When Mona Khalifa started posting her images to Instagram, she never expected to gain a following in the tens of thousands.
She told SBS Arabic24 that she gained popularity on the platform "accidentally" while she was in Europe with her sister in 2016 when they started blogging their daily outfits.
“We’d blog our outfits and everything we do from morning to sunset and that’s how my Instagram account grabbed attention and grew bigger,” she said.
A large part of the appeal, she admits, was her message behind the images - that darker skinned people wearing hijabs can be models too.
The Melbourne resident, who arrived in Australia with her family at age four, believes that it's vital that young girls are educated about "true beauty" which stems from accepting their bodies the way they are.
Mona Khalifa. Source: Instagram
“I’m not the type that would fall for tough social media standards and I’m always trying to push for a balanced lifestyle; working out and eating healthy because a healthy lifestyle is as important as accepting our bodies the way they are,” she said.
She said there was a need to shine a light on the fashion industry in Australia, which she claimed was "non-inclusive" of women above a size 8.
She also said local modest fashion brands had fallen into the trap of exclusively promoting one body type with multiple skin tones.
“The fashion scene is pretty much white in Australia. If you have European features, you’ll probably make it out there,” she said.
“Just click on any brand, all the models pretty much all look the same [body wise]. European features or Middle Eastern features. Although they always have an odd black girl there, they don’t have anyone above size 8.
“A lot of female bloggers who have less of a following get jobs at a higher rate because of their skinny bodies.
From a conservative Muslim family
Ms Khalifa was previously involved in the promotion of a fashion event in Melbourne called 'Mod Markit' - a popup market dedicated to bringing together online modest fashion retailers.
It was at this event that she was approached by a photographer who asked her to take part in a photo shoot along with other aspiring models.
Shots of her were chosen to feature on promotional posters for the event, which were distributed across the city.
“I couldn’t really tell my parents and they just found out on their own just like everybody else," she said.
"When I tell them about the message I’m trying to put out there, they ask me to talk about those things with my younger siblings and cousins.”
As a member of a conservative Muslim family, she said making a move into the world of fashion was unlikely.
However, Instagram has provided her with an avenue to upload photos and display the outfits that best suit what she likes to call a ‘size-10 black model’.
And despite the conservative nature of the Eritrean community, she found support among the younger generation who view her as a bright representation.
“They’re very supportive when I see people from the community they like the fact I’m a good representation; a positive black body image.
“I recently became much more interested in my culture. I try to be as modest as I can and wear whatever fits my body.”
