Proud parents overjoyed to see their daughter's first-ever book in stores

When COVID-19 cancelled Australian author Rawah Arja's book launch... twice, this is how she decided to celebrate.

When COVID-19 cancelled Australian author Rawah Arja's book launch... twice, this is how she decided to celebrate.

Rawah captured the incredibly first time her parents saw her new book in stores, after more than five years of writing.

Rawah's uplifting video went viral, now boasting 1.6 million views, on her TikTok (@roo_roo01), where she often posts heartfelt clips of her parents, who moved from Lebanon to Sydney as teenagers.

Rawah told Newsflare: "It felt as incredible as I had always dreamed.

My parents were/and still are my biggest supporters and though COVID ruined any chance of a celebration, I couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy this moment.

"Imagine living in a world where mirrors didn’t exist.

You couldn’t see yourself and your self-worth was based on other people’s thoughts and opinions.

That was my life—the life of a Muslim girl who saw herself as second best.

My story wasn’t even worth being in print or in books so for a long time I hated reading and felt lost.

It was only until I was 15 years old when my English teacher gave me a book called Does My Head Look Big In This?

By Randa Abdel-Fattah, a Muslim woman author, that I finally felt worthy.

I was now a reader.

"Fast forward to graduating university with a Masters in Teaching, the first of seven siblings, to becoming a writer with my debut book called The F Team.

I waited five years for this moment captured in the video where I finally had my book in major stores in Australia.

"People underestimate what it’s like to see yourself represented in books or in film.

It gave me a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, and the confidence to finally feel as though I was apart of society.

I didn’t have to wait or accept being at the back of the line, rather my story—the voice of a person of colour, a minority, meant something.

I have just a right to be at the front of the line like anybody else." This video was filmed on September 26.