Interview with Manar, AKA The Imperfect Hippie, A Lebanese Animal RIghts Activist

Manar, known online as Imperfect Hippie, is a Lebanese activist currently based in San Diego, California. Passionate about making the world a better place, her work centers around animal rights, sustainability, and compassionate living. Through her website and social media, she has created a space for those who care deeply about ethical living.

Recently, Manar announced a pivotal shift in her content—dedicating her platform @imperfecthippie entirely to animal activism, a cause she feels most called to. Believing that true peace comes only when she uses her voice for those who don’t have one, she has committed to storytelling, education, and advocacy for animal rights.

Her activism also explores the connection between Islam and veganism, challenging the misconception that veganism is incompatible with Islamic teachings. 

Manar’s work also ties into the rich history of veganism in the Arab world. One of the earliest known advocates of ethical vegetarianism was Abu al-ʿAlaʾ al-Maʿarri, a blind Syrian philosopher and poet from the Islamic Golden Age. 

Through her website, Patreon community, and activism-focused book club, Manar is working toward turning her passion into her full-time mission—one that amplifies the voices of animals and reshapes the conversation around ethical living.

In this interview, Manar shares the pivotal moments that shaped her activism, the challenges she has faced, and the vision she has for the future of animal rights. She delves into the personal and cultural influences that inform her work, exploring the intersections of justice, history, and ethical living.

1- Can you share a bit about your journey—what led you to become Imperfect Hippie, and how did your activism evolve over time?

When I think back to growing up in Saudi Arabia, I can trace the early nudges that pulled me toward activism — a feminist club ahead of its time; an eco-conscious ‘Helping Hands’ group that introduced me to words like ‘overconsumption’; and the ever-present knowledge that I was living in a bubble built for the world’s largest, most destructive oil company.

That internal tension is where I think the unshakable feeling that I need to do something came from.  That, plus the ethics minor I didn’t plan to take but couldn’t stay away from, and, of course, the 2010s era of vegan youtuber drama.

Those pieces slowly reshaped how I saw the world and, eventually, animals.  I went from thinking they were a nuisance to realizing they’re at the center of the fight I care most about.

I started speaking publicly online ~3 years ago.  First, it was environmentalism, then Palestine.  Over time, I just kept honing in to my north star: living in a way that minimizes suffering, and aligns myself with those who are silenced, or who never had a voice to begin with.

2- You recently made the decision to dedicate your Instagram @imperfecthippie entirely to animal rights activism. What sparked this shift, and what do you hope to achieve?

From the outside, it might’ve looked like a shift. But for me, it felt like finally saying what I actually meant.

Those who’ve followed me for a while probably had the impression that it was my environmental activism that led me to animal rights activism — when really, it was the other way around.  I went vegetarian, then vegan, for ethical reasons. And only then did I learn the added bonus that this choice also protects the environment — aka, animals’ homes.

I started my page focusing on sustainability because I thought it might be a gentler entry point. I hoped people would connect the dots on their own. But over time, it started to feel like I was speaking in code. “Save the planet” sounds hollow if we aren’t naming who we’re saving it for: sentient beings.  What’s the point of preserving biodiversity if suffering increases?

So I stopped hiding the real reason. I wanted to be clear: this isn’t about emissions and carbon footprints, it’s about lives.

3- You’ve spoken about the connection between Islamic teachings and veganism. What are some key Islamic principles that align with the vegan lifestyle?

The Quran makes it clear that this mercy isn’t limited to humans.  It extends to animals, insects, the planet