Saudi influencer Sara Al-Wedaani surprises followers by removing her hijab

Saudi influencer Sara Al-Wedaani stunned her audience with an unexpected move, appearing for the first time without a hijab, sparking a widespread wave of debate on social media platforms.

This step shocked a large segment of her followers who were accustomed to seeing her wearing a hijab for years, especially given her previous statements affirming her commitment to it as a religious choice.

The video clip quickly spread across Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, before the discussion moved to X, where opinions were divided between critics who saw the decision as a result of fame pressures and supporters who viewed it as a personal freedom not subject to oversight.

Hijab removal for money The hijab controversy dates back to 2019, when an attempt was made to photograph her without a hijab in exchange for a sum reaching 50,000 Saudi Riyals, during a celebration of her reaching one million followers. A previously circulated video of her father expressing doubt that she would take this step further intensified the debate.

Silence amid the storm Despite the storm, Sara chose to remain silent, continuing to post her daily and promotional content without comment, a stance interpreted by some as deliberate disregard to keep the spotlight on her, while others viewed it as temporary silence before an expected clarification.

It is noteworthy that the Gulf influencer welcomed her fifth child with her husband "Abu Saad" in 2025, while the act of removing the hijab has become the latest controversial topic regarding personal freedom and social obligations in Gulf society.