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Yasmine Mustafa was just named one of BBC’s 100 Women 2016

Yasmine Mustafa tells her personal story of displacement. November 22, 2016 Category: FeaturedPeopleShort
What do R&B singer Alicia Keys, Olympian Simone Biles and ROAR for Good cofounder and CEO Yasmine Mustafa have in common?

All three have just been recognized for being “inspirational and influential women” by BBC 100 Women 2016, an honor they share with the likes of women such as Syrian nurse Um-Yehia, legendary activist Jane Elliott and vitiligo spokesmodel Winnie Harlow.

That’s not bad company for the Kuwaiti-born Mustafa. The social entrepreneur and activist said she was “speechless” when she was notified of the recognition back in August. It’s high praise, considering ROAR just launched the beta version of its personal safety app launched this past August and hasn’t yet released its physical product, Athena.

Not having a product on the market hasn’t stopped Mustafa from touring the awards and accolades circuit this year: She won a Rad Award for Innovator of the Year in May, made Philadelphia magazine’s “Best of Philly” list in August, landed a spot on CNBC in September and took home the Philly Geek Award for Technologist of the Year in October.

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Heavy lies the crown. Mustafa said she’s “feeling lots of pressure.”

“I wish we were already out,” she wrote via Twitter DM. “Especially with the wave of harassment and hate crimes that have spiked post-election.”

Meanwhile, the beta app is being used in some productive ways. ROAR took action after Black freshmen at Penn were threatened via GroupMe earlier this month.

“We’re offering our app for free and are looking to partner with immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ and minorities that have been negatively affected by the election and want to feel more safe,” she said.

(Mustafa joked that she won’t return from her factory visit next month until the product is ready to ship).

Look out for Mustafa in a film segment BBC is airing this Saturday in honor of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

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