Food vlogger Anisa up for UK Muslim Award
MUM-OF-THREE FROM CITY A HIT ON YOUTUBE SHARING RECIPES
KEEN cook and mother-of-three turned YouTube star from Leicester has made the list of finalists for the British Muslim Awards.
Anisa, known for her digital brand Cook with Anisa, began sharing videos on social media and often found herself being messaged by people who wanted her recipes.
After being encouraged by friends to share her recipes on YouTube, she reluctantly started making simple demonstrative videos, with the help of her husband, Adam.
“The earlier videos are a bit cringey, but I just wanted to help people.
“Cooking is a great life skill and I’ve even had feedback from parents saying their kids cook at home now,” she said.
With no formal cooking qualification, Anisa’s love of food and cooking stemmed from her childhood memories of learning from her mum.
She now has a following of thousands across social media and has made her mark at cooking shows and festivals in the UK, including being a judge at a festival alongside Masterchef 2012 winner, Shelina Permalloo.
Her shared recipes consist of a range of colourful, family-friendly snacks and meals.
Although initially camera shy, she started to involve herself more in the videos and speak to her audience, quickly gaining more subscribers to her YouTube channel and a social media followers.
“I feel quite humbled and blessed – it’s opened up a lot of opportunities for me.
“I’ve worked with some great charities and I’ve worked with the BBC and ITV. I’ve even had the chance to work with Sainsbury’s and Co-op,” Anisa said.
In March 2019, she hit 100,000 subscribers to her channel after gaining traction through events, food festivals and awards. Her InstaA
The full list of Leicester finalists for the British Muslim Awards: Media Arts & Cultural Awareness: Rashida Osman, Zahra Gulraiz. Services to Education: Rajnaara C Akhtar.
Social Inclusion Group Of The gram following is 47,100 and counting.
She said: “When I think about the followers I think ‘wow.’ But at the start I wasn’t interested in the following, it’s not about that for me. It’s Year: The An-Nasiha educational Trust.
Digital Activity Of The Year: Anisagrams.
Religious Education Provider: Leicester Islamic Academy, Madani Schools Federation. nice to know that people like what I’m doing but as long as I’m helping one person, I’m happy with that.”
Now, the food blogger has made it on to the list of finalists at the British Muslim Awards 2020 in the category for Digital Activity of the Year.
“It was a surprise to be notified that the public voted for me – the first I knew about it was when I was told I was a finalist,” she said.
Anisa sits among a list of seven finalists from Leicester for the awards that will be held later this year in Manchester – including artists, teachers and charities.