Gladiators: Aneila AFSAR, first veiled candidate in the British cult program

Aneila AFSAR has marked history by becoming the first candidate to carry the hijab in the British program cult Gladiators. A 26-year-old, this former Taekwondo champion, from Lancashire and mother of two, is today semi-finalist of the BBC show. By appearing veiled on the set, Aneila wishes to send a strong message to young Muslim girls: “There is nothing that we cannot accomplish”. She says she has started to wear hijab only recently, for lack of representatives visible in the world of sport. Today, she considers him as a force: “This is my superpower. I feel stronger with it.”

However, the path was not without pitfalls: criticism, heavy looks, Islamophobic comments … but the support received, especially on social networks, far exceeds attacks. Aneila says it receives messages from younger girls and even older women who feel inspired by her career.

What motivates her deeply are her children. It was by thinking of her daughter that she wanted to become an example, a positive figure with which she could identify. “I want her to grow up knowing that she can be herself, without compromise, with pride.” While in France, the wearing of hijab continues to debate in sport, Aneila recalls that visibility and performance can go hand in hand. His message is clear: The hijab is not a brake, but a force.