SSgt. Lourdes Loyola | US Army
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Meet Lourdes
Lourdes Loyola goes by @muslim_sarge on Instagram and on TikTok where she has more than 44,000 followers.
Lourdes is a Mexican-born Muslim, single mother of three sons, and a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army. She enlisted in 2009 and reverted to Islam in 2015. In addition to using her platform to discuss about her faith, she teaches women self-defense classes, is the creator an online community called Military Muslims Building Bridges, and is a JogOn Sportswear Ambassador.
“I converted to Islam December of 2015 and created #MilitaryMuslimsBuildingBridges (MMBB) this year because I’ve noticed a lot of miseducation of both Military and Muslim communities.
My aim is not only to educate both groups but bring us together. The Military is not who the media portrays us to be and neither are Muslims. Through MMBB I show that I’m not an anomaly in the military, there are people of different religions who served and serve, it just so happens that the way I practice my faith is visible to all. Repping the brand is a perfect way to open up these conversations and get to know one another and I believe that together we can break down these barriers.
You don’t have to be Muslim or a service member in order to break these stereotypes; it all ends with education.”
— excerpt from an interview with @Latinosinuniform
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