Muslim Girl launched in U.S. by Toronto firm

A Toronto-based communications and contract publishing company called execuGo Media has launched a new bimonthly magazine called Muslim Girl, aimed mostly at the U.S. market. Its premier edition has a circulation of 25,000, mainly distributed in areas known to have large Muslim populations, including New York; Jersey City, New Jersey; Dearborn, Michigan; Chicago, Los Angeles and areas of Texas. Within two years, there are hopes that the magazine will have a per-issue circulation of 100,000. There is also plans to distribute the magazine in Ontario and Toronto, said Ausma Khan, the editor in chief, who is a lawyer and writer.

One of Muslim Girl's gimmicks is that it solicits its readers to be its cover subjects. Wardah Chaudhary, a 16-year old Muslim girl from Tulsa, Oklahoma, was the magazine's first cover girl. Those interested to become the cover girl of the magazine`s upcoming issues can log on to the magazine`s website .

"One thing I know for sure is that I am not behind in anything just because I wear Hijab," said cover girl Chaudhary, who appeared on the magazine`s cover wearing a red and white head covering, with tiny red, white and blue stars on her right cheeks, said in her essay referring to her style of Hijab. "To all the girls that are reading this, I want them to know to be proud of who you are."

Khan, writer, human rights lawyer and activist, liked the magazine's concept so much that she left a teaching position at Northwestern University to become editor in chief. "Most representations of Muslims in the media are negative," she said. "Muslim Girl magazine challenges those perceptions by telling the stories of Muslim teens who are proud to be American and who contribute to American society in so many positive ways. This is a chance for their voices to be heard. Our editorial mandate is to `enlighten, celebrate and inspire' them."

The U.S. cover price is US$4.95 and an annual subscription rate is US$19.99.