A popular Australian beauty blogger who sported a hijab in her annual Eid make-up tutorial says she’s “trying to promote acceptance”.
Chloe Morello, who boasts more than 1.7 million YouTube subscribers, has made an annual how-to video to mark the end of Ramadan for the last three years, so was shocked when her latest one attracted criticism.
Morello, who describes herself as an atheist, was first inspired to explore Islamic beauty trends after a Muslim friend told her his wife would appreciate Eid-inspired tutorials.
Morello said she now gets “so many requests” for similar videos, so she obliged this year with a “glowy, neutral look”.
Using taupes and greys to create a halo eyeshadow effect, a matte pink lip and “the most amazing creamy skin”, the Sydney-based blogger demonstrated how to achieve the finished look in a video that’s had more than 415,000 views in four days.
In a move that particularly struck a chord with viewers, Morello sported a headscarf at the end of the tutorial “just so you can see what [this] will look like with a hijab on”.
“I don’t want to offend anyone when I do this, most people like it I think,” she said. “It’s purely so the hijabis know what it will look like with one on.”
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She also touched on that perennial Islamic beauty dilemma: “Oh no, I’m going to get make-up on my scarf,” Morello said as she adjusted her hijab. “How do you guys deal with getting make-up on your scarf?” (Have you got any tips? Share them in the comments below!).
After the video was published, Morello’s social media channels were flooded with praise, thanking the blogger for catering to different cultures and religions with her tutorials.
“It takes so much courage to stand against the whole world and say what you believe is right. I’m Muslim. I love make-up. I love people. I wanna live in peace and spread love in each space in this sad world. So thank you, cause this isn’t the first Eid tutorial of yours. You’re such a beauty from the inside and the outside as well,” one follower wrote.
“Watched the video yesterday and was so touched by how special you made many muslim hijabi ladies feel,” posted another.
“You are the only non Muslim beauty blogger who does this for us Muslim girls,” said a third.
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Despite the numerous compliments, Morello’s video also sparked backlash due to her wearing the traditional headscarf as a non-Muslim woman.
“It’s lovely of you to do a make-up look for Eid, as clearly your demographic includes Muslim women who love your looks. However, wearing a hijab for the purpose of the video is wrong,” one woman wrote.
Responding to some of the negative feedback, Morello said she was “not trying to promote any religion here, I’m just trying to promote acceptance”.
“It makes as much sense as it does to do a Christmas tutorial to do an Eid tutorial. It’s really not a big deal. People are making a big deal out of a video that’s nice to be appreciative but it should be normal… as in it should be normal for Islamic women to feel a part of society,” she posted on SnapChat. “It should be normal to be accepted.”
She also revealed she will post a second Eid makeup tutorial later this week, “because one of my viewers wished my Eid video was more dramatic”.
Click here to watch Morello’s original Eid beauty tutorial.
Images: Instagram/Chloe Morello
