Ali Haidar 2022 Finalist

• 29 Years of age
• Melbourne
• Victoria

I want this to mean something to someone else out there and to inspire others who are dealing with their identity to live as their authentic and proud selves.

I never had a role model or anyone that I could relate to or look up to. Growing up gay was challenging for me.

Dealing with self-acceptance and outside influences telling me what I am and who I shouldn’t be is wrong, made it so much more difficult for me.

I began to resent myself, because of the environment I was born into and people I had surrounded myself with.

I don’t want others to go through the same, or at least make it easier for them.