When the boundless world of social media and the Internet does not represent you, it’s time to take matters into your own hands. This is exactly what
Meryem Slimani has done, and continues to do, alongside the unconditional support of her mother Najate Leklye. Growing up Moroccan in a predominantly white space, Meryem found solace in the culture of hip-hop that she engaged with through music videos and television. In contrast to the majority of influencers today, Slimani adopts a vulnerable approach on her Instagram profile, which is evocative of her art - photography - and brings optimism and genuinity to a platform overly consumed with the superficial, and damaging, elements of the Internet. As she navigates her voice, her culture and motherhood, she remains graceful and down to earth, this is precisely what makes her so engaging and relatable to her tens of thousands supporters.