Nadia Zaidi, a mother of two and immigration lawyer with her own Manhattan practice, loves all things beauty. “Makeup makes me feel fresh,” she says. “When I put it on every morning, I get an energy boost.” Ahead, she talks about dressing up for tea as a child in Pakistan, her go-to workwear and the drugstore finds she can’t live without…
Do you remember the first time you felt interested in beauty?
I grew up between Pakistan and Kuwait, and moved to the U.S. when I was 18. I watched a lot of Bollywood movies as a kid, so my first ideas of beauty came from those. They’re so colorful! I’m Pakistani, not Indian, but in our culture, many people also enjoy color, nice makeup, skincare products and treatments, as well as getting dressed up to go out. There’s a ritual of ‘getting dressed’ for tea every evening — not in a pretentious way, but a warm, inviting way.
Tell us more about tea time.
Back in Pakistan, my grandmother lived with us, my aunt, uncle and cousins lived below us and my other grandparents and extended family lived close by. We saw each other every day — people were always coming and going. We all took a siesta in the afternoon because it would get so hot. Then, after everyone rested, around 5 o’clock, we would put on dresses for tea. My mom would put out the pretty china and serve samosas, chaat and warm buttery pastries from the hole-in-the-wall baker around the corner. Everyone would come over; that’s the major way we socialized.
What did the women in your family teach you about beauty?
My mother and grandmother are both very confident women, so you never hear any self deprecation from them! When hosting guests or going to an event, I was taught that it shows respect to make an effort with your appearance. If I look tired or grey, my mom and grandmother won’t say I need lipstick, but instead that I need to drink more water and juice or eat more protein. Culturally, many of our skincare products come from food and spices, so it’s all tied together.
Do they have any skincare recipes?
My relatives are all about making yogurt and turmeric masks! It’s super easy: just mix together two tablespoons of full-fat yogurt, one teaspoon of turmeric and one teaspoon of honey. Also, just eating yogurt to help your skin and digestion.
Do you wear makeup every day?
Definitely. When I wake up in the morning, my first thought is usually, ‘Ugh, I’m so tired,’ especially with a baby. But putting on makeup boosts my energy. I do the same routine seven days a week. I wear a creamy under-eye concealer (which has become even more crucial since my second was born), Urban Decay Easy Baked eyeshadow, thickening mascara and NARS Orgasm blush. For lipstick, I wear a light pink on a day-to-day basis. I really love NYX gloss in Napoleon, which is the only gloss that doesn’t dry out my lips in the winter. If I’m going out, I’ll wear a brighter color, but I never do red; it’s just not my thing. I’ll wear pinky-purples, like MAC Mehr or Up the Amp. I’ll also swipe on some Boy Brow.
How does being a lawyer affect your beauty routine?
I wear my usual makeup to work, but I pay close attention to my clothes because I tend to look younger than I am. I dress as professionally as possible, while still finding pieces that work if I’m meeting up with friends. My favorite shops are Madewell, ASOS, Zara and Aritzia. And my go-to work outfit is a dress with a blazer. When I’m done working, I just take off the blazer, change my shoes and am ready to take my daughter to the park!
What kind of law do you do?
As an immigration lawyer, I assist people applying for a special extraordinary visa to work in the U.S. I mostly work with small businesses, but also people in the arts, such as painters, technologists and designers. I do pro-bono work, too.
What kind of pro-bono work?
I get lots of phone calls from people who need advice about their immigration status. I also volunteered at JFK after the Muslim ban; I was so proud to be a lawyer at that moment. I chose immigration law because I’ve always felt connected to people who are migrants or immigrants or who feel displaced. I often talk to my older daughter about my work. She’s full of questions when I say, ‘I need to send a work email really quickly.’ When she is playing make believe, I’ll hear her telling her dolls, ‘I have to help my client!’
What’s your daily facial skincare routine?
I don’t like a skincare routine that has too many steps. I have dry sensitive skin, so I use Cetaphil to wash my face every morning and night. It’s neutral, doesn’t dry my skin and does its job without any fuss. I’ve also been exfoliating this winter. I use Aesop Exfoliant Paste at least once a week. Moisturizing is a big part of my routine; I use Natura Bisse Oxygen Cream and Serum at night.
