Today we’d like to introduce you to Samira Jafari
Hi Samira, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is Samira. I was born and raised in Iran ,An Islamic ideologic country which women has to follow certain rules in order to be accepted in the society.
Women don’t have equal rights as men,most importantly in what they wear and how they look ,for example they have to wear hijab according to the government rules So I grew up in this culture, but I never fully accepted these rules.
I studied public health in medical university but I never worked in that field ,So when I graduated from the university I started fashion designing courses because I always was passionate about fashion and design and I made some designs which were kind of edgy ,different and unique styles and they were the first steps that I took in order to start my fashion journey.
I’m coming from a very traditional family so I always had disagreements from my parents for some of my wardrobe choices and my styles but obviously they couldn’t stop me.
After I got married I was in a relationship with my husband who wanted to control the way I look and dress , but I fought a lot to be remain as me as who I am.
I lost my father in a tragic accident and right after that, I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis known as MS, which is an auto immune disease which happens technically for no reason so they haven’t found any particular reason or cure for that until this day ,how lucky I am to be chosen!
for a year or two I was kind of stuck in between denial and acceptance of my situation .
One day a famous neurologist told me that I should expect to be end up on a wheelchair and I should just take it easy and live my life and hope for the best but that wasn’t me from that day I decided that I’m not going to live my life as a sick person then I said to myself:ok I have this condition I live with it and I’m going to live it to my best.
So
I start working on my body and I got my personal training certification and I start another journey as a fitness trainer and I start helping women to be in good shape and be the best version of themselves and specifically I start building muscles and making my body stronger. you know what they say”what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” which is exactly what happened in my life.
In 2017 I immigrated to the United States and it was a whole new opportunity for me to chase after my dreams and to live my life like a free woman and looking for new opportunities to express myself.
Five years ago, I started my Instagram page just for fun and just to to share my daily life, my outfit ideas and it was my personal blog.
Little by little, I gained some followers on Instagram and I started working with brands and being invited to different events and to be seen as a person that I always wanted to be in my own country but I never had the chance .
These opportunities opened a big window of knowing new people and new things and more importantly getting to see what I am capable of as a woman .
Here I am today I still have a some obligations and cultural rules from my family and my partner …,some of photos that I took and posted on my page were taken with a lot of conflict and disagreement from my family but I kept going stronger because I think change is painful.
My story is simple and it’s the story of a girl among millions of other girls who live in the Middle Eastern (Third World )countries who never had the chance to be born in the first world countries like the United States which having freedom as a woman is one the basic rights,most of these women fought and found their own way of existence, mine was fashion .
I’m hoping one day I can start my own fashion brand and start a new chapter in my life.
Special thanks to the Voyage La Magazine for this opportunity and I’m grateful that I was able to share my story.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As I mentioned in my story, the biggest struggle and challenge is the culture that I was born and raised and the pressure that coming from the society from the family from the rules which frame you and want you to be fit in, but if you want to step out of the frame you’re gonna be in trouble But you need to fight for your dreams .
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a fitness trainer and a digital creator and most importantly a MS warrior .
I’m most proud of how far I came and I know I still have a lot to learn.
I think Every human being is different than the other one and that’s the beauty of character so what sets me apart is being me and I think that’s the most important thing.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Than I can cook delicious prsian foods.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/samirajafarim?igshid=ZjE2NGZiNDQ=
- Other: Tiktok: samijoons
Image Credits
OC FASHION WEEK
