Ex-Playboy Bunny Felixia Yeap Says She Is Officially Embracing Islam
A former Playboy bunny and model, Felixia Yeap, whose interest in the hijab drew intense media attention late last year, yesterday announced that she was embracing Islam this Ramadan.
By Sadho Ram — 29 Jun 2014, 04:43 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
Felixia Yeap Officially Embraces Islam But Decides To Retain Her Chinese Name
Felixia Yeap, the former Playboy bunny who announced last Friday that she was embracing Islam, said she felt “born again” on her birthday today when her conversion would be made official. The 28-year-old, however, said she would fight to keep her Chinese name given by her mother.
"My Chinese name means tranquility and elegance," said Yeap, who said she would take the Islamic declaration of faith in front of family members and close friends. “Today is not just my birthday, but also the day that I am born again. The day that I finally return after 28 years of finding the way home,” wrote Yeap in her soul-baring posting this morning.
Yeap said her conversion was the result of a seven-month quest to learn about Islam, after she took to wearing the hijab, a decision which attracted criticism from her fans. “From the moment I pledged to wear the hijab, even though I was not a Muslim at heart, until this moment (July 3, 6am) where I am a Muslim at heart who only waits for the official pronouncement, I have gone through many trials and tribulations,” said the Ipoh-born former kindergarten teacher, who once worked at The Playboy club in Macau.
Yeap, saying she had persevered months of insults and alienation because of her decision, however, paid tribute to her mother who she said bravely endured sarcasm from their relatives.
“She did not object (to it), in fact she gave her blessings when I told her that I was learning about Islam and intended to embrace the faith. Many converts are disowned by their families for making the same decision. Some of them hide their identities as Muslims from their family members for fear of being alienated and disowned,” she wrote.
She said when she asked her mother why she supported her decision, her mother had replied in Cantonese, "Sang seng jor lor, dai gor nui la... kwai jor hou dor" (You are grown up already, more mature ... a good girl).
“My mother smiled and I fought back my tears,” said Yeap, who also said the support and her own "stubbornness" helped her get through negative remark hurled at her. “I admit, there were times I felt crushed and defeated. But I firmly stood my ground and did not take off my hijab. I continued my struggle.”
Malaysia's first ever Playboy bunny Felixia Yeap will be "reborn" on 3 July 2014 when she embraces Islam
Former Playboy bunny Felixia Yeap is excited to fast for the first time this year and hopes she will be able to fulfill the third pillar of Islam this Ramadan. The day has finally come for her as she will be embracing the religion on the 5th day of Ramadan, the same day as her birthday, July 3.
The porcelain-skinned beauty added that she decided to recite the official Muslim declaration of faith on the fifth day of Ramadan as it was Prophet Muhammad's favourite date
“The fifth of Ramadan this year falls on July 3 which is my birthday and it is also a Thursday which was the Prophet Mohammad’s favourite day,” she said. “I will remember this historical date forever,” she added.
therakyatpost.com
"I hope everyone will pray that I will be steadfast and committed in my new journey. Only Allah can repay all those who prayed for my new life," the 28-year-old said in her posting on her Facebook page that has more than 750,000 likes. The status was widely accepted by many of her fans, who congratulated her on her decision.
thestar.com.myYeap would announce her Muslim name at a later date and that she preferred not to reveal the place where she would recite the shahadah
The announcement was made in front of some 1,500 members of the public who attended the Selangor State Semarak Ramadan programme at Dataran Shah Alam.
therakyatpost.com
According to Yeap, her decision to embrace Islam was not because she was coerced into it by anyone but it came straight from her heart
“I am willingly embracing Islam although some friends began shunning me when I began to change. However, my mother is really happy with this development in my life. Even though I am now wearing the hijab, I still receive modelling offers,” she told the crowd, adding that she was under the impression that when she started covering her hair, her career in the modelling industry would have reached its end.
thestar.com.my“Despite that, I was determined to wear the hijab and what happened was that, to my surprise, the offers never stopped.”
therakyatpost.com
Yeap, whose modelling career took off after a stint at the Playboy Club Sands Macau about two years ago, has been modelling Muslimah clothing such as the hijab for a while now
"I believe I am worth more than just showing off my body. I am more than this. "And I don't feel proud if attention- or fame-seeking model wannabes out there look at me as their idol or role model," she said in a blog post titled "The Truth Behind My Hijab" last year.
thestar.com.my26-year-old Yeap has posed for Playboy Philippines, the third Malaysian to do so in the men's magazine that features photographs of nude women. She, however, did not appear in the nude.
therakyatpost.com
She stopped posing for racy pictures earlier this year and often posts picture of herself in Muslimah clothing on her Facebook page. She also endorses many brands in her postings.
thestar.com.myYeap was previously criticized for her decision to don Hijab before she converted to Islam. However, as the holy month is around the corner, her status prompted many of her fans to offer their support for her decision.