How did you get turned onto Natura Bisse?
With all the hormones during my pregnancy, my skin got terrible. There’s a Bluemercury on the Upper West Side, so I decided to go in for a facial. Facials are new to me, but now I love them. The aestheticians are so helpful, and they used Nature Bisse products, which worked really well. Since I started using them, I have noticed a huge difference in the texture of my skin. It’s so much clearer and smoother; the splurge is worth it.
Do you have any drugstore products you love?
I get blemishes around certain times of the month, but Burt’s Bees Spot Treatment makes them disappear instantly. I also never leave the house without Smith’s Rosebud Salve. I use it mostly as lip balm, but it’s great for anything — ashy elbows and knees included. Also, Swedish Dream Hand Cream. I apply it constantly throughout the day, and also right before I go to sleep. I love how it smells.
How do you care for your hair?
My hair tends to get very oily, so I wash it almost every day. I use Sachajuan shampoo and conditioner. Since I have fine hair, I’ve been highlighting it every five months since I was 16 to add dimension and texture. Then I just blow it dry and use Oribe Dry Texturing Spray to add volume and movement.
Do you have a signature scent?
I love the scent of a flower we have in Pakistan — it’s called Motia or Chameli in Urdu, and Arabian Jasmine in English. My grandmother kept dried Motia flowers in her books, and her whole room smelled like them! I wish I could bottle that scent, but I’m yet to find it anywhere except from the fresh flowers sold on the sidewalks in Pakistan. Jo Malone makes a White Jasmine and Mint fragrance that is pretty close.
What’s your nighttime routine?
I usually listen to a podcast, like The Lively Show or On Being with Krista Tippet. I also like reading poetry. At night, it’s nice to think about something bigger than yourself. You can read a bit, think about what it means, then drift off to sleep. This year, I’ve discovered great contemporary female poets, like Nayyirah Waheed and Clementine von Radics.
Do you have any other rituals that help you feel great?
I feel my best when I have an exercise routine. I am all about Refine Method and Pure Yoga. I had postpartum depression with my first child, Yasmina, but thankfully regular exercise helped me recover more quickly the second time around.
How do you teach your daughters about Pakistani culture while growing up in America?
At bedtime, I’ll tell Yasmina and Samar stories from my childhood in Pakistan and Kuwait. My mother and grandmother live in the U.S., too, so we spend a lot of time with them. Their homes are always filled with delicious Pakistani food. Everyone speaks Urdu, and we celebrate milestones and holidays dressed in Pakistani clothing. If there’s a Pakistani wedding, it’s an explosion of culture and so much fun! I try to speak to Yasmina in Urdu 85 percent of the time. She understands almost every word, but she doesn’t speak it as much. I hope one day it comes rushing out of her.
Thank you so much, Nadia!
P.S. More women share their beauty uniforms, including a restaurant owner and a ballerina.
(Portraits by Christine Han for Cup of Jo. Other photos courtesy of Nadia Zaidi.)
Such a beautiful beauty uniform. I so appreciated glimpses into her Nadia’s rituals and connection to her culture as well as her rad advice. I want to dress for tea now too!
She’s very pretty!
I loved this edition of Beauty Uniform! Such a humble and real individual. Feel like I knew her after reading her responses! Beautiful!
Gosh. She is just so beautiful. Gorgeous family.
I love this whole series and I just adore everyone’s responses! I love the tradition surrounding tea time.
xx
bombshell-to-be.blogspot.com
I don’t know what I love more, the beauty routine or the week of outfits… keep em coming!!!!! What a lovely family : ) Also, I too like the lively show!!
I love the beauty uniforms series! It’s so wonderful to see such gorgeous, wise and warm-hearted women. I think you’re reframing what beauty means. Well done!
Love Beauty Uniforms! I put yogurt (vegan coconut) on my face all the time— SO going to add turmeric and honey!! WOOHOO! Thanks to the majority of commenters for being supportive, friendly, compassionate and intelligent with their comments. WOOT and LOVE to all the immigration attorneys out there for fighting one of the good fights! Cheers!
