Layali: Muslim-American women's magazine

      Muslim women experience a host of challenges in America today. Mixing modesty with fashion is just one among many hot topics of discussion, and was mentioned in an article by PolicyMic earlier this year. Author Reem Nasr stated, "Here's the bottom line: I cover my head not my mind." Part of a thriving American subculture, Muslim communities make up a unique marketing consumer base and present opportunities for industry changes and improvement.                                                                   

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Omama Altaleb and Rawan Elbaba are magazine co-founders of an online magazine called Layali for Muslim-American women and attend George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. Although they were both born and raised in northern Virginia, Altaleb's parents are originally from Iraq and Elbaba's family came from Lebanon exactly 30 years ago.

Altaleb is studying public relations with minors in electronic journalism and conflict analysis and resolution. Her parents and three older brothers visited the United States right before the Iraq-Kuwait war in 1990 and decided to stay. Altaleb said, "They built themselves up from basically nothing, just a couple of suitcases filled with summer clothes, and then three years later had me. It is amazing to see where my family is today; my mom is a full-time professor and all my brothers are married and have master's degrees. Goes to show that if you put in the work, then success will follow."

This mantra has led Altaleb to hold several internships while in college and one in high school with PrimoModa, an online clothing store for Muslim women. She said, "I learned a lot about modest fashion and business. Every professional experience I had taught me something valuable, even if it didn't relate to journalism. However, through my experiences I convinced myself of my passion for journalism and hopefully that is what I plan to pursue and uphold through my future endeavors." Altaleb learned to pursue her dreams regardless of others' opinions or doubts.

Elbaba is studying media production and criticism while pursuing a double minor in electronic journalism and graphic design. She has volunteered at fundraisers, galas and fashion shows, which taught her how to work patiently with people and listen to their opinions. Of her college experience so far, she said, "I've learned a lot about time management [...] You are in control of when and what you need to do it. There is no baby-ing in college. No one will run after you to get your work done."

The pair of young entrepreneurs believe that people shouldn't wait to do something that they love, and that it is never too early or too late to pursue a dream. Elbaba suggested, "When you do something, do so wholeheartedly. Go all out. There's no sense in doing anything if you're not 100% committed."

These girls did do something, even though they're still college students: they started Layali, which means "many nights" in Arabic. Elbaba explained, "The name kind of goes along with our tagline which is 'Change doesn't happen over one night, but many.' Omama and I were the same 'Intro to Journalism' class and I had done a presentation on magazines. After that, she approached me and asked if I wanted to start this online-only, free magazine for young Muslim women in the U.S. Immediately I said yes because I've always wanted to be involved in something that allows young Muslim women in the U.S., like myself and Omama, to be expressive and creative."

Layali's audience is young Muslim women, a demographic that Altaleb and Elbaba believe is currently unreached by the magazine industry. Altaleb said, "Our goal is to give young Muslim women a platform for sharing their stories and experiences with one another as well as sharing their struggles, almost like a community support group, a sisterhood. And because it is online, it is able to reach more people and make a global community." 

The co-founders have learned much through the experience of starting their own e-magazine. Altaleb gained hands-on experience with social media public relations, writing and editing, and has enjoyed being immersed in the world of online journalism. She added, "We also learned more about the community, how the community thinks, what they like, dislike, comfortable, uncomfortable with. Most of all, we learned that it is impossible to please everyone, but as long as we are doing what we can to benefit the community and make the voice of Muslim women heard, then there is no need to dwell on the negative comments."

Collaborating and creating a vision for their magazine required patience, compromise and hard work, but the result was rewarding. They have now published their first online issue, 
http://issuu.com/layaliwebzine/docs/layali_issue_one_final_6.15, covering a wide variety of engaging topics like domestic violence, travel and fashion.

"We have big plans for the magazine," commented Elbaba, "...and hope to lead the community in discussing important issues and challenges we face - domestic violence, abuse, suicide, eating disorders, etc. In the seven months that it has existed, the magazine progressed. When the first issue came out, our audience was fairly small, but it has expanded to thousands of viewers and readers."

Elbaba has ambitious aspirations for Layali. "I'd love to break stereotypes and do work that will hopefully outlive me. I want Layali to have an impact on people, especially on young Muslim women because they have such a strong, powerful voice. They just need a place to showcase that, they need a platform and I have Layali can be that for them."