Author: Sophia Begum

What started as a lockdown hobby in a crowded family kitchen has grown into a long term vision for Faheem Patel, a 22-year-old university student from Batley. 

Known online as CookingWithFeem, Patel has built a loyal following through sharing his journey across social media. 

Patel’s love for food began in childhood. “As a former fat kid,I always loved food,” he says. During the Covid-19 lockdown, that love turned into action when he began sharing photos of his bakes with friends, who encouraged him to post them publicly. 

What began casually, soon developed into consistency and then purpose. 

Growing up in a large household meant the kitchen was rarely quiet. “The kitchen is always busy,” Patel explains. “Sometimes I had to bake at five or six in the morning just to get peace.” 

Patel describes baking when no one is watching as a form of art and science. Baking, he says, brings back memories and provides mental grounding. 

“It’s more than feeding people,” he reflects. 

A defining moment in his development came during a spontaneous trip to Paris, where Patel was exposed to a more technical approach to baking. “They treat baking like a science,” he says. “Even the eggs are weighed to the gram. It completely changed how I think about ingredients and technique.” 

Alongside content creation, Patel balances an English degree which often clashes with the demands of consistency online. He is open about the mental strain that comes with juggling assignments, filming and editing. 

“There are days I don’t feel like doing anything,” he admits. “But you still have to push yourself.” 

Patel leans into routine and discipline, posting around three times a week and accepting that perfection isn’t always possible. 

What ultimately keeps him going is seeing the impact of his work. Making people happy through his bakes and working towards the ability to provide for his family gives his efforts meaning 

Looking ahead, the 22-year-old baker hopes to expand his range with more than just brownies but fresh croissants too with plans to eventually run his own bakery. 

For those hoping to follow a similar path, Patel’s advice is direct – “Just go for it”.

Humaira Bham, 26, based in West Yorkshire and trained in Optometry, is carving out space in a media industry she says does not yet fully reflect a range of social and cultural backgrounds.

After winning the BBC New Voices award in 2024 for underrepresented broadcasters, Bham has become increasingly visible on social media over the past year, a rise that brings both opportunity and intense pressure for Muslim women in the public eye.

Bham’s path into media was far from straightforward.

Before broadcasting, she trained in optometry, never imagining herself speaking directly to the camera.

Her breakthrough came through an audition for the BBC where she performed a poem dedicated to her grandmother, reflecting on immigration and belonging.

Having started posting on social media just over a year ago, Bham says she has only felt truly authentic in the past month. Anxiety remains part of her relationship with social media, leading her to set strict boundaries e.g. avoid checking her phone first thing in the morning and limiting her
usage for several hours in the evening.

“Your number one hobby can’t be social media,” she says.

When asked what advice she would give to Muslim girls who feel scared to take up space online, Bham is direct.

“Time’s going to go by anyway,” she says. “The sooner you start, the better you feel”.

She believes success in media requires visibility and staying authentic.

“Once you have a niche, that’s a monopoly”, she explains. “Be true to yourself.”

As a Muslim woman increasingly seen as an inspiration, Humaira acknowledges the responsibility
that comes with visibility but insists it is necessary,

“When people see a Muslim female on screen, change happens,” she says. “It’s our responsibility to make those changes.”

Bham says representation is an important issue for her, particularly given the limited number of people with similar backgrounds visible on screen.

She points to figures such as hijabi comedian Fatiha El Gori as inspiration, saying it matters to see Muslim women occupying space in the media.

Still, the responsibility can feel overwhelming.

When asked whether she feels she represents the entire community online, Bham says the idea is “scary”. “You can’t represent everyone’s opinions”, she explains.

Despite the pressure that comes with visibility, Bham continues to show up – not as a spokesperson for an entire community but as herself, making space in an industry where voices like hers remain rare and speaking openly about topics often left unspoken, from cultural shifts to PMS.

For the Muslim girls watching from behind their screens, Humaira’s journey is a reminder that taking the first step matters more than waiting to feel ready.