Hijab-Wearing Woman Pulls Out Of L’Oreal Hair Campaign

British model Amena Khan recently made headlines as the first woman in hijab to be featured in a L'Oreal advertising shampoo campaign. However, she has now backed out of the ad amid controversy around her anti-Israeli comments in a series of old tweets.

The UK beauty blogger herself announced online that she's pulling out of the L'Oreal campaign

In a post on Instagram, she says she's stepping down from the campaign "because of the current conversations surrounding it".

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A post shared by Amena Khan ✨ British presenter & content creator (@amenakhan)

Her decision came after discovering a series of tweets she wrote back in 2014, which indicated her views as "anti-Israel".

Amena Khan became the first woman in hijab to be part of a mainstream advert for hair care for the French cosmetics giant

The discovery of criticism and then withdrawing for the same comes just days after she told Newsbeat that she was delighted to be chosen to be L'Oreal's face.

READ: L’Oreal Fires Transgender Model For Commenting on Racism

Khan's messages, posted on Twitter in 2014, have been deleted later.

Amena Khan was chosen by @LOrealParisUK to model for the company’s newest hair product campaign. However, a search of Khan’s Twitter account raises questions about the appropriateness of making her the face of the new campaign. Khan frequently espouses anti-Israel views. pic.twitter.com/ynMQ7dfjXJ

— Aisha Murtad (@UmmAlMumineen) January 19, 2018

"I deeply regret the content of the tweets I made in 2014, and sincerely apologise for the upset and hurt that they have caused," she said on Twitter this week.

"With deep regret, I've decided to step down from this campaign because the current conversations surrounding it detract from the positive and inclusive sentiment that it set out to deliver."

Everything about this story is utterly disappointing, including Amena Khan *apologizing* for her 2014 tweets criticizing Israel’s was on Gaza. https://t.co/eARFhhQzsX

— Dena Takruri (@Dena) January 23, 2018

When contacted, the L'Oreal group said they have approved her withdrawal from the campaign.

"We appreciate the fact that Amena has apologised for the content of her tweets and for the reactions they may have aroused," L'Oreal said

Khan  became the game-changing face for a big brand. "Championing diversity is one of my passions, I don't discriminate against anyone," she added.

Also Read: YouTube CEO’s Open Letter Shows Pain On Anti-Diversity Memo

Earlier this month, she told Newsbeat: "It's a platform for diverse voices and women who don't fit the very narrow mould of beauty."

Beauty blogger Amena Khan has appeared in a L'Oreal hair advert, prompting mixed reactions pic.twitter.com/N0um91GqVM

— TRT World (@trtworld) January 20, 2018

Khan had hoped that her appearance for the ad would inspire and empower other women who wear headscarves.

This L'Oreal model in a hijab has stepped down after a backlash over pro-Palestine tweets. pic.twitter.com/oQHFvmsl5Q

— AJ+ (@ajplus) January 23, 2018

Also Read: This Fierce Rap Video About Wearing Hijab Tells It Like It Is

Picture Credit: Glamour

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