I am a Disruptor because I have an attitude problem! What was meant to be an insult by men has become the thing women like most about me. So, I am 100% going to trust women’s judgement on that!
My first significant break came with Ryan Murphy's, The Politician on Netflix. Booking the role of Principal Karen Vaughn was a whirlwind experience. I was notified of the audition just a day before it was scheduled, and despite it being my first speaking role, I gave it my all.
I grew up not having to be afraid of being Muslim or hiding my religion in any way. If anything, I was taught to embrace it.
To reflect the society we live in when creating theatre, we should proactively seek diversity in all areas: age, race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, social status etc, not just to tick a box, but to improve the quality of the work and reach wider audiences.
It's not that people do not have a voice; everyone has a voice. The question is, who is willing to listen to those voices? So if my voice, relatively speaking, is heard more, then I have to be able to signpost and amplify the concerns of those that society likes to push further into the margins.
For a really long time, I longed for someone to represent me, my experiences and what I cared about until I concluded that I was the only one who could represent and speak about all of those things truthfully.
My journey as a Nigerian-British woman in the world of classical music has often felt like a lonely one. It often feels like a rarified space with closed doors and no available seats at the table. Just like the road, I’m building my door, and I am building my own table.
I will continue to infiltrate traditional parenting spaces until stepmothers are fully acknowledged - not as an afterthought, but as an integral part of expos, seminars, and events centred around parenting. This is what makes me a Disruptor.
No matter what you’ve been through or are currently facing, remember that you can release its hold on you. Finding self-love is a beautiful journey. By forgiving yourself and others, you’ll feel lighter.