My favorite line of this was “I also volunteered at JFK after the Muslim ban; I was so proud to be a lawyer at that moment,” which reminded me of this quote from one of my favorite authors, Glennon Doyle, “Beautiful means “full of beauty.” Beautiful is not about the appearance of your outsides- beautiful is about what you’re made of. Beautiful women are women who spend time discovering what they love – what sings to them –what their idea of beauty on this Earth is. Then they make time each day to fill themselves up with that beauty. They know themselves well enough to know what they love, and they love themselves enough to fill up with a little of their particular kind of beauty each day.” Thank you for helping the world be more beautiful, Nadia!
Thank you for this quote. I had a conversation with my 7 yr old daughter on what beauty is and I wouldn’t be able to find better words. Very excited to share it with her tonight <3
What a lovely thought, Jillian!
actually Jillian, what YOU said is beautiful! and I wholeheartedly concur. thanks.
Love seeing this profile of a working mom with a full-time job!
Please consider not wearing Canada Goose, Nadia. Animals shouldn’t suffer for our clothing. There are so many ethical considerations to think about with the fashion industry, but this one seems like a no-brainer.
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-m-roberts/confused-about-cruelty-th_b_14421002.html
Harriet, thank you so much for this.
Coyote fur jackets? That’s just disgusting. There are zero ways to humanely or ethically source that fur, the worst of which is probably trapping, which kills and horribly maims thousands of unintended animal victims each year including DOGS, along with the intended victims. Imagine for a moment the end of the life of an animal dying in trap?
In case anyone lacks the imagination to think of something else to wear, I have a lovely synthetic fill jacket from LL. Bean that is warm, well made, not too expensive and no one had to die to keep me warm.
Such a beautiful family!
Beauty Uniforms and Motherhood posts are what made me fall madly in love this blog. It is so fun to pour over beauty tips and learn about new products – and especially love when they include working moms. Ordering the hand cream – and dreaming about the facial products (currently expecting #2 and pregnancy crazy skin is in full force)….now to find something within budget :) thanks for the inspiration! Major bonus for featuring top notch, quality people – as always. thanks <3
I wanted to speak to the language hopes for Urdu to emerge. It can be done! Not enough people will tell you though, it takes intentional action, in already full lives – getting kids to speak aloud isn’t automatic, as I expected. Here are the practical steps I use at home! (Not Urdu, for us.)
One parent always uses Urdu.
Magic: finding an older child whose first languge is Urdu to come play. You may need to really be artificial about this – walking up to a family speaking Urdu out in the world and introducing yourself, for example.
Traveling for a stretch of weeks where Urdu is spoken everywhere.
Having both parents speaking in Urdu at certain times, often this is simpler if you attach it to meals: ‘Adults speak Urdu at the table’. This is one of the core things we do.
Playing music in the background in Urdu, particularly clearly enunciated music like that made for children.
Having screentime only in Urdu.
Owning many Urdu books to read aloud.
In our family, we don’t force the kids to use their minority language. When our children address their father in English, such as ‘Papa, can I have a cookie?’, he says their same phrase in French and also answers it: ‘Est-ce que je peux avoir un biscuit? Oui, tu peux!’.
Your oldest is the best to focus on. Youngers grow up in the wake of olders. If your eldest goes to daycare, her English will be stronger, and she’ll play in English – accept this and keep the sounds in the home so they are in the brain if not spoken so much. One way to sidestep this challenge is by having daycare in a third language, such as Spanish. This evens the playing field, so that kids don’t split language worlds into binary home/everywhere else black-and-white.
I hope that helps! My oldest is bilingual, and taught herself to read and write in her minority language – an unexpected turn of events that felt like such a win after years of dogged our-family-values-both-languages-equally effort! My youngest is bilingual as well, though with a somewhat smaller vocabulary…and stronger English skills, which is nice too. Good luck!
