Women explore beauty of soul

Auckland Muslim Girls' Association members, from left, Prachi Bansal, Swathi Choyi, Neha Arora, Anila Ketan, Khadija Exton and Zeenat Geiger. Picture / Richard Robinson

The scene is the wooden-floored dance studio at the University of Auckland recreation centre. In time to bass-heavy, upbeat music, young women rehearse for a fashion show, sashaying down an imaginary catwalk towards a floor-to-ceiling mirror.

Some of them are wearing headscarves identifying their Muslim faith. Let's get one thing straight, says one of the models, 21-year-old psychology student Anila Ketan: Muslim women enjoy fashion and frivolity as much as anyone else - and are inviting all women to join them tomorrow at an event called The Beauty of the Soul.

The event - Jamal Al Rooh in Arabic - aims to celebrate sisterhood. The organisers say it's about exploring "that which is common to all women: beauty".

Women-only Muslim-run events are common in the United States and Britain, but rare in New Zealand. "We're trying to get the ball rolling," says Ms Ketan, vice-president of the organising Auckland Muslim Girls' Association, which won last year's Sonja Davies Peace Award for its bridge-building activities.

Clothing, jewellery and food stalls, dance performances and four fashion shows are on the programme, as well as scarf-tying demonstrations. The women-only stipulation is to create a space for women to relax - and a place parents can confidently leave their daughters, says Ms Ketan. "Young Muslim women are just like other women. We like to have fun, go to parties, go to the movies - but in a safe environment and a safe context."

Ms Ketan hopes that visitors will learn that Muslims are not only Arabs - followers are just as diverse as Christians.

Take the models, most of them university students: Zeenat Geiger, 18, was born in French Polynesia where the Muslim population is minuscule, but grew up interested in Islam. After coming to New Zealand last year to study, Ms Geiger, who has modelled professionally, learned more about the faith and decided to embrace it.

Ms Ketan was born in Pakistan, but came here aged four. Khadija Exton, 23, was born in Pretoria and describes herself as "South African-Maori". Other models are from Malaysia, India, Oman and Kuwait. Among the non-Muslims appearing on the catwalk are Chinese, Indian, Iraqi and Pakeha women.

* The Beauty of the Soul, tomorrow, noon-4pm, Freeman's Bay Community Centre. $10.