14-year-old Stephanie Kurlow has been performing since she was two, but when she converted to Islam in 2010, she thought she'd have to hang up her pointe shoes forever. Because there were no professional ballerinas that looked like her, Kurlow felt that she had no one to look up to in the industry. Since she started dancing again, though, Kurlow is paving her own way. With dreams to become the first hijab-wearing professional ballerina, Kurlow started a LaunchGood project to help raise funds for her training.
She explains her goal on her page: "Through your investment in me, I will be able to receive my qualifications and diplomas so that I may open a performing arts school that caters to children and teenagers of different religions, races or backgrounds. This school will have special programs for specific religions, support groups for our youth and people who are from disconnected communities."
Scroll through to see this Muslim ballerina in action!