Today we’d like to introduce you to Salma Al-Shuqairat.
Hi Salma, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Provo, UT as a Muslim-Arab girl is not for the weak. Whether it was my dark, unpredictable curls that attracted unwanted attention or the downturn of my nose that fueled my insecurities, all of my features appeared to be in overwhelming contradiction with those of my peers. In hindsight, I now understand that my lack of confidence in my Arab features was reflected by a deeper uncertainty of my identity. The summers I spent in my home country, Jordan, would further exacerbate this uncertainty, as I was deemed too “Westernized” in Jordan and too “foreign” in Utah. I felt disconnected from both my homes and rejected by both my communities. My sense of alienation was further amplified by the lack of women in the media who shared similar features to mine. This feeling of underrepresentation eventually inspired me to seriously consider the possibility of pursuing a modeling career at 15 years old.
At this point in my life, I had finally started to grow into my features and learn how to embrace them. I had received my first curly haircut, removed my braces, and was finally becoming more comfortable in my own skin. As a sophomore in high school, my life felt incredibly mundane, so pursuing a modeling career seemed like a fun and silly way to shake things up.
I never expected to actually become a model. The idea had felt so ludicrous that I expected my parents to immediately shut it down. However, much to my surprise, they were incredibly supportive. According to them, modeling would be a great way to grow both my confidence and my character. Their immediate support and faith in me gave me a newfound hope in myself, allowing me to fully consider a future that I hadn’t ever dreamed of before. As the discussion continued, we determined that if I were to model, I would need to establish and abide by specific modesty standards. The value of modesty was always emphasized during my childhood, and although I had an imperfect relationship with it at times, it only made sense to set modesty standards. However, I knew that these standards would add to the difficulty of pursuing a modeling career. You don’t really hear about “modest models,” because models usually model anything. I was worried that by committing to modesty standards, I would be setting myself up for failure.
In December 2021, eager to learn more about modeling, I attended a modeling workshop in SLC taught by Sierra Rose, a professional model. Sierra generously shared her contact information with me and offered continuous support throughout the following year as I began my career. She advised me against signing with any agencies and encouraged me to start freelancing, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. Moreover, she assured me that modeling with modesty standards would not be troublesome in the slightest; in fact, it would help me connect with the right people— those who genuinely respected my values.
Incorporating these modesty standards into my life was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Not only have they strengthened my character and deepened my spiritual connection with God, but they encouraged me to truly appreciate the value of modesty and inspired me to incorporate it in all aspects of my life. They sparked a passion within me to merge modesty with the art of fashion, helping me discover ways to express myself and feel beautiful without compromising my values. I am immensely grateful for the experiences and growth that these decisions have provided me with, and I am able to look back at each one without an ounce of regret.
Fast forward to today, January 9th 2025: I can officially call myself a professional (part-time) freelance model. I have modeled in exactly 101 photoshoots, walked in 4 fashion shows, and have been published in 4 fashion magazines. I presented about my modeling career at 3 various university events and have worked with a total of 36 clients in the past few years. I model with modesty standards (avoiding clothing that exposes my shoulders or belly and falls above my knees) and I even model the hijab part-time, until I become a hijabi in the near future. I can wholeheartedly say that I love my job. I’m grateful that I’m able to progress through my career without sacrificing my personal comfort and values. It brings me so much joy to know that I’ve already inspired several Arabs, Muslims, and aspiring models to pursue their own careers. I admire the incredible people I’ve met in this industry, who have shown me what it means to work hard, persevere, and embrace everything that is unique and creative about themselves.
Reflecting on the past few years of my modeling career, I’m amazed at how far I’ve come. At just 18, I can confidently say that I would be an entirely different person today if I hadn’t taken that leap of faith at 15. It was through this journey that I developed the essential traits I needed to strengthen my character and grow in all aspects of my life. Learning to embrace my Arab features, which I once diminished, translated into a deep appreciation for my culture and heritage. Feeling like I didn’t belong in either Utah or Jordan has transformed into a source of pride, as I now cherish my unique look, experiences, and beliefs. On top of that, I learned how to establish and uphold my personal standards, and how to advocate for myself in difficult situations. And lastly, I’ve strengthened my confidence, which has enhanced all areas of my life. Knowing that I am capable of becoming closer to the person I had always dreamed of being motivates me to continue working hard and dreaming big. Even though I’m not a household name in the beauty industry, when I measure success by the growth I achieved, I can proudly say that I have succeeded.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
While I consider my modeling career to have been a remarkably blessed and smooth journey, I’ve faced several challenges along the way that extend beyond the typical struggles of balancing a busy schedule and overcoming the fear of failure. One of the first obstacles I encountered was my young age. At newly 16, I lacked the experience and knowledge necessary to start my own business and navigate the industry. However, I was incredibly fortunate to have Sierra Rose, a professional model, generously offer me her expertise and provide me with clear guidance on how to pursue freelance modeling. Despite extensive research, this type of insight wasn’t available online, so I am deeply grateful for Sierra’s support.
Another challenge related to my age was establishing credibility. As a teenager with limited experience, many professionals were hesitant to work with me, assuming I might be too immature and unprofessional. One of the most challenging aspects was learning how to present myself professionally, both online and in-person, while still being myself. But with time, observation, and careful progress, I eventually found a way to balance the two.
I was also surprised to discover the essential role that social media marketing plays in a freelance model’s career— particularly in networking, booking gigs, and advertising one’s work. Most correspondence is done through Instagram, which emphasizes the importance of building a professional profile that’s both engaging and a good representation of one’s brand. I also quickly learned that the greater the Instagram following, the greater the chances of getting booked. However, building that following has proven to be quite a slow and difficult process, so I deeply appreciate when people engage with my content to boosts its exposure and reach.
Another unexpected challenge worth mentioning was the significant amount of driving required for photoshoots. Unfortunately, I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 17, which meant that for my first 39 shoots, I relied on my mom, dad, or older brother for transportation. I especially owe a huge thanks to my brother, Amer, who drove me to nearly half of those shoots—many of which were scheduled for 8 a.m. or were two hours away. We spent countless hours on long car rides together, and he would patiently wait during my shoots, only to drive me back afterward. I am insanely grateful for him and his unwavering support. He has always been my number one cheerleader.
My mom also deserves a special shoutout. Her faith in me was unwavering and her support absolutely invaluable. Not only would she find time in her already busy schedule to drive me to shoots, but till this day she offers me words of motivation whenever I feel discouraged and answers every excited, post-shoot phone call. I simply would not have made it anywhere without my family’s love and support.
Lastly, one of the more consistent struggles has been the loss of work opportunities due to my modesty standards. I often have to turn down photoshoots because the wardrobe that the brands require conflict with my values. While it’s disappointing to miss out on some incredible opportunities, especially those offering good pay and exposure, I’ve come to realize that any achievement earned at the cost of my personal standards would be unfulfilling. It would be devastating to sacrifice such a fundamental part of myself in the pursuit of hollow success.
I genuinely believe that with each brand rejection, several more and better opportunities arise. Not only that, but when sharing my standards, I have only ever been met with the utmost kindness and respect. I discovered that when you are confident in your standards, people will desire to meet them. Utah’s modeling industry has been incredibly supportive of me and my beliefs, and I feel truly privileged to be part of such a welcoming and uplifting community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a professional freelance model located in Utah. I model with modesty standards and the hijab-part time. I’m originally from Jordan, although I have roots from all over the Arab Peninsula. I grew up between Utah and Jordan, and love each of my homes. I’m known for my curly hair, my young age, and my commitment to my values. Whenever I can, I love to work with other creatives to create art, through the mediums of fashion, photography, and visual storytelling. I also love to work with brands all over Utah, promoting unique products and bringing visions to life.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My modeling career would not have been possible without several people in my life— ranging from family and friends to people I’ve met along the way. To each person I mention: I am incredibly grateful for you. This career means so much more to me than just a job, it has truly been such an enriching, transformative journey. Thank you.
Of course, I must begin by crediting my mom. Her genuine faith in me and daily support have never gone unnoticed—- whether it’s the “guess what” updates, meaningful conversations, or post-photoshoot debriefs, she has always been there for me. Her presence, alone, enhances each success.
Any smart financial decisions I have made or scary negotiations I’ve initiated are all attributed to my dad. He helps me with the dirty work– as in politely asking brands to pay me for working overtime and establishing appropriate rates. He has also paid for many gas tanks, which I very deeply appreciate.
My older brother, Amer, is someone I owe a lot of my success to. He spent hours driving me to shoots during my first year of modeling and he comments on my posts when I tell him to. He truly is one of my #1 supporters, and I am so, so grateful for him.
My little sister, Laila, constantly humbles me by making fun of me, which unfortunately does the trick. Occasionally she’ll drop a compliment or two which I know are meaningful because they’re so rare. (I had to include her in this or else she’d get sad for not getting a shoutout.)
Katya Baxter: Katya was the first person I turned to for advice about my modeling career. She was another student at my high school who had done some modeling, so I reached out to her with several questions. She was incredibly kind and supportive, offering me plenty of helpful info. She also reassured me that it was possible to work as a model while maintaining modesty standards. I truly appreciate her so much. Her welcoming presence and genuine faith in me made her the perfect mentor for my insecure, yet still hopeful, 15-year-old self.
Sierra Rose: Sierra is the main reason I am a working model today. She basically taught me everything—she told me what to do and how to do it. Despite having no obligation to, she was always there, replying to my messages and calls with thoughtful advice. I simply wouldn’t have made it anywhere without Sierra; her generosity will always be appreciated.
Ava Tullis: Ava is one of my best friends and practically my social media manager at this point. She helps me decide which photos to post, which captions are funny, and even the order of pictures in each post. She even helps me brainstorm content ideas and holds me accountable for creating them. Every time I get booked for a cool shoot we get excited together, and after every shoot we facetime to debrief together. I love her dearly and am so, so grateful for her.
Sam Howard: Sam, my other best friend, has also been incredibly supportive throughout my career. Before I got my license, she even drove me to a couple of shoots and cheered me on the entire time. She would film behind-the-scenes content just because she knew I’d appreciate it. She was always willing to drive me anywhere, and her company was priceless. And most importantly, her hard work in curating funny, creative, and personalized comments for each of my posts has never gone unnoticed. 11/10 humor.
In addition to these people, I must give special thanks to the first few photographers who worked with me, such as Claire Oakes, Sierra Hastings, and Anne Healey, and the first few brands that hired me, such as Fehrnvi, Shop Holley, and Shine Cosmetics. Thank you for having faith in me and giving me the chance to help execute your visions.
I truly appreciate every individual I have worked with and each person who has supported me. Whether you’ve been following my journey from the very beginning or have recently been a part of it, I am so, so grateful. Thank you.
Contact Info:
- Website: tambourine-prism-2dhw.squarespace.com
- Instagram: salma.alshuqairat
