ALTHOUGH she has sported a modest Muslimah image in recent years, Mizz Nina is aware that she can never fully shed her colourful past as a rapper and singer.
“I understand how difficult it is to take the next step towards the new you, but people associate you with your past,” she said when met at the launch of her talk show, The Mizz Nina Show, at Wisma UOA in Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, recently.
“However, I see it as a good thing because it reminds me of how glad I am that God has guided me back towards Islam.”
The 36-year-old made her debut in the music scene in 1997 as a hip-hop performer with a wild and sexy image.
It was only after she tied
the knot with Hujan frontman Noh Salleh in 2011 that her journey towards spirituality took place.
The artiste, whose real name is Shazrina Azman, sealed her status as a Muslim revert after returning from her Haj in 2013. Since then, she began wearing the hijab and altered the course of her career.
She left her music career behind, and has taken on the role of a TV producer and host, where she shares about her life’s transition and reconnection with Islam.
She said to make a positive change, one should not pay attention to what others might think.
“If I had listened to other people’s views, I wouldn’t have made it this far. There’s a lot of negativity that I would’ve succumbed to if I was not careful.”
Stressing on the importance of faith, she said it was never too late to make that change.
“Take it step by step. It doesn’t have to be something that you showcase to others. This is between you and Him.”
Despite having taken this spiritual route for several years, she said she had a long way to go.
“I try to remain steadfast by reminding myself of my intention and purpose in life,” she said, having recently completed her diploma in basic Islamic Studies at Arees University, which has a campus in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.
To dive deeper into her learning of Islam, she takes Arabic language classes and attends weekly Quran-reading classes to improve her Arabic pronunciation as well as her understanding of Quranic verses.
“I stay connected with my religious teachers for guidance, and have good friends around me.
“Being around the right kind of people is important, because if they don’t care about your goal, you can return to your old self.
“It’s a slow process. I need to start from scratch to have an good foundation of religious understanding.”
The Mizz Nina Show premiered on June 12 and airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 11pm on Astro Oasis (Channel 106) and Astro Maya HD (Channel 135).