Religious discrimination still exists! and unfortunately, Samantha Elauf became her victim when she applied for a job at a children’s store owned by Abercrombie & Fitch. However, Samantha wasn’t about to let it go. She took things to court and justice was served. She was shown a glimpse on Netflix’s White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch.
Get to know her better as this biography of Samantha Elauf progresses.
Samantha Elauf in Netflix’s White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch
Netflix’s 2022 hour-and-a-half documentary White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch explored the pop culture brand in the late 1990s and early 2000s and how it thrived on exclusion. And among countless controversies, Samantha Elauf appeared in an interview accusing the company of religious discrimination.
It was in 2007 that Samantha first applied for a job at a children’s store owned by Abercrombie & Fitch. The store was located in a strip mall in Tulsa, Oklahoma. So, she wore a headscarf (hijab) for the interview and everything went smoothly. However, even though her assistant manager liked her and wanted to offer her a job, the district manager pushed her for lower scores and disqualified her just for wearing a headscarf.
Although Abercrombie & Fitch had a dress code policy for its salespeople, Samantha believed that a headscarf would not be an issue because they had previously hired a Jewish employee who wore a kippah. So, in September 2009, Samantha sued Abercrombie & Fitch before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for religious discrimination.
Justice has been done! The jury then awarded Samantha $20,000 in damages.
But again, in October 2013, the case was thrown out on appeal saying Samantha never mentioned needing a religious accommodation. The case then went to the Supreme Court, and in June 2015, the jury again found in Samantha’s favor by a vote of 8 to 1.
In the end, Samantha was awarded more than $25,000 in damages plus court costs.
Where is Samantha Elauf today?
Today, Samantha Elauf is a fashion blogger, still living in Oklahoma with her husband.
After winning the battle against Abercrombie & Fitch, Samantha was even invited to meet President Obama in June 2015. Also, the following year, she received the Woody Guthrie Center’s Oklahoma Changing World Award. No wonder, nowadays she is in the spotlight.
Referring to the lawsuit, Samantha said she stood up for what she “believed was right and fair.” Although she received threats and personal attacks on social media and via email, she felt that it was not just an attack on her, but an attack on her “race, beliefs and everything” about her. And that kept her going.
Samantha Elauf Age
Samantha Elauf was born on July 26, 1990. She was 31 years old when her interview appeared on White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch in 2022.
Also, this means that you were 17 when you applied for the job at Abercrombie & Fitch.
Work of Samantha Elauf
Samantha Elauf is now a full-time fashion blogger, selling her wares at “barelybasicscarves.bigcartel.com.”
In March 2020, he quit his job of almost four years as a store manager at Forever 21. “I am going to miss my Forever 21 Fam!! Seriously, I got to work with some of the best people. Forever grateful,” she wrote on her FB after leaving Forever 21.
Prior to that, Samantha worked as a store manager at Urban Outfitters for a year and a half.
Additionally, Samantha previously worked as the Visual Merchandising Manager at Forever 21 from July 2008 to January 2016.
Regarding her education, Samantha graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
Is Samantha Elauf married?
Yes, Samantha Elauf got married in 2022. Her husband, Sami Mustapha, graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2013 and worked as a senior analyst at Verizon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The two got engaged on May 21, 2014, and were married within a year.
Sami turned 32 on December 8, 2021.
In addition to sharing the same university, Samantha and Sami also share a passion for travel. The two visited Paris and Mykonos in 2018, Turks and Caicos in 2019, and Dubai in 2022.
Well, your travel plans have been put on hold due to the 2020 pandemic.
Samantha Elauf’s family
Samantha Elauf comes from a family of five. Unfortunately, her father Raid Ata Elauf died on March 31, 2014 at the age of 50.
As for Samantha’s mom, she just celebrated her 53rd birthday on May 2, 2021. On her birthday in 2016, Samantha shared a photo of them on her FB with the caption: “Happy birthday to my mom! I love her so much and I am so thankful for everything she does and for being real.”
Speaking of her siblings, Samantha’s sister Susan N Elauf turned 30 in October 2021 and her brother Joe Elauf got his realtor’s license in February 2016.
Related FAQ
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Where is Samantha Elauf from?
Samantha hails from Broken Arrow, OK.
His family has Palestinian roots.
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Is Samantha Elauf on Facebook?
Yes, find her on Facebook @samanthaiman.
Also, here is her Instagram @samanthaiman.
Categories: Biography
Source: newstars.edu.vn