Sebina Hussain is an influential content creator, digital marketing consultant, and a mother of three. For over a decade she has been creating content to inspire and empower, advocating for positive representation of Muslim women in the social media industry.

Recently, Sebina has been appointed as an Ambassador for Muslim Women’s Network UK, where she will lead the Muslim Creators Network. This new network aims to connect, unify and empower British Muslim creatives. In an exclusive Q&A with MWN Hub, she shares her journey into content creation and the importance of individual agency against societal misconceptions.   

Being a social influencer has over the years become popular with many seeing this as more of a career. Did you start with the intention of becoming an influencer or did this happen over time?

It was never my intention to become one. I made an Instagram account whilst studying for my post graduate degree, it was just an app to scroll through during lectures, but I started sharing pictures of what I was up to at university and what I was wearing (I was very new in my hijab journey back then). Within 6 months I had 10,000 followers and slowly brands started reaching out.  

Social media influencer wasn’t a realistic job back in 2016/2017, so it all kind of happened by accident.  Over time, I’ve been fortunate enough to turn what began as a simple creative hobby into a full-time career, collaborating with brands I admire.

What did you want to promote through your content creation?

Initially it was to find women who looked like me, to share ways to dress or tips on make up because I never saw myself represented in mainstream advertising or storytelling. It was just a small corner of the internet to connect with women I resonated with.

How do you choose your style of content and who is your target audience?

I never consciously chose a specific style of content. But after nearly a decade of creating, consulting for some of the world’s leading beauty brands, and working on countless campaigns, I can now see my content style clearly.

The core of what I create is centred on creating safe spaces for marginalised voices, and empowering, uplifting and inspiring women to feel confident, seen, and celebrated.

While my audience naturally includes British women - with South Asian, Muslim women, and mothers often resonating with my perspective - my content ultimately speaks to all women.

How would you describe the relationship with your followers?

I would say it’s a deeply personal, emotionally safe and uplifting relationship. I get DMs from followers telling me about their life problems and at events I’ve hosted with consumers - I’m always surprised at how open people are with their personal problems.

I’ve always made the effort to reply to comments and DMs taking the time to send someone a voice note or long message when they reach out with a problem or issue. I would like to think they see me as an older sister or cousin, or that friend in the office who they can go to for help and advice. 

How do you balance your personal life with social media - determining the fine balance between private and public?  

I have gotten better over the years but it is a definite struggle. Having faith helps hugely, prayer is a constant reminder that platforms like mine come with privilege and responsibility. So I try to be mindful of what my duties as a Muslim women are, and try to stay within those remits when it comes to boundaries online. 

Have you experienced any criticism/negativity online and how have you managed this?

Yes, many times over the years. Sometimes it broke me, it made me want to give up this as a career, especially when I was pregnant or post-partum and emotionally vulnerable. But being surrounded by people who ground me, but also believe in me, is super helpful because it’s a constant reminder that negativity online comes from people who don’t actually know you; just the version of you they have interpreted from snippets you’ve shared online. 

Have you experienced any trolling or hate due to your faith? Has the negativity impacted your identity as a hijabi?

Yes, I have had to take action to block a lot of anti-Islamic key words because I use to get a lot of islamophobia comments online and it was awful for my mental health. I block specific words from comments and DMs and block specific profiles form my pages.

Being a Muslim woman who has over the years amassed over 400k followers on Instagram, do you feel the pressure of representation, particularly in terms of balancing authenticity with the expectations of those who look up at you as role model?

All the time. I have Muslim friends who are creators and often find most of them are not held to the same standards as I am. If even a little bit of my hair shows, certain people on my community will respond harshly towards me than to a creator who always shows a bit of hair.

I think being able to have a seat at tables or be in rooms where there is little to none Muslim representation, and having done all that without comprising on the way I look or my beliefs - has shown many women they don’t need to change who they are to follow their dreams and so often what happens is, if I’m not being Muslim enough for certain people, they get offended because I guess they felt such a personal connection. 

Similarly, as you are recognised for your lifestyle and beauty tips, do you feel the pressure of having to create content and to be on trend?

Absolutely and I’ll be honest, I really dislike that pressure. I hate the trends and I hate the algorithm. I’m not a performer, but content has increasingly become about performing. For me, creating has always been about art, and art looks different for me every single day.

Some days, my art is simply my life as a British Muslim mum, what I’m wearing, how I’m moving through my routine, the softness of everyday moments. Other days, that art comes from a deeper place: channelling generational trauma into poetry, turning the sting of Muslim hate into a painting, expressing the parts of myself that don’t fit neatly into a viral trend.

But the online space doesn’t feel like it has room for that kind of honest, evolving creativity anymore. It’s constantly shifting, and the pressure to keep up can be suffocating. I really hope the landscape changes again - back to a place where the message matters more than the metrics, where creators can be artists instead of performers, and where there is space for authenticity over algorithmic conformity.

Congratulations on becoming an Ambassador for Muslim Women’s Network UK. What would you like to achieve in this role?

I’m extremely privileged to have access to a diverse network and to be connected with women from a wide range of backgrounds. My hope is to bring together women across different sectors of society, both Muslims and allies, to openly discuss the challenges we’re facing as a country, and to explore the meaningful contributions we can make as women with influence.

Ultimately, I want to play a role in reshaping the narrative around what it means to be a British Muslim woman today. As a hijabi, I’m acutely aware of how often we are misunderstood or viewed through the lens of oppression. I want to help shift that perception by amplifying our stories, our leadership, and our agency.

 What’s the next big goal you’re working towards?

Uniting creators within the digital space.