About

Sailing in Newport, Rhode Island. The captain said, “Sail toward the clouds ahead,” but I was totally sailing toward the rocks ahead. Eventually he took the wheel back.

My name is Sabrina Enayatulla and this is my Web site. You’re welcome.

I’m a traditionally trained journalist with a few awards under my belt for feature, news and editorial writing (Virginia Press Association: 2002, 2003, 2006). I’d been working as a Web editor for a leading news organization for 2 years when I developed an original concept for a pilot about women’s fashion. I wrote, directed, produced and hosted this video, which garnered attention from all over the world. The video was buzzed about locally and picked up by bloggers in London, France, Dubai, Malaysia and elsewhere. After the video’s success I made the decision to leave my job, start this blog and freelance full-time, which is what I’ve been doing (mostly) for the last 3 years.

I’ve accomplished a lot of the goals I set for myself as a freelancer so late last year I decided I was ready to return to the traditional workforce. While self-employed (a fancy term, which really just means you’re always pressed for money), I filmed more videos based on the concept I developed; I got to make pizzas with Ree The Pioneer Woman and film a lifestyle and design series with BlogHer and Macy’s. I was invited to participate in a brand managers meeting at Target in Minneapolis; I was featured in a documentary film on women’s fashion and invited to announce Diana Eng’s fashion-meets-technology creations down a runway in Las Vegas; this August I’ll be speaking on a panel at the BlogHer ’12 Conference.

Chatting with Cat Lincoln from Clever Girls Collective at CES 2011 (Read more about my trip)

Putting it all together with BlogHer.com and Macy’s.

Fashioning Faith, a documentary film on fashion

Tutorial: hijab with earrings

Taking your look from day to night

Winter Wear

What to wear to a holiday party

Designing the set where we filmed

I am so passionate about this series and am working on new videos for this year. My life experiences and travels have taught me that women all over the world have different definitions when it comes to style and beauty. So I wanted to create a series as a jumping off point for women to feel empowered when making fashion choices.

My parents are originally from India and I was born and raised in Northern Virginia. If you ask my family to describe me my mom would say I’m a free bird, my dad would tell you I’m a Tree Hugger and my older sister Uzma will claim that I’m adopted. As a child I was crazy about professional wrestling (WWF back then) and wanted to be a Fly Girl SO BAD that I had re-occurring dreams through most of my childhood that I was one. Problem was I always forgot one critical move during the routine.

I went to Oakton High School where I ran track, was a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Middle Eastern South Asian Society (MESA). One year I tried joining Math Club (MC? I don’t know) as a final attempt to get extra credit for the math class that I was failing. But as it would turn out one must be good at math to be in the club so it didn’t really work out. Not that it matters now because I’m a writer. TAKE THAT, MATH!

I graduated in 2001 and moved to Virginia Beach where I majored in Mass Communications, Journalism and Media Studies at Virginia Wesleyan College. I wrote for our award-winning student newspaper, played women’s lacrosse, sat on board of a few different committees and gave prospective students and parents a tour of campus when they’d visit. I was also nominated for my college’s homecoming court a few times but got kicked off the ballot once after walking over to the voting table to chat with a friend. Apparently, nominees weren’t allowed to talk to program organizers because therein lurks the danger that one could SINGLE-HANDEDLY SABOTAGE THE ENTIRE VOTING PROCESS. Who knew? Undergrad was awesome. Though I did find myself in situations where I was chased by security guards, bouncers and other angry mobs of people. I caused a lot of trouble, got into a few fights, lost friends, made enemies, made new friends and forced myself through a self-imposed and rigorous religious rehab. My last year of undergrad I moved into an apartment with two of my best girlfriends near the ocean front; I graduated in 2005 and no, I haven’t paid off school yet. Thanks U.S. Government for making higher education so affordable!

I moved back to Northern Virginia a few months after graduation and got a job working as a reporter and columnist at a 60k circulation weekly. Sadly the paper later became a casualty in the wake of newspapers being swallowed whole by the online medium, but while I was there I got to meet an interview Pop Sensation Rihanna.

My editor Stephanie and me with the Rihanna

In 2008 I married a man I call “The Boss” on this site. We lived in Northern Virginia for a few months then moved to L.A. for 18 months then moved to Connecticut for another 18 months and now we’re headed to new York. You should really keep up.

At the moment I’m tirelessly looking for jobs. But in my ideal life scenario I’d: write and publish books, host and produce a televised series about fashion and have my own talk show. I’d blog, launch a clothing line, produce a cartoon about my life, travel the world, write and edit features and create awesome online content for large publications; I’d be able to fly, lose 10 pounds, finally afford to get my sister a wedding gift, go on a book tour, live debt-free, attend graduate school (I started once and then ran out of money. Go Self-Employed!) I’d be immune to all traffic violations and have someone clean my house on the reg. Oh, and I would also finally nail that move in my re-occurring Fly Girl dream.

You should also know that I don’t use Facebook, I’ve never bought a pair of Uggs, I buy cruelty-free, obsess over child-labor laws and still drink milk with my dinner. I believe in love at first sight, life beyond our planet, and unicorns. I’ve lived, traveled and volunteered overseas and I’m itching to see more. It’s not rare to find me enjoying a good book, a sweaty workout, or trying to beat you at something. I started this site with an idea in mind and it continues to evolve. My hope is that anyone who stops by will be able to relate, laugh, and have a better understanding of Muslims in America. Or at least a better understanding of me.

HA.

HA. HA.

Yeah. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT ONE, INTERNET.