Feeling ‘reborn’ as new Muslim, ex-Playboy bunny insists on keeping Chinese name

Felixia Yeap says her mother stood by her in the face of criticism over the choice of her Islamic faith. – The Malaysian Insider pic, July 3, 2014.

Felixia Yeap, the former Playboy bunny who announced last Friday that she was embracing Islam, said she felt “born again” on her birthday today when her conversion would be made official.

The 28-year-old, however, said she would fight to keep her Chinese name given by her mother.

"My Chinese name means tranquility and elegance," said Yeap, who said she would take the Islamic declaration of faith in front of family members and close friends.

“Today is not just my birthday, but also the day that I am born again. The day that I finally return after 28 years of finding the way home,” wrote Yeap in her soul-baring posting this morning.

Yeap said her conversion was the result of a seven-month quest to learn about Islam, after she took to wearing the hijab, a decision which attracted criticism from her fans.

“From the moment I pledged to wear the hijab, even though I was not a Muslim at heart, until this moment (July 3, 6am) where I am a Muslim at heart who only waits for the official pronouncement, I have gone through many trials and tribulations,” said the Ipoh-born former kindergarten teacher, who once worked at The Playboy club in Macau.

Yeap, saying she had persevered months of insults and alienation because of her decision, however, paid tribute to her mother who she said bravely endured sarcasm from their relatives.

“She did not object (to it), in fact she gave her blessings when I told her that I was learning about Islam and intended to embrace the faith.

“Many converts are disowned by their families for making the same decision. Some of them hide their identities as Muslims from their family members for fear of being alienated and disowned,” she wrote.

She said when she asked her mother why she supported her decision, her mother had replied in Cantonese, "Sang seng jor lor, dai gor nui la... kwai jor hou dor" (You are grown up already, more mature ... a good girl).

“My mother smiled and I fought back my tears,” said Yeap, who also said the support and her own "stubbornness" helped her get through negative remark hurled at her.

“I admit, there were times I felt crushed and defeated.

But I firmly stood my ground and did not take off my hijab. I continued my struggle.”

When the story of her love for the Muslim head dress made headlines in December last year, many of Yeap’s 148,000 fans left her Facebook page, accusing her of a publicity stunt.

Some non-Muslims, said Yeap, had said she was doing it to marry “a rich Datuk”.  

But Yeap told The Malaysian Insider last year that she could have found a rich husband a long time ago through her successful modeling career.

Of her past, Yeap said it made her realise how some considered hedonism and materialism as happiness.

“Most of the people around me judged their happiness based on their boyfriends' wealth, the happening parties they went, or how they were happy as long as they got drunk, and how much money they could scalp from their boyfriends.

“Most hungered for wealth and they searched for it without caring for their dignity.

“But for me, that was not the wealth that I longed for. For what is the point of being wealthy when your life feels empty, meaningless and drowned in sin. That is not the happiness I seek.”

Yeap, who started modeling in 2005, had bagged top prizes in a slew of contests and pageants.

She first broke the news of her conversion in front of some 2,000 people at an event ahead of the holy month of Ramadan in Shah Alam, last Friday.

- TMI