With a new series of Bake Off kicking off this week – where Mary Berry will judge who’s the best baker of them all – it’s time to revisit our favourite face and winner-from last year.
Twelve months ago, Nadiya Hussain was unknown to most – another name on the register of Britain’s 64 million residents.
Today, she is one of the biggest names on the baking scene, cooking up show stopping cakes for the Queen and releasing her own cookbook to the delight of her 100,000 Twitter followers.
However, despite her loveable personality and skills in the kitchen – attributes which led to her winning the sixth series of the ever popular Great British Bake Off – it was her impact away from the oven gloves which was perhaps more profound.
The mother-of-three, standing at just five foot tall, was somewhat unknowingly breaking down cultural and racial barriers by consistently donning the hijab every week.
Her cheek-to-cheek smile showed the true face of so many hijab-wearing women in the UK, and today, in a world where religious wear is ever more scrutinised, it made a welcome change.
Speaking previously to the Asian Express, she said: “I have been praised as a Muslim role model and that is such a wonderful thing.
“What I do hope I can inspire people to do, is to believe in their own abilities and believe that dreams can become reality, through hard work, determination and simply believing that they can.”
As the latest series of the Bake Off hits our screens this week, the question of who will win will undoubtedly be at the forefront of many viewers’ minds.
Following in the footsteps of Nadiya is a big ask for even a seasoned baker.
Her job now entails public demonstrations, writing her own articles and – of course – raising a family with her supportive husband, Abdul.
Can anyone come close to wearing the Bake Off crown with as much enthusiasm as Nadiya? Well, if they can rustle up a cake that looks like a magnificent peacock whilst cracking more jokes than the eggs , they could… possibly… come close.
