Big Mouth Feature: Fatima Elmusbahi

Our last feature is Fatima Elmusbahi who wrote a piece called “Big Mouth” and is featured on the back cover of No. 11 Big Mouth.

What was your inspiration behind writing your piece for Big Mouth?

I would say the biggest inspiration for me was the essence of women.

I wanted to be a voice for powerful women everywhere and remind them of their privileged status on earth. We are the origins of existence and with that we hold such might and gentle attributes that make the earth orbit.

To empower my sisters all over the world, who face tribulations in the modern era we have entered, and to honour the women who faced hardships in the years and history before hand. That was my purpose for the piece “the might of she”.

Tell me a little about yourself, where are you from and how did you become a writer?

I’m 23 years old from a city called Manchester, within the United Kingdom.

I became a writer at first, due to finding peace and healing within the reflective process of writing. I always found myself philosophising as a young child. I always found myself seeking answers, or being in dispute of things that I was being told to accept within society and the culture I was raised in. Therefore I carried a journal around everywhere and it all began from there.  

When you are in a writer's block what helps you get out of it?

Usually long walks and hiking are my go-to, to clear my mind and literally relieve my stress. I also find yoga and meditation a really good way of switching off. When I find that I am unable to write I hold off a little while, because I know it won’t be long before I am inspired again. So I don’t put pressure on myself at all-rest for the mind is a good thing.

Other than writing, what do you like to do on your free time?

I enjoy watching movies after a long day.

I do a lot of commuting for my job, so I appreciate the small things these days. A hot chocolate, with my duvet and a movie. French movies are my current obsession and fix; since I am learning french, I find them very useful to aid my learning. In addition, travelling is what I am trying to do in my free time! I try to move and see a different place every few weeks- from within the UK or abroad. Next trip is my all round Italy trip in three weeks!

Why do you write? 

I write to heal, to confront all my thoughts that weave within the spaces of my mind. I found that it resolves thoughts when I write them down, or it can be something I can explore creatively further on. I get inspired by everything and writing is the way I interpret it, within that raw moment.

A day or two later, those thoughts can be used to reap something greater, something more, and explored so much more. Writing is an art to me. 

When hearing "Big Mouth" what comes to your mind?

Initially when I heard Big Mouth, I thought of oppression and the need to voice ones opinions. Oppression even by the likes of society and culture who deem that anyone opinionated, can be instantly stigmatized as a person with a “big mouth”, but in reality its the characteristics of a warrior, a person who seeks no validation in those that deem them as outspoken and big mouthed. They run the pack, they are the leaders and will revolutionize society itself.  That’s how I got inspired to write a piece about women and the might and power of the female sex.

Do you have any crazy mouth relate stories?

Nothing comes to mind just like that. I can be a closed book sometimes....

Have you ever had braces before?

Yes I did! When I was a young girl, around 14? I only had them for two months because my teeth straightened out rather quickly. All I had was a gap between my front teeth, which I didn’t particularly like

Check out more of Fatima on her blog!