responsibilities growing up. My mom wanted me to enjoy being a kid.

I had the enriching experience of being homeschooled by my mother until college. Her dedication to my development went beyond just academics; she nurtured my emotional well-being and gave the best life advice. She fully believed in me no matter what path I chose. Her guidance and unwavering support inspired me to develop a passion for teaching and advising others. I felt a calling to pay it forward and help other young women navigate their journeys with the same warmth and wisdom my mom bestowed upon me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a recent graduate with a Master of Science in Sociology and a passion for helping others through teaching. Aside from being a mother to a wonderful toddler, I channel my energy into creating content that empowers young women, especially Muslim girls, to become the best versions of themselves. A lot of girls in our society are raised to put themselves last and prioritize everyone else. Through my content on Instagram and TikTok, I offer advice and cover topics such as breaking free from people-pleasing, building confidence, setting boundaries, and trusting one’s intuition. Having recovered from people-pleasing myself, I’ve embarked on an extensive journey of inner work to reach the positive space I’m in today. Of course, self-improvement is a continuous process. My ultimate goal is to reach as many young women as possible and inspire them to start the process to transform their lives and relationships for the better.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Having been raised in poverty, I was determined to dig my family out of it. I knew pursuing a higher degree might make it a little easier to reach that goal, so I set my sights on graduate school. Long story short—I discovered I was expecting during the process of filling out applications and began my graduate program with a beautiful one-month-old newborn. My son was my favorite classmate.

During the first year of my graduate program, I went through a divorce. One of the toughest years of my life, to say the least. But, I persevered as a full-time mommy, full-time graduate student, and part-time lecturer. I now reminisce on that time with fondness knowing that I was being protected by God. God blessed me to see my worth, stay true to myself and my beliefs, and ultimately heal, while simultaneously nourishing my precious baby and juggling academic stress. I knew I had to make tough decisions in order to become the best version of myself for my son, who deserves a healed mommy.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Social media has its cons but it can be a huge blessing when used with intention. My hope is for my content to be part of the positive side of social media that inspires and uplifts.

I’ve experienced pain and heartbreak, I’ve had insecurities, and I know what it feels like to put your own needs on the back burner. My mission is to use my platform to reach women who have had similar experiences and show them that they aren’t alone and that it is possible to completely turn their lives around. If I could do this, so can anyone else.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @TrulyZaynah http://instagram.com/trulyzaynah
• TikTok: @TrulyZaynah https://www.tiktok.com/@trulyzaynah?lang=en

Image Credits
Zaynah Ayan