Maryam believes that despite the large number of people struggling with eating disorders around the world, the little seeds of knowledge and awareness she plants are enough to make a larger difference. That is why she tells everyone about the importance of eating disorder awareness, the oppressiveness of diet culture, and the pervasiveness of fat phobia. 

Maryam is excited about Project HEAL because she has experienced financial barriers to accessing treatment herself and she wishes she knew about Project HEAL when she was struggling. She was able to access recovery in the end and hopes that more people get the treatment they deserve through Project HEAL, whether that be financial access or access to a diagnosis that might have been missed. 

Maryam has founded a nonprofit organization to spread awareness about eating disorders and increase access to treatment specifically within minority ethnic and religious groups, namely Muslims and South Asians. She also works for the Body Positive Alliance advocating for fat liberation and disability rights as their Director of Community Engagement. 

Maryam is a senior in high school living in Friendswood, Texas, a city in South Houston. 

Maryam's favorite ice cream flavor is butter pecan!

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers