https://www.nailahdean.com/about daily 0.75 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/84c95f94-21a9-4bc3-ba73-f1f827ce8381/decent+12.png About - About Lawyer by day, writer by night, Nailah Dean reports from the front lines as she investigates the “isms” that exist in the Muslim dating world. Her work has appeared in Al Jazeera, and Insider. Nailah directed and produced a photo series and documentary titled the Isms Project, about Muslim women and the barriers they encounter on the road to love and marriage. The project was recognized in Newsweek, AJ + and the Washington Post. She is a blogger for Vela, the popular hijab and Muslim fashion line, and a regular contributor to ICNA’s The Message International. She was previously a blogger for Salams, the Muslim matrimonial app, and is currently on Substack. Nailah is a member of the SF Writers Workshop and recipient of a 2019 Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Fellowship and 2023 Hurston Wright Fellowship. She is currently working on a novel about Muslim dating. Nailah lives in the Bay Area. https://www.nailahdean.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-10-24 https://www.nailahdean.com/home daily 1.0 2021-08-25 https://www.nailahdean.com/the-isms-project-nd daily 0.75 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630596261372-ML0T2DX4NCUKDMY8Z4HR/picnic%2Bphoto2.jpg The ISMs Project - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630363266964-FETK0KGDLN74UQ20L4LO/wedding+dress.png The ISMs Project Photo by Kenneth Purdom Part of Ayana Ife's Bridal Collection https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611556800-2RU4WANMO3AD5YAGVKJ4/ism5.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611594754-39FUZY0IDSK7TPU8RPGL/epower1.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611763135-H4T2KIS08XJT2EM239J1/ism2.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611790056-2Z4OKNUTSO5YWRRCWY9Y/epower3.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611858830-8CCU7Q06A8IA3C7IIUZI/ism1.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611872687-GHOG6FOQLNK02ZJP8CRM/ism3+%281%29.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611913662-BM3ZBGBFEPCSYW424ERA/ism4.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630611931283-I3KF0K3CQF7OKNHNWDPT/epower2+%281%29.jpg The ISMs Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630373935640-473HHLF90WZHWOS58OGV/sexism2.png The ISMs Project SEXISM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630372762376-G4RM40DJ0VC0YXX3QNTT/ageism1.png The ISMs Project AGEISM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1630362409145-4OQCJAXQ893EPIAAOYCI/racism+and+colorism.png The ISMs Project RACISM & COLORISM https://www.nailahdean.com/reviews-1-1 daily 0.75 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/c4eb9e30-70c9-4cf3-ad8f-df500bf7183d/The+Lily+image.jpg Nailah Dean - “In the years since, Dean has taken note of the uphill battle Muslim women, often in their late 20s and beyond, face in finding a Muslim husband in the United States. Now, in a photo series called “The ISMs Project,” Dean documents the prejudices she and many other Muslim women face in what she calls this “marriage crisis”: ageism, sexism, racism and colorism...” — Ayesha Khan, The Lily https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/9f77680c-b905-47a3-a313-76a1f8bfbcee/AJ5.PNG Nailah Dean - “After being deemed unsuitable for marriage in their community, these Muslim American women made a photo series calling out the racism and sexism they faced.. ” — AJ + video produced by Zahra Haider https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/3e17f922-8a6a-4586-9439-44fae18277f5/newsweek+logo.png Nailah Dean - “Black Muslim Women Are Fighting Uphill Battle While Dating” — Julia Duin, Contributing Editor for Newsweek https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1638519331097-2HLNE2R2X3GM753H7FUW/MG+image.png Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1638519680791-7GDTMN0O7L6XRV162GQJ/salams+blog.jpeg Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1638519931848-APSFB9ZVD43C6WYKELTJ/icna-+the+message+intl.jpg Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1639374563337-W4UYME20P8K58XFHDRDU/AM+Today.png Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1639374563337-W4UYME20P8K58XFHDRDU/AM+Today.png Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/daaf1cee-37dc-4c12-a740-b3e7ad220b4c/Screenshot+%28364%29.png Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/996e2f40-c6e9-41c0-9e52-b335ac950dfe/Screenshot+%28365%29.jpg Nailah Dean https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/2806eb4f-5ea5-484c-9b89-e9fe112735e2/smart+muslim.jpg Nailah Dean https://www.nailahdean.com/the-isms-project-2-0 daily 0.75 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/ac690ea3-8cda-429c-b42b-68b292c0ade2/isms+2.0.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/4a26fba2-e92d-4089-b7c9-96e3f5bcc7f4/isms+team+2.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/fa75e746-5ffa-4d82-ba9e-0f19841a91cc/Salams_Logo_BlackText.png The ISMs Project 2.0 - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/44001a3b-23a3-4459-b0b0-fa454be44daa/dress2.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/01c793ee-03c7-4187-ac2b-930d1bf47008/dress3.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/6582e905-a274-40b4-8203-e4f96286ef69/dress1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/a58deb3e-cb59-496d-a96f-d1e339a1d5aa/vela_logo.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660591281192-QKU2W19C3ES8M6EIZL6Q/size-2.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660663637566-1J4HWE53BQ8AEE2BK6HB/ableism-1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/9b179c7e-627f-4b47-ac3e-32259644f3bf/exp-div-1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660588451429-0LL0N6NFBXPOYQDU9Q9F/divorce2.png The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660849626763-W5VXS2PFU6D9CHW0DKYT/size-1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660849789679-PY1H3V99V60WL7G70BG6/DIV2.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660849926322-RIJWLHVRGLCB36P3G098/DIV1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660850145253-N4UG9ZHSXL1IJPHEWQTZ/ABLE1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/9b179c7e-627f-4b47-ac3e-32259644f3bf/exp-div-1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 DIVORCEISM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/2984a6a6-f9bb-42c8-b64d-5c3a4acc5a72/vela+scarf.png The ISMs Project 2.0 Model wears Vela, Black Onyx https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/f34998e7-4ccc-41f0-a469-a29dcc44f08e/size-1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 SIZEISM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/877ec24d-56a8-470e-abfd-42163560d501/vela+scarf+2.png The ISMs Project 2.0 Model wears Vela, Rose Gold Silk Chiffon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1660663637566-1J4HWE53BQ8AEE2BK6HB/ableism-1.jpg The ISMs Project 2.0 ABLEISM https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/8afbfb25-4d1a-4bc4-95bc-235bdb6f36b0/vela+scarf+4.png The ISMs Project 2.0 Model wears Vela: Brilliant Silver Silk Chiffon https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/0f3e57a0-96d1-47d6-8065-93e2151a5b3a/vela+scarf+3.png The ISMs Project 2.0 Model wears Vela, Natural Stone https://www.nailahdean.com/my-publications daily 0.75 2025-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1592443304977-LJ6235QOLQNS6SHPJVD7/Insider+pic.jpeg Publications (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1592443433603-BJXOSQR3WAX9C3N5LY8M/love+is+blind+pic.jpeg Publications (Copy) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5edf2da2de4e122b2c65a1d2/1597944844072-KPITBGTZFQQKTIBDUNCG/al+jazeera+pic.jpg Publications (Copy)