Schoolgirl wins national essay prize for writing about life as a Muslim

Yasmin O’Mahoney, 15, from Lewes, won the Orwell Youth Prize for her passionate account about modern-day life as a British muslim.

The national prize is a junior version of the prestigious Orwell Prize recognising political writing of outstanding quality.

The Lewes Old Grammar School pupil beat 178 writers aged 13 to 18 to win the prize.

Year 10 pupil Yasmin said: “I was up against some really tough competition so it was a great surprise to win.

“Hearing an Oxford graduate read the last three paragraphs of my essay was an unforgettable experience, and I was honoured when a muslim family came up to me afterwards and said how deeply they’d been touched.

“I feel even more motivated to keep writing.”

Her essay Different was written in response to the competition’s brief, which asked entrants to write about identity.

The essay chronicles the 15-year-old’s experience growing up in a multicultural family, and includes a vivid depiction of a family dinner where the physical differences between her Irish father and Pakistani mother are thrown into relief.

The winning entry also records how the Lewes student came to terms with her Asian appearance while living in a predominantly white area, and discusses the misrepresentation of muslims in the media by contrasting stereotypes of Islam that she encounters in her daily life with first-hand memories of her grandparents.

The final round of the prize was judged by journalist and Orwell fellow Nicci Gerrard, while George Orwell’s son, Richard Blair, presented Yasmin with her award at Pembroke College, Oxford University.

The youth prize is an off-shoot to the adult prize, which awards three prizes annually for a writing.

Her headteacher Robert Blewitt said: “Yasmin’s success serves as inspiration for other pupils and her writing offers a valuable insight into the diversity of culture in modern Britain.

“Her style is mature way beyond her years and we have high hopes for her future career.”