Presented by Zia H Shah MD

Felixia Yeap (Raisyyah Rania Yeap) grew up in Malaysia chasing the lights of fame. Born in Kuala Lumpur in 1986 and raised in Ipoh, Peraken.wikipedia.org, she began her career not in religion but as a kindergarten teacher. Soon she entered the world of beauty pageants and modelling. By 2005 she was a finalist in Malaysia’s Dewi Remaja contesten.wikipedia.org. Over the next few years she earned many titles – appearing on “I Wanna Be a Model,” becoming a Hall of Fame inductee for Miss Malaysia Tourism 2007 (at age 19), runner-up in Miss Chinese World Malaysia 2006, and finalist in Dewi Remaja Malaysiaen.wikipedia.org. She won Velocity Angels Model of the Year in 2009 and was a finalist in Miss Universe Malaysia 2010en.wikipedia.org. Internationally, she joined Playboy’s first batch of bunnies in Macau and appeared (non-nude) in the July–August 2013 Playboy Philippines issueen.wikipedia.org. In all this, the crowd saw only glitz – the world “dazzled by glamour,” in the words of one commentator – but Felixia herself felt something was missing.

Despite her success, Felixia soon sensed a deep emptiness. In interviews she admitted that after some jobs she had even “cried…feeling exploited” by the demands of acting “sexy” in her workmoroccoworldnews.com. She later described going through the motions of various faiths without finding peace: attending Catholic mass every week, trying to understand Christianity, exploring Buddhist practice – yet “her heart never felt close to God” until she found Islamchristiantoday.com. These struggles with identity and meaning haunted her quietly. The dazzling façade of fame had become a “mirage” that left her soul yearning for something real.

Searching for Truth: The Hijab and Awakening

By late 2013, Felixia took a first step toward that truth: she chose to wear the hijab. Publicly explaining her choice, she wrote, “I believe I am worth more than just showing off my body. I am more than this”en.wikipedia.org. That simple act of modesty was a spark. According to one commentator, after she first put on the hijab “she found a sense of serenity and security in her life,” realizing that this new garment returned to her “her femininity and human dignity”zulheimymaamor.blogspot.com. In the language of the Qur’an, she had donned a libās al-taqwā – a “garment of righteousness” – rather than mere adornment. As the Quran teaches: “O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing… as adornment. But the garment of righteousness – that is best.”myislam.org Indeed, for Felixia the hijab became a symbol of inner change, the beginning of a journey back to God.

During this period of searching, Felixia wrote frankly about her past. She confessed she did not feel proud of her former image as a Playboy model and worried that other young women idolized that life. “I don’t feel proud if attention- or fame-seeking model wannabes… look at me as their idol,” she lamenteden.wikipedia.org. In choosing modesty, she was listening to a higher calling: a still, small voice urging her toward faith. Each day in the hijab brought her closer to the meaning she longed for.

The Embrace of Islam: Returning to Allah

The turning point came on 3 July 2014 – Felixia’s 28th birthday, which coincided with the holy month of Ramadan and a Friday (prophet Muhammad’s favorite day)christiantoday.com. On that day she publicly declared the shahada (Islamic profession of faith) and adopted the name Raisyyah Rania Yeapen.wikipedia.org. In her own words, she called this moment a “rebirth,” asking friends to pray that she remain steadfast on her new pathchristiantoday.com. This act was the culmination of her soul’s tawbah (turning back to God). It literally meant “returning” to the Lord – exactly as the Qur’an instructs:

وَأَنِيبُوا۟ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُوا۟ لَهُۥ (Az-Zumar 39:54)
“And [now] turn [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.”myislam.orgmyislam.org

This verse beautifully encapsulates her journey: she finally returned to her Lord and fully embraced His guidance. In embracing Islam, Felixia was not punishing herself but accepting Divine mercy. As Allah promises:

قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ… إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (Az-Zumar 39:53)
“Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins; indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”myislam.orgmyislam.org

Felixia’s story mirrors this verse. Like the “servants who have transgressed,” she once wandered far, but Allah’s boundless mercy called her home. After conversion she often speaks of her gratitude, noting that “only Allah can repay all those who prayed for [her] new life”christiantoday.com. She now proudly identifies herself as “a Muslim, a Chinese and a Malaysian,” hoping to inspire others by her examplechristiantoday.com.

Divine Mercy and a New Beginning

Today, Felixia’s life has shifted from the empty lights of fame to a peaceful commitment to faith. In place of the old glamour, there is now a profound inner light. Where once was the mirage of worldly success, there is genuine serenity – a testament to the transformative beauty of Islam. Her journey underscores the Quran’s overarching message that no soul is beyond the healing grace of repentance. As Allah reminds us: “Do not despair of Allah’s mercy”myislam.orgmyislam.org.

Felixia’s story is ultimately one of hope and renewal. It shows how the soul’s restless search – whether in churches, temples, or studios – can find rest in the rahma (mercy) of the Divine. In the words of one scholar reflecting on women’s faith journeys, modesty can become “the beginning point” of discovering one’s true humanityzulheimymaamor.blogspot.commyislam.org. In her new beginning, Felixia exemplifies this truth. No matter how far one has strayed, the doors of mercy remain open: by turning back to Allah and submitting to His guidance, every lost soul can find its way from darkness into the light of faithmyislam.orgmyislam.org.

Sources: Recounted details are based on Felixia Yeap’s own statements and biographical profilesen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.orgchristiantoday.com. Qur’anic verses and meanings are cited from trusted translationsmyislam.orgmyislam.orgmyislam.orgmyislam.orgmyislam.org. All interpretations emphasize the themes of Allah’s mercy, repentance (tawbah), and the inner transformation found in embracing Islam.