How would a cartoon strip depict your life? Illustrator Thaakirah Jacobs’ vivid comics portray her experiences as a young woman, wife, mother, and Muslim. It’s a combination that’s rarely represented accurately. “If you look at the media, there are a lot of negative connotations,” Jacobs says. Without adding to stereotypes or glamourising reality, she draws on her creative talent to show how relatable her journey really is.
Jacobs first began doodling to reimagine her circumstances after her parents divorced. “That helped me get through tough times,” she says. Drawing up fantastical and heartwarming scenarios soon became her everyday method of expression, leading her to study animation. Today, Jacobs creates cartoons that showcase life beyond our initial impression of her appearance. Wrapped in hijab, her avatar on Instagram is a placeholder for personal encounters. She shares stories and sentiments on parenting, the complexities of being a woman, and her application of Islamic values.
“Through my images, people have started having positive conversations that I hope go further than social media,” Jacobs says. She’s earned an international community of followers who take pride in her representation of Muslims. “I’ve had a lot of people tell me that my art makes them happy,” Jacobs says. “They feel like they’re not alone.” Her work unveils the universality of life across multiple layers, proving that behind closed doors, we’re very much alike.
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