While the growth of Muslim fat woman entertainment content is promising, there are still significant challenges to overcome. One of the main challenges is the lack of funding and resources, which can limit the production quality and reach of content.

When consuming or creating content, be aware of these common pitfalls:

| Trope | Problem | Example | |-------|---------|---------| | | Fat Muslim woman is only happy after losing weight. | A hijabi loses 50 lbs and suddenly gets the guy/job. | | The Desexualized Aunty | Fat = old, irrelevant, no romantic life. | Always the comic relief or the matchmaker, never the lover. | | The Self-Hating Fat Friend | Her only role is to be insecure and inspire the thin lead. | "You're so brave to wear that." | | The "Health Concern" Villain | Community members lecture her about diabetes – but the story agrees with them. | No counter-narrative from the character herself. | | Magical Fat Muslim | She exists only to give wisdom or spiritual advice, not to have her own desires. | Always the therapist or the saint, never the sinner. |

Fearing the Black Body by Sabrina Strings, Fatima’s Great Surprise (children’s book by Maryam Hassan), and the #MuslimFatFashion hashtag on Instagram.

TV and streaming services are currently leading the way in providing more nuanced depictions compared to traditional film. Public Books Western media needs to stop fixating on how Arab women look

Let’s look at three significant shifts in mainstream entertainment.