With the project part of a broader shift of collectives reinventing tired narratives of British Muslim women, such as Project Ribcage and Change The Script, it’s never been more pressing to celebrate their achievements, given that Muslim women are already at a disadvantage in the workforce.

In 2016, the UK Women and Equalities Committee found Muslim women were three times more likely to be unemployed than women generally. Those in the workforce face multiple challenges: many feel they have to prove they don’t conform to stereotypes, while others dread being told to uncover their hair or face unemployment, a concern that feels particularly pertinent after last March’s controversial ruling that headscarves can be banned at work.

Particularly poignant is the shoot’s celebration of the diversity of Muslim women when the community has long grappled with anti-blackness. After all, as Khan says: “Islam transcends culture, ethnicities and nationalities.”

Ahead, participants discuss their experiences of taking part in the shoot, why it’s so important and the impact this might have on young Muslim women.

The photo series dispelling the myth that Muslim women can’t be career-orientated