Nazma Khan is a TEDx speaker and a global changemaker who has challenged the way Muslims are viewed worldwide. She is the founder and CEO of the World Hijab Day Organization, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to dismantle discrimination, bigotry and prejudice against Muslim women through awareness, education and empowerment. Her visionary leadership gave rise to the annual World Hijab Day, observed every February 1st. This event invites women from all ethnic backgrounds to wear the hijab for a day to foster personal freedom of religious expression, cultural understanding and international solidarity. Beyond fostering women's rights advocacy, Nazma uses this platform to challenge stereotypes and present the hijab as an emblem of empowerment and honor for Muslim women. In her TEDx talk, Nazma explains how her traumatic experience inspired her to found this global movement. At a young age, Nazma Khan immigrated to New York City from Bangladesh. Not knowing the culture or the language, Nazma found herself to be the only one wearing the hijab in her middle school, where she was constantly bullied because of it. The harassment followed her throughout high school and college. After 9/11, her situation became even worse. She was being chased down the streets of NYC and labeled as a ‘terrorist’ for visibly being a Muslim. She realized that many women wearing the hijab in different parts of the world were encountering similar discrimination. Thus, she wanted to do something to address these stereotypes and improve circumstances for hijab-wearing girls and women worldwide. Founded in 2013, World Hijab Day has resonated across 150 countries. World Hijab Day earned recognition from the states of New York, Michigan, and Oklahoma, as well as the cities of Gainsville, Florida, and Newark, New Jersey. Furthermore, the House of Representatives in the Philippines has acknowledged this day and is currently considering passing a bill to officially designate February 1st as "National Hijab Day'' in the country. Nazma's work has garnered admiration beyond borders. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, showcased her remarkable contributions. Her groundbreaking work has been featured in Washington Post, TIME, New York Times, BBC, CNN, The Times, The Irish Times, The Washington Times, Al-Jazeera, Huffington Post and more. Her impact is felt in various spheres, including fashion magazines like Vogue Arabia, ELLE, Glamour and Cosmopolitan Italia. In 2021, Nazma designated May as “International Muslim History Month.” This global initiative celebrates historic Muslim accomplishments and contributions to the world to counter Islamophobia and foster greater understanding of the 1.2 billion Muslims around the world. The New York State Senate passed resolution no. J718 to designate May as Muslim History Month and NYS Governor, Kathy Hochul, personally created a video applauding Nazma’s work. Nazma Khan's ongoing commitment to unity, empowerment, and education stands as a testament to her remarkable influence and dedication.

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