Source: Eman Wasef

Eman Wasef is an >Egyptian illustrator who is currently based in Elizabeth, New Jersey, USA.

She hails from the vibrant >city of Alexandria but relocated to the US some time ago.

"As an Arab, Muslim, I have been bullied throughout my whole life, especially when I started wearing the hijab," Wasef told Stepfeed. 

She describes herself as "quiet" and says that "doodling and drawing" helped her become someone else.

"People started seeing me through my drawings. My classmates started voting for me as the most artistic and started noticing more of my art. So that made me want to make my art stand for something," she added.

Below is her incredible art which she uses to empower women:

1. GIRL POWER

Source: Eman Wasef

"I started to focus my art on empowering my culture and empowering women."

2. WARRIOR

Source: Eman Wasef

"I started making art that represented things that were close to my heart which was Egypt and Islam." 

3. ABLED

Source: Eman Wasef

"I attended college and majored in marketing but I didn’t feel happy because that wasn’t me." 

4. BOLD

Source: Eman Wasef

"After a lot of fighting with my parents, they finally let me study something I loved which was, of course, art."

5. FLAWLESS

Source: Eman Wasef

"Subsequently, I started studying illustration and that's when I created Girl Power. At first, it was just an illustration to show that I was a badass Muslim but then it turned into something more." 

6. FLIRTY

Source: Eman Wasef

7. YOUNG

Source: Eman Wasef

"The Girl Power series went on to become a voice. Girl Power is about female empowerment, that you are not the label you are supposed to be, you are not fat, you are not old, you are whoever you want to be." 

8. UNIQUE

Source: Eman Wasef

9. COOL

Source: Eman Wasef

"No matter what kind of woman you are, you are the only one who can define your true self." 

10. FIERCE

Source: Eman Wasef

11. SEXY

Source: Eman Wasef

"Now that I graduated college and realised that I can be a voice for others, I am very excited and look forward to continuing empowering women, my culture and my religion, through my art."

12. DREAMER

Source: Eman Wasef

For more information on Eman Wasef's art, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, or visit her website.

This profile is part of StepFeed's Featured Arabs series, featuring Arabs you should know about. Read previous profiles >here.