Nadiya Hussain says ‘I get paid less than the white version of me’ as she hits out at racism in the ‘broken’ TV industry and claims her Muslim faith ‘made people uncomfortable’

by

Nadiya Hussain has spoken out about racism within the television industry, stating that her Muslim faith has sometimes caused discomfort for others.

Nadiya Hussain became a household name in 2015 when she won The Great British Bake Off. Since then, she’s hosted several popular shows for the BBC, such as Nadiya’s Asian Odyssey, Nadiya’s Cook Once Eat Twice, and Nadiya’s Time to Eat.

But back in June, the celebrity announced on Instagram that the BBC had cancelled her programs.

After six months, Nadiya has openly discussed racism within her industry, revealing that she earns less than her white colleagues for doing the same work.

Speaking to The Guardian about the challenges of being the only Muslim woman in many spaces, she explained that people often ask if things are improving. She’s come to realize, however, that the system is fundamentally broken and that she can’t be responsible for fixing it. This realization has been particularly important for her in the past year.

Now that the BBC has cancelled her programs, Nadiya is taking time to think about her career goals for the next decade.

She first became famous through a reality TV show, but now understands she didn’t have control over her own career path.

I realized I was starting to feel… fake. I wasn’t being truly me anymore, but a version of myself created to please others. It was like I’d become this easily digestible, ‘safe’ Muslim – the kind people wanted to see on TV, the kind who could write cookbooks. I wasn’t living authentically; I was performing a role.

Nadiya recently released her cookbook, Rooza, featuring recipes influenced by cuisines from the Muslim world.

I’ve been following her for a while, and she’s been really thoughtful about this. She doesn’t have proof, but she strongly believes there’s a connection between starting to create work that openly expressed her Muslim faith and brands becoming less interested in collaborating with her. It just feels too much like a coincidence to her, and honestly, I get why she feels that way.

Nadiya noticed her previous cookbooks were designed for a wide audience, but this new one felt less welcoming. She thinks it may have made some people feel uneasy.

Nadiya is now focused on being true to herself and is re-examining past choices she made to conform to industry expectations.

She explained that she started tying her headscarf differently, covering just her hair instead of both her hair and neck, to create a more contemporary look.

Nadiya decided to take control of her career after parting ways with her manager and agent this summer. She’s happy to work on projects that are smaller in scope, as long as she’s leading the way.

The star hopes to continue publishing books, including something for children. 

I was so excited to hear that the amazing mom of three, who also studied childhood and youth development in college, is now a teaching assistant at a primary school! It’s wonderful to see her putting her education and passion into helping young children learn.

Unfortunately, she had to stop after just three months because it severely impacted her health, as she shared in a heartfelt Instagram post.

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a little life update – you didn’t necessarily ask for it, but here it is! I’m being real with you all today, and honestly, it’s been a bit emotional. I’m not afraid to show a little vulnerability, and sometimes that means letting the tears flow.

As many of you know, when the BBC cancelled my show, I felt lost and unsure about my future direction.

She explained how she ended up working at the school, saying, ‘I’ve always been passionate about working with young children as a teaching assistant, and applying for jobs was actually quite a challenge for many reasons.’

I worked as a teaching assistant at a primary school, and it was honestly one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had – second only to raising my own children.

Waking up each morning and caring for those wonderful children truly brought me joy. I genuinely loved every moment of that job.

Unfortunately, working that kind of job really damaged my health because I have a weakened immune system.

Nadiya, who has fibromyalgia, said that working in a school exposed her to a lot of illnesses like colds and coughs, and she struggled to recover from them.

I was constantly ill, and it started to seriously impact my mental well-being. Because I was always sick, I just couldn’t perform at my best.

Leaving that job was an incredibly difficult decision – one of the hardest I’ve ever faced.

I spent just over three months there and truly enjoyed it. What I loved most was watching the children develop and grow.

It helped me figure out which industries I’m interested in, which has given me a clearer direction for my career.

Honestly, it really broke my heart, but my health just wouldn’t allow me to continue working as a teaching assistant in a primary school. With a compromised immune system, it was simply too challenging, and it was a really tough decision to step down. I had to prioritize my well-being, and it was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.

I made a change for my own well-being, but I really enjoyed working with the fantastic people I’ve collaborated with over the past three months – they all know who they are.

Read More

2026-02-25 13:04