The article profiles writer, broadcaster and activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied as she reflects on her life in London, her career, and the personal transformation she has experienced since leaving Australia in 2017.

Now based in London, Abdel-Magied describes the city as a place where she feels she can reinvent herself, noting that the environment allows her to express aspects of her identity that previously caused tension in Australia.

She recalls her relocation following a period of intense public scrutiny and backlash in Australia, which emerged after her public commentary on issues relating to Islam, feminism, identity and social justice, including a controversial Anzac Day social media post in 2017.

The ensuing criticism and safety concerns contributed to her decision to move abroad, although she says she was also drawn to London during a work visit where she felt unexpectedly welcomed.

In London, she has built a new life as an author, publishing multiple books including her latest adult novel At Sea, which draws on her experiences as a mechanical engineer working on offshore oil rigs.

The novel explores gender dynamics, isolation and workplace power structures through the story of a Muslim woman leading an offshore drilling operation.Throughout the article, Abdel-Magied reflects on themes of belonging, migration and self-determination.

She contrasts her experiences in Australia, which she describes as a “painful chapter”, with her sense of opportunity in London, while also acknowledging the complexity of gentrification and urban change in the areas she has lived in.

She speaks candidly about how her understanding of the world shifted after the backlash she experienced, describing it as both shattering and ultimately clarifying.

Despite her difficult departure from Australia, she emphasises that she has built a new life and identity in London, shaped by writing, reflection and personal growth.