Activist Saffiyah Khan Who Stood Up To EDL Is Now A Model

Saffiyah Khan, the activist who made headlines for bravely standing up to the English Defence League, has now earned a contract for one of the world's biggest talent agencies.

Since she was pictured smiling in the face of a raging EDL member during a protest outside Birmingham Library on 8 April 2017, Khan has worked on the runway, made a film with the BBC, and worked with ska band The Specials.

The famous photograph was described by The Guardian as a symbol of how Birmingham was 'standing up to the far-right group' at the time.

It's fair to say that Khan's fortunes have fared slightly better than the rabble of racists she was opposing.

In one of the original photographs from the EDL protest, Khan can be seen wearing a T-shirt bearing the name of the Coventry band, and within a matter of hours she had been offered a ticket to one of their shows.

That relationship went even further when she appeared on the album Encore with her track 'Ten Commandments', which was based on a song by musical legend Prince Buster.

Speaking to BBC News in 2019, she said: "I'm just rolling with it.

"I left school with no qualifications, so I haven't had a choice."

Elite Modelling Agency came calling for her after the photo went viral, but she is signed on a talent contract rather than a professional modelling contract.

However, she has appeared in shoots for Dazed and Confused, and a host of other publications.

Speaking to The Guardian, she added: "I had other agencies contact me but I knew this was best suited to me and what I wish to do.

"Diversity is massively improving within the fashion world - not just with models, but also editors, designers etc.

"There seems to be a real movement right now in terms of what fashion [wants to] represent, [with] more designers using [it as a] platform to promote a message of equality.

"I see them [art and fashion] as two artistic processes which naturally overlap."

Despite her career taking an unusual turn, she has remained steadfast to her activism, telling the same outlet that she is a 'passionate activist, creative and photographer' who is concerned with 'saving public areas such as libraries, schools and health services'.

As for the EDL guys in the same photo - well, who cares?

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Music, Interesting, UK Entertainment, Politics

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

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