About Me

Welcome to my website. My name is Yousra Samir Imran and I am an author, freelance journalist and copywriter based in the UK.

Here’s a bit about me

I’ve been writing ever since the moment I could hold a pen. I was always entering writing and poetry competitions at school - and won a fair few - and I even wrote the script for the end-of-year play when I was in Year 6! My semi-autobiographical novel, Hijab and Red Lipstick, was published in 2020 in the UK by Hashtag Press.

I am of mixed Egyptian and English/Scottish heritage, and was born and brought up in London, before moving to Qatar at the age of fourteen, where I lived until I was 29 years old.

I am now based in Yorkshire where I live with my husband and work in marketing in the education sector.

I have been a freelance journalist for over a decade and my bylines include Al Jazeera, The New Arab, gal-dem, Elle UK, Stylist UK, Harper’s Bazaar UK, Cosmopolitan UK, Grazia Arabia and The New York Times Magazine (Middle East edition). I have also worked for BBC Radio 4 and 5.

You can find out more about my writing experience on the Writing Services section of this website.

I provide regular commentary on current affairs in the Middle East and contemporary Islamic society and have spoken on BBC Radio 4 and 5, BBC News, and featured in The Telegraph, The New Arab, Middle East Eye and Vogue Arabia, among other publications.

I have chaired and spoken at a number of literary festivals including Bradford Literature Festival, Durham Book Festival, Ananke Women in Literature Festival and Hammersmith & Fulham Writers’ Festival.

Interesting fact: I used to be a personal trainer and fitness instructor and once modelled for Puma.

I am an avid reader and like to review books on my Instagram account. My favourite things to do (other than writing and reading) are drinking a good coffee or cup of karak chai, hiking, watching movies, listening to music, and exploring new cities.

I am passionate about women’s rights, gender justice, disability awareness, mental health, and women in Islam.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: @writereadeatrepeat

Twitter: @underyourabaya