INTERVIEW: SHAZ — ASHAMED

With 18.2k on Twitter and four thousand plus followers on Instagram Shaz is a force to be reckoned with. If you’re looking for inspiration, look no further than her Instagram @97.shaz, for a feed filled with artistic shots, fashion galore and iconic makeup looks. As well as being a creative, she uses her platform to speak up and speak out about injustice, and, oh yeah, she’s starred in not one, but two of The 1975’s music video’s (Love It If We Made It & TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME) no biggie though.

Images: (1) The 1975 - Love It If We Made It / (2) The 1975 - TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME

Halima: Some of our writers follow you on Instagram and Twitter and are absolutely obsessed with your fashion and Eid looks! What inspires your fashion and overall style?

Shaz: I would say I get a lot of my inspiration from Instagram hijabis! I think Instagram is the perfect site in connecting and taking inspiration from other creators. My explore page is usually where I get to see different accounts and stumble across other modest fashion bloggers who help with my own personal style.

H: What is your favourite item of clothing that you own?

S: A while ago I went into a vintage store in my town and found a mens Aquascutum blazer in black with the most gorgeous gold button detail. I think originally this blazer was around £300-£400 but I managed to get it for £35!! I’d say currently that is my favourite item of clothing because I feel like it gives me that structured, 80’s, masculine look that I adore.

H: Your fashion (is amazing), and can also be quite political. Do you think fashion should be political? Do you think fashion is political enough?

S: That’s the first time I’ve ever had my fashion described as political! I think particularly for western hijabis, our fashion can be seen as a political declaration that tells the world our hijabs and our burkas aren’t as oppressive as people think they are. Though I can acknowledge that it is not the case for many women in some countries, I want to take advantage of me being in a liberal society to express my love for fashion while showing people I can be modest too. As for whether I think fashion is political enough I think you can never be too political - there’s always something to fight for.

H: My apologies, I should have written this question better, but your interpretation of the question & answer is so interesting. I meant more-so the way you wear and style political graphic tees.

S: I do have some graphic tees that I would say are quite political. Two of my favourites being ‘Why be racist, sexist, homophobic or transphobic when you could just be quiet?’ and ‘Still Hate Thatcher.’ The first one I got when I saw Frank Ocean wearing it!! I instantly tried to find it online and saw that there was a cheaper version on eBay; the top is pretty self-explanatory really: why be any of those disgusting things when we’re living in 2019 and working towards a more accepting and diverse society? Such backward ideals just don’t belong in society anymore. As for the ‘Still Hate Thatcher’ t-shirt, I’ll just keep it brief and say that there’s a reason why the phrase ‘ding dong the witch is dead’ is referred to her to this day.

H: Going through your Instagram, you clearly have an eye for art, fashion & photography, do you see yourself doing something along those lines, doing something creative in the future?

- I do actually have a side Instagram account (@shaz.jpeg) for my photography! I’m a complete amateur and so far I’ve only taken them on cheap disposables but I like it as a hobby for sure. Right now I’m more focused on my uni studies but I’m keeping my eyes and ears open for any opportunities that may arise which could allow me to work in some of the fields I’m interested in!

H: I first became aware of you through The 1975’s music video’s Love It If We Made It & TOOTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME- what was the experience of filming like? What did you gain from the experience?

S: The entire experience still feels like a fever dream if I’m honest. The filming was terrifying and I still cringe when I remember my atrocious dance moves haha! But the experience was something I could have never ever dreamed of; I got to see one of my idols; I made a group of friends who I adore; and the support I received from other Muslim fans who said they felt represented in the video just made me feel like I did do something right (and cool!).

H: As a young woman of colour who is becoming quite a force on social media, what kind of change would you like to see on there- or in the media in general?

S: I think I could write a novel on the things I wish I could change in the media but I think one of them would be having more diversity in film and the fashion industry. I find that these industries are still very set on the ideal Western White woman image and for women of colour like myself, I just can’t relate to a person who I have no connections with. I have seen a significant change in the representation of POC’s on social media however, but I think there can always be more and there should be more.

H: I know you’re a kpop stan (like myself!), who would you say are some of your favourite groups and who got you into this genre?

S: I remember I used to be one of those people who dismissed kpop for a long time but I think the first few groups I listened to were BTS, Big Bang, Seventeen, and Hyukoh. One of the things that drew me to kpop was the attention to detail in their concepts and music videos - particularly with BTS. The past few years I’ve discovered more and more groups and bands and even some of my friends have turned into the biggest kpop fans!

H: Outside of kpop, what other artists are you listening to/ deserve more recognition?

S: Other artists I listen to are Lorde, The Night Cafe, Wallows, Brockhampton, Harry Styles, Muna, Turnover, Frank Ocean - there’s so many more but I’d say those ones are in my current rotation right now! I’ve recently gotten into The Night Cafe and I’d say they deserve a lot more recognition - their new album is amazing!

H: When you post selfies (especially on Twitter), I sometimes see gross ass men commenting on your appearance, especially on your unibrow. How do you deal with the constant policing of your appearance as a woman of colour online and in real life? What would your advice be to other women of colour having their appearance policed?

S: It’s taken me many years to finally just stop giving a crap about what people think about me - online and in real life. Self-love and acceptance is a tough battle I feel like many women face every day and it’s definitely one I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. My advice for all my honey’s of colour out there would be to say F the people who only seem to value Westernised standards of beauty and that we should all come together and uplift one another on the unique characteristics that make us who we are. We shouldn’t be ashamed of looking different.