“Do I Make You Feel Uncomfortable?” Embracing The Radical Joy Of Leah V

“Visibly Muslim, hijabi. I’m fat but don’t get it twisted. Are you afraid that if we could love — truly love — ourselves, imperfections and all, that we’d be free? Do I make you feel uncomfortable?” Thus begins the video “Muslim Girl Dance #BodyProject,” a movement-centered performance art video by writer, speaker, and cross-medium content creator Leah Vernon, better known as Leah V. The video would start the creative on a path of bold expression and mentorship. But life didn’t always feel so limitless for Leah V.

Born and raised in Detroit, Leah was brought up in a strict Muslim household where freedom of expression wasn’t always a given. “Growing up, people chose who I was. They had such a say in who I was going to be,” Leah says. In her religious community, as well as in her marriage, Leah felt trapped by the roles that were thrust upon her. After a divorce, Leah had to figure out who she was beyond what others had made of her — besides being Muslim, besides being a wife.

“I had to figure out what Islam meant to me and how to present it outwardly as well as internally,” Leah says. “I can now say that I am very much so spiritual and very much so Muslim, even though I don’t always look the part or fit into the box of what a hijabi looks like.”