Former party girl has spoken out about how Islam converted her and kept her safe from the ‘dark places’ she was in after her suicidal lifestyle.
Persephone Rizvi (27) from Huddersfield described how she used her weekends to get into fights, drink until 5am, and wake up with a hangover, before she converted to Islam seven-years ago.
Persephone (now wearing a hijab) spoke to BBC Three’s This Girl’s Changed. Persephone said her entire fashion and behavior has been transformed since she discovered Islam.
Persephone Rizvi (27), a Huddersfield woman, used to spend her weekends drinking and getting in fights until she woke up at 5am. She converted to Islam seven years later. Pictured during her partying days
Persephone spoke on BBC Three’s documentary This Girl’s Changed. She said that everything, from how she dresses to her behavior, has changed since discovering Islam. Amazing transformation by an ex-party addict after she accepted Islam
“Whether it was my words or my attitude, I had a huge ego,” she said. Islam has helped me improve my personality and how I interact with people. Islam has shown me that I am not prone to gossiping and backbiting.
Persephone described her weekend as a blurred of friends and parties.
She stated, “In my peak party-life, a weekend would start with “Whose idea am we using? What outfit am i wearing, how’s my fitting going to be, and what shoes am I going to wear?”
Then, it’d be pre-drinks and then “who is going to take us to the town?” Literally, the party didn’t end until 4:00 or 5:00 am in the club. Then it was “who’s taking us to the town?”
She spoke of a time when she had been’really drunk’ lying on her stomach, naked, on the floor in the kitchen.This isn’t what I’m meant to do, and it’s not possible for me to continue doing this.
After discovering Islam, Persephone threw away bags of her clothes she no longer felt were appropriate, removed her false nails, changed her name on Facebook and deleted all her racy pictures (pictured L-R, Persephone before converting to Islam)
Persephone was a young lady who spent her days partying with friends. She also drank alcohol, and stayed up till the wee hours of the morning.
Persephone claimed that before becoming Muslim, she wasn’t afraid to be noticed. But her life has been transformed by being a Muslim. Before converting to Islam, she was seen partying.
Persephone stated that Islam converted Persephone to ‘better her character’, and kept her out of a “dark place” after she had been living an extreme lifestyle which left her feeling suicidal.
Persephone seen praying said Islam was responsible for saving her life, and that it gave her her purpose.
Persephone was able to return to the park she tried to end her own life in one episode of the program.
“I didn’t even know it was coming,” she stated. She said, “When it was I…” [last]When I got here, my mental health had been very poor. I wanted to end my own life. It’s hard to believe that I tried to end my life.
“This was my starting point for mental decline. Islam has been a huge help to me in my mental well-being.
Persephone was able to talk with her mom and dad about the times when she felt her most vulnerable.
Persephone used to spend time in the park with her friends. Recalling this place reminded her of her drinking history, which led her back to the party scene.
Persephone has been supported by her parents in her Islam journey. The documentary featured Persephone speaking to her dad and mum about the time when she was suffering from mental illness.
“You were in a downward spiral,” her mother, as seen on the candid discussion about her mental health.
She recalled that her mother was right there with her, saying: “You were in a down spiral.” At times I thought you wouldn’t make it. Although we had some concerns about you, our hope was that you would do something.
Her response was: “This is my concern, you weren’t willing to talk about any real topic.” You used to write [diaries]. These were books I loved to read.
“I used make sure that you have lots of body lotion to get in your phone. Also, I read through your chats. You were very dark.
Persephone, upon discovering Islam, threw out bags of clothes that she didn’t feel appropriate. She also removed her false nails and changed her Facebook name.
She said that her conversion decision was based on “looking for answers”.
‘I had no use or value for myself. So I joined a friend who worked in a call-centre and started fasting.
Persephone had friends who met, with sisters Khloees and Chanelle. They were all open to Persephone changing their religion.
“The feeling at the end was overwhelming, she gave to me the first genuine feeling of Islam and gratitude and peace. It finally drove me to say that I need my Shahada. [Islamic oath].’
Because she felt it was too hard to be with people who drink alcohol, she ghosted friends and moved to London before eventually moving to Manchester. She then returned home at age 27.
“When I converted, I chopped them off like we couldn’t be best friends if you weren’t Muslim.” She said that she now knows more about what I believe, and it isn’t.
“I was literally thrown off the faceless of social media. I converted from Christianity to Islam, and had expected them to want to meet me and allow me to reintegrate in their lives. Are they asking too much? “I don’t know.”
The four friends Persephone met up with were all accepting of her change of religion, and reflecting on her journey she said that she felt she could ‘be herself and accept herself’.
BBC iPlayer has This Girl’s Changed.