My daughter is bilingual, and enforcing the ‘second language for screen-time’ rule was critical. It also made me feel less bad about indulging in a little TV or iPad time, as I knew her little brain was still active, even if her eyes were glued to a screen.
these are such smart approaches.
As someone who does research in bilingualism and heritage languages, I can say there are really great points here. And lots of research to back them up!
I want to emphasize the point that Capucine made about the importance of the older child (both, but particularly the older child) having as much exposure for as long as possible in the early years. There is a very common downward trend of heritage language (HL) proficiency and birth order; oldest children have a sacred period of time at home where the HL can be spoken exclusively, but once they start school (and likely become English-dominant, here in the U.S.), they will start to incorporate English at home, including with younger siblings. The stronger the HL of the oldest child and the more they use it at home, the better the younger ones are set up to use the HL, too. (Especially when you think about how siblings are one of our biggest sources of language input!)
The point about friends is also an important one. Whether this be with Urdu-speaking friends in the local community or ones they make back in Pakistan that they can stay in touch with (even better!), these relationships give kids a real, socially valuable motivation for using the language. If they have friends to laugh with and confide in, the language use will follow naturally. :)
You’re doing a great job! Thanks for sharing your story.
such great suggestions, thank you! x
These are great suggestions! Unfortunately for me, my husband doesn’t speak my native language and we don’t have any family or friends who speak the language nearby. It’s so hard for me to speak it by myself enough for them to learn! My children don’t speak it at all and it makes me so sad – I feel like once my parents die, I will have no one to connect me to my home country!
How do you find ‘screen time’ stuff for them to watch in another language? On Youtube?
There’s a great resource for families looking for children’s programming in foreign languages: Oznoz.com. It’s basically Netflix for bilingual children.
Nadia is so beautiful! I really like the blue jacket and dress outfit. I’d love to see a week of outfits from her.
Would you mind telling us how old you are, Nadia? You look like 23, but since you said, you look younger than you are, I got really, really curious….! ;-)
Hi Julia! I am 36 :)
That top photo with the tone-on-tone hair and the print-on-print outfit is dreeeaaaamy.
Thank you for the amazing work you do! You’re awesome!
She is gorgeous and I like her clothes. I applaud her work and her advocacy.
Loved reading about Nadia so much, each and every bit! Speaking Urdu to your daughter resonated with me so much. My mother, whose family lives in Germany, spoke only German to me growing up in So Cal till I was 3 or 4, which I can only imagine was really hard to keep up at times. Now I have it permanently and never had any language barrier in connecting with my German family. I’ll forever be grateful to my mother for so many things, but especially for giving me my family’s language as a toddler!
I absolutely LOVE this. She’s beautiful, inside and out!
What beauty! Loved hearing about how her heritage has influenced her beauty rituals, especially the detail about the Motia flower. Scent is such a huge factor in beauty for me, and I’m only discovering now how nice it is to have a “signature” scent. Have you guys thought of doing (if you haven’t already) a post about how to find your signature scent? Thanks for this lovely profile!
what a great idea, thao! would love to work on a post like that.
here are a few past perfume posts, if you’re in the mood:
https://cupofjo.com/2016/02/five-perfumes-and-what-they-mean/
https://cupofjo.com/2014/09/do-or-dont-tomboy-perfumes/
https://cupofjo.com/2017/05/perfume-smell-test-reviews/
Thank you so much for continuing to feature diverse women from different backgrounds! It’s so critical these days to gain a greater understanding of people’s cultures and perspectives, and to realise that we all have way more similarities than differences.
Also, her skin is luminous! Going to try the homemade mask and look into the Natura Bisse products, as having a baby hasn’t had the most positive effects on my skin!
Nadia is stunning! (Inside and out!)
What a gorgeous lady!
Hi Nadia! This was such a lovely read – thank you. I worked as a kindergarten teacher in the UAE, and some of my kids used to bring me those flowers in the morning. I adore the scent – and its tied to sweet memories for me too. Have you tried Serge Lutens ‘A La Nuit’ fragrance? It’s pricey but a much purer jasmine scent compared to the Jo Malone one I think. xox
Loved reading about a fellow Pakistani. Motia – is also the scent of my childhood; placed in an old saucer on the bedside table to make the room smell lovely. Mothers and grandmothers are the absolute cutest! I hope the same from my future kids that somehow they absorb my language and be able to speak it fluently one day.
please stop promoting canada goose jackets :(
Yes.
Love this. Also, just FYI Nadia, the Indian brand Forest Essentials has a fragrance with motia :)
Loved this!!
hello from fellow Pakistani immigrant (lawyer) from NJ, such a great post and feeling all the feels about past homes and new homes and the cultures we embrace and the cultures we cling on to…thank you Cup of Jo team for such an enjoyable post..it is so good to see someone I can totally relate to on your site. You guys are doing a great job overall so sending hugs and creative vibes your way!!!
thank you so much, jehanara! that means so much :)
I love how this post ranges all over beauty for the face, beauty in poetry, beauty in helping others through complex legal situations, and beauty in family so effortlessly. Thank you Cup of Jo for always making the day bright, while connecting both the simple and the serious.
As a fellow immigration attorney from Pakistan in NYC I can relate to everything in this post and felt very nostalgic about tea time, esp. I still have tea time minus the siesta and samosas and chat, sadly. And my two kids understand Urdu but don’t speak a word. Hello Nadia and thank you COJ for this post. I totally enjoyed reading it.
I loved reading about tea time too! Is it a Pakistani ritual?
My Chinese-Singaporean grandparents have a tea time ritual as well. I wonder if it’s something the British brought with them from India/ Pakistan/ Sri Lanka to other parts of the Empire along with the tea that they took.
This one made me feel the nostalgia too! The time with grandparents and patties from the bakery.
This is my favorite one of the Beauty Uniform series, thus far! Would love to see a week of outfits from her, too! :)
Nadia’s face radiates the honesty and beauty of her chosen life. Thanks for showing us her beauty rituals! Knowing how she grew up, how important her dual cultures are to her and seeing her succeed in the current political climate of the United States is so enlightening and important. Her little daughters and husband have someone wonderful to look up to and be with!
Thank you for featuring a fellow Pakistani! I too love the scent of motia flowers and my grandmother would have a plate full by her nightstand. The scent of those flowers reminds me of home and.all things cozy.
I enjoyed hearing about the family tea time!
I need to find out where she gets her hair done. I live on the upper west side, have the exact same hair and need to highlight it to make it look thicker. Great post by the way.
Nadia is such a natural beauty :-) I’m excited to try the Burt’s Bees spot treatment. Thank you for the tip!
Her mention of thoughtful podcasts, poetry and the importance of embracing ones culture is indeed ‘ beautiful’.
Love this so much; she is so radiant and I love how her experience informs her career!
These Beauty Uniform posts are among my favorites, especially seeing how creatively put together and professionally engaged these women are. But I wonder, have you ever considered featuring someone who may be, let’s say, older? Maybe retired even? Without work responsibilities and expectations, a whole new world of fashion and self-care opens up to us.
I liked this one: https://cupofjo.com/2017/09/linda-rodin-beauty-aging-advice/
This one was a favorite of mine! Not a beauty uniform but her outfits are awesome :)
https://cupofjo.com/2017/08/outfit-ideas-for-teachers-gay-cioffi/
yes, clou! thank you for the feedback, we would love to do more. xoxo
Love this BU!! So gorgeous – I’m off to get all those skincare products immediatement. Her skin is AMAZING! So beautiful. Thank you for sharing. x
I really loved this one. What a special woman.
Such a great post! Do you know where her dresses are from?
i’ll ask her!
I want to see a week of outfits from Nadia, too! I love the combination of colors/prints in the first picture, seems effortless but I know if I tried to do it I’d look like a crazy person.
This x2!
Love this one. I really appreciated her words on poetry and family. It’s obvious that her beauty source is not the products that she uses. (although don’t get me wrong – I love hearing those details too!)
Such a nice post. Nadia is beautiful! About the jasmine scent she mentioned, below product might come close to what she is looking for:
https://www.amazon.com/Forest-Essentials-Jasmine-Saffron-IndianMedicalStore/dp/B013QWGLSI
She is lovely. I really liked reading about her family. I especially appreciated reading how she was taught that it “shows respect to make an effort with your appearance” and that putting on makeup when she is tired helps to boost her energy. I am job hunting and doing some freelance work – both activities that keep me at home in front of my laptop, so it can be easy to just not bother much with my appearance. So her approach is a good nudge for me too. Thanks, Nadia!
Loving this lovely lady!!
By far my favorite beauty uniform! I feel like she has similar issues that I do (Dry skin, oily hair) so it’s SUPER nice to see someone so lovely with similar things going on. Love learning a bit more about Pakistani culture as well.
Would love to see a 5 Days of Outfits post from her!
Beautiful lady inside and out. I love her poetic way of looking at life and the advice to think of something bigger than yourself at night by reading or listening to a pod cast. I think I’ll give it a try tonight.
What a beautiful woman, so warm and generous with her interview responses too. She just glows! Going to try that perfume and the serum. Love the dress in the final picture, also I have a picture of me standing in almost the exact same spot at the summer palace (I’m 99.9% sure that’s where you are!), though not looking nearly as stunning!
What a beautiful post about a beautiful, kind, thoughtful person. So blessed to know her.
Beautiful! Nadia – do you have poetry recommendations? I am a big Yeats fan, but haven’t branched out much beyond that since high school and college.
I highly recommend Leila Chatti and Faisal Mohyuddin! I’ve also loved Justin Phillip Reed, Hala Alyan, and Ross Gay lately.
Just to add to the list, I like Yrsa Daley-Ward.
If you like Yeats, I recommend some Irish poets living now–Ciaran Carson, Eavan Boland, Michael Longley, Leontia Flynn, and Tara Bergin. They are all wonderful, especially Carson and his poem “Dresden.”
Wow! Beauty, brains and such a down to earth personality. I admire that she mentioned her PPD. It’s so important that people see that these things happen, to anyone, at anytime, and you can get help. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
what a beautiful person, inside and out!
i adore this series and appreciate the diversity in those featured.
side note: would you ever do a post on organic beauty products? i have a crazy fragrance allergy and get so sad when i click on a product to find i can’t use it.
Second this! I have the HARDEST time finding any beauty products (specifically lipstick/gloss) that doesn’t cause a rash or breakout.
LOVE this! So happy to see an immigrant and brown woman featured here :) Thank you as always for keeping it real
Beauty, style, and grace feel effortless here. Love.
She and her husband look like the kindest people on earth. I just watched ‘The Big Sick’, and wonder how she met her husband and about her relationship in general. I’d love to meet a man who was as kind (and gorgeous ;) as her husband looks!
I’m so thankful for Cup of Jo and especially for how you approach women’s beauty/style. It’s so easy for me to give in to comparison, but your posts always leave me celebrating, admiring and rooting for the incredible women you interview and have me thinking through and celebrating what I have to offer as well. Nadia is stunning, compassionate, and I loved getting a little peek into her life!
Well said!
what a beautiful woman! i agree about the Sachajuan shampoo – it is so good!
Where are her shoes from? (the ones she’s wearing with the dress) Love them!
i’ll ask her!
Ditto!
Yes! Dying to know! What beautiful, feminine style!
I’m pretty sure they’re Intentionally Blank — check out Azalea or Need Supply.
She is stunning! Happy to see another immigration lawyer featured here!
Another Immigration lawyer (from the midwest!) here! We rock!
A future immigration lawyer from DC (graduating in May)! Any job offerings you two can point me towards? :)
Love to all the immigration lawyers. You’re part of the reason my wonderful husband was able to get his green card and stay in our wonderful country. ?
Civil litigator here by day but pro-bono immigration lawyer by night (in LA)! My name is also Amy, haha. Keep being awesome, ladies!
Whaddup fellow immigration lawyers! I likewise loved this post. Great to see another JFK volunteer featured.
Jessica, my organization, Safe Passage Project here in NYC, is hiring. We represent immigrant kids facing removal proceedings https://www.safepassageproject.org/work-with-us/
Another immigration lawyer here…I’m in Oklahoma! Keep fighting the good fight, ladies!
you guys are all so amazing. thank you for the important work you do. tearing up over this thread.
So lovely to read all of your comments! In solidarity with all my fellow lawyers:) Feeling grateful
What a beautiful and inspiring woman!! I need all her beauty products :) Her family is lovely inside and out!
Love this! And I love that she volunteered at JFK.
This is a fantastic piece! I love how COJ packs so much substance into these beauty uniforms- they represent the subject’s history, culture, and personal beliefs beautifully. This one was no exception – Thank you for sharing Nadia! Your daughters are lucky to have a woman like you to look up to :)
Yes!! That’s it! Thank you Nadia and coj team!
Beautiful woman and beautiful family. I especially appreciate the comment she made that her mother and grandmother were self-confident and not self-deprecating. I think about this often and the way I narrate my own inner criticism around my children. Her mother’s confidence seems to have served her very well!
Is it just me or does she look a touch like Jessica Alba? Loved this beauty uniform! What a role model.
Whatever you say, Jessica Alba!
haha you’re so right!
totally thought she was Jessica Alba!! <3
Thank you!!! I was reading the post and trying to get to whom she was reminding me of!!
Anyway, great post as always, she is stunning and so relatable.
Yes! Jessica Alba!
Lovely to see another Pakistani-American woman on here! Thank you Joanna for making this a space that reflects more of us.
“I have to help a client!” Sooo cute! I think it is so important for little girls to see that Moms and adult women can work and have full time careers.
Why does she call it a Muslim ban? She’s a lawyer, so she should know better. It was a temporary ban on immigration from Muslim-majority countries that have been known sponsors of terrorism or on terrorist watch lists. I think that’s a pretty significant difference and important to note.
Since the ban is commonly referred to as the ‘Muslim ban’ or ‘travel ban,’ her wording seemed fine to me:
https://www.aclu.org/blog/immigrants-rights/muslim-ban-what-just-happened
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/trump-travel-ban/540912/
https://www.aljazeera.com/topics/spotlight/trump-muslims-ban.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_13769
Sorry but… give me a break. If you think that wasn’t targeted toward Muslims then I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.
Well, I am a lawyer and am pretty clear that it was a Muslim ban. You can quote Trump’s administration’s sales pitch all you want but the intent was blatant, and dozens of attorneys general and state supreme courts agreed. According to Rudy Giuliani, Trump himself called it that. I think that’s a pretty significant and important reason to call it that. She is a lawyer, and she does know better, and she was correct.
Ummm… lawyer here, too. Mr. Trump called for preventing Muslim immigration on his website. I’m pretty sure that’s a Muslim ban.
As everyone else has already said it was clearly a Muslim ban. And as an immigrant in this country, may I just say, this is not the hill you want to die on, especially for this administration. Away from their gross treatment of Muslim people, immigrants of every nationality (but especially the brown ones) are struggling to get visas or green cards under this administration.
There have been multiple versions of the ban, most of which have been blocked by federal courts. Judges blocking the bans have used the term “Muslim ban” and argued that the way Trump has talked about the bans shows that they are aimed at Muslims. Considering the ban she is most likely talking about was blocked by the courts for being a “Muslim ban,” that’s an appropriate way to refer to it.
Also, in the interest of referring to the bans accurately, a later version of the ban removed the “temporary” language you refer to so the latest ban is indefinite. I think that too is a pretty significant difference and important to note.
Wholeheartedly agree, Jessica. As we both know, Muslim-majority countries were targeted because they had a higher concentration of terrorism. It’s not as if Trump targeted them because they were Muslim. Folks love to act as if that’s the case, but that’s an easy – and highly-politicized – explanation.
Also, I’d add that just because “the ban is commonly referred” to as a “Muslim ban” doesn’t make it a Muslim ban. That’s a circular argument if I ever saw one.
If it wasn’t a Muslim ban, then why were minority religious groups (i.e., Christian) from those countries excepted from the ban? Hmm….
And T*&^p boasted for a long time about his plan for a Muslim ban.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/12/07/donald-trump-calls-for-total-and-complete-shutdown-of-muslims-entering-the-united-states/?utm_term=.54ee4188bc41
This Beauty Uniform is fantastic! Always nice to see folks doing good work with great personal style.
You know what’s not cute and will never be in style? Ignoring facts and turning a blind eye to racism. ZERO persons from the six targeted countries have committed deadly terrorist attacks inside US borders. This fact, in combination with the noticeable absence of Saudi Arabia (home to 15 of the 19 terrorists responsible for September 11th) call into question the true nature and justification for the ban.
Joan Didion said “We tell ourselves stories in order to live.” If you’re caught up in the niceties of correctly naming the ban, then I’d implore you do a little research and a lot of self-reflection. Ask yourself what quality of living calls for you tell yourself a story that so readily ignores facts, and gives a favor to a man-made, arbitrary demarcation of land when regarding the rights and humanity of others.
Destiny: YES! (clapping emoji)
THANK YOU, Destiny
Thank you Destiny!
It’s amazing that this is what you decided to focus on. Did you miss all of the fascinating information she shared about her culture, profession, family, and how she enhances her natural beauty? clearly you missed the message of this interview.
Likely because that is how our esteemed leader describes his proposal for this ban while running as a candidate and in fact his public statements describing it as a “ban on Muslims” entering the US were one of the main reasons so many Federal courts found the ban to be unconstitutional. Facts matter.
Destiny, how brilliantly worded. Thank you for saying it how it is but with such poised, elegant, intelligent words.
Standing ovation ???
to Destiny and the many others in this thread who care about facts. And humanity.
I bow in awe of you, brilliant coj readers.
Destiny (above) YES. Beautifully worded.
What an amazing woman!! Thank you for featuring her. Surely as beautiful inside as she is outside.
I loved this beauty uniform! And THIS was the cutest thing I’ve read all month:
“I often talk to my older daughter about my work. She’s full of questions when I say, ‘I need to send a work email really quickly.’ When she is playing make believe, I’ll hear her telling her dolls, ‘I have to help my client!’ “
yes, so so sweet and wonderful :)
Agreed. I have to say this really touched my heart. Helping my clients is one of the most fulfilling parts of my life and I love that Nadia’s daughter has such a positive, lovely role model.
I also would love to see a week of outfits from her – I’m constantly struggling with the professional workplace and looking very young as well!
we’ll ask her!
I second this! Would love to see a week of outfits from her. Love the shoes she is wearing in the picture with the Madewell tote!
I second this!
I third this! I struggle with looking young in the workplace and she looks like she’s nailed the work-appropriate, yet fun style.
Where did she get the blue dress (under the blazer)?
Fourth! I’d love to know where the blue flowered dress in the last photo is from. So pretty.
What a beautiful family! Oribe dry texturizing spray is seriously the best hair product ever. Period!
Wonderful post! What a beauty, with brains to boot!
What a beautiful, smart, compassionate woman! I love this approach to beauty and fashion; it’s about showing love for yourself and others. Bravo!
She is beautiful, I love her style and I use almost all the same products as her and shop at the same stores. We should be friends! Too bad I live on the other side of the country :)
She’s so beautiful! Love this series.
They’re SUCH a beautiful family! Inside and out!
What a beauty! Both inside and out! LOVE how you age so gracefully. I also look younger than I am so I find myself battling for respect at work. It doesn’t help that I’m also petite and have a youthful voice. Will work on my appearance and maybe tone down my voice in 2018. Thank you for sharing!
Week of outfits from her, please! She’s such a classic beauty.
God she is beautiful
Totally agree! Everything about her!
Absolutely!!!
While it would be tough to place my top 5 favorite posts or series on Cup of Jo, it is VERY easy to place Beauty Uniforms as my number one favorite. It is so inspirational to hear from women across all walks of life and to hear about what makes them feel beautiful and add beauty to the world (through everything from their beautiful looks to their beautiful work). Thanks so much!