Beyond the hijab: Performing religious identity on TikTok

This study examines how female Muslim content creators in Germany express and negotiate their religious identities on TikTok, a platform popular among youth. Considering the increasing individualization of faith and religious expression, we aim to illuminate their multifaceted gendered and religious identity performances, including and beyond the hijab, and contribute to a nuanced understanding of belonging on social media. Through a qualitative analysis of 320 videos from 32 accounts, we find that engaging with both Muslim and non-Muslim audiences complexifies their religious expression. Our findings show that creators blend religious and secular discourses to reach diverse audiences, renegotiate identities beyond traditional markers, and challenge (mis)conceptions. This study contributes to our understanding of how religious identity, particularly Muslimness, is performed and negotiated in digital spaces.