Kenyan media personality Amina Abdi Rabar has spoken candidly about the intense criticism she faced early in her broadcasting career for wearing the hijab, revealing the emotional toll it took and how it shaped her perspective on faith and public image.
Speaking on the Joyride Podcast on October 9, 2025, Amina recalled that when she began her media journey, she was “fully covered up” and deeply religious a decision that unexpectedly drew vitriol instead of respect.
“When I started, I used to be fully covered up. I was very religious, and then I’d get so much vitriol directed at me,” she said.
Early Career Hostility
At the time, social media was still in its infancy, but Amina said the backlash came through text messages sent to her TV station.
“They would write things like, ‘You’re such a whore, a prostitute, you’re gonna die, your family is gonna die,’” she recounted, adding that most of the hate messages came from people within her own faith community.
Her production team often shielded her from the messages to protect her from the emotional damage.
“My producer would tell me, ‘I don’t think you should read them,’” she said.
The constant criticism eventually led Amina to stop wearing the hijab publicly, a decision she said was driven by exhaustion and defiance.
“You can do whatever you want because people will always have an opinion. If I’m going to be insulted, I might as well be insulted for the real deal,” she said.
Balancing Faith and Identity
Despite no longer wearing the hijab on-air, Amina emphasized that she still respects her religious beliefs and continues to observe them in private settings.
“When I go for every family function, my mum has never seen me without a hijab,” she shared.
Hiding Her Radio Career
Amina also revealed that she initially hid her radio job from her family, fearing disapproval over the topics she discussed.
“Earlier on, I used to lie about where I worked because I never wanted them to listen to what I used to talk about on air,” she admitted.
Her first radio show aired in the early morning hours, where she tackled taboo subjects like relationships and sexuality conversations she worried would upset her family.
“My first show was at 2 a.m. The things I used to talk about, I was like, nobody in my life can hear this,” she said with a laugh.
A Voice of Resilience
Today, Amina Abdi stands as one of Kenya’s most recognizable media figures, celebrated for her authenticity and professionalism. Her reflections offer a rare glimpse into the challenges women in media face, especially when navigating religion, culture, and identity in the public eye.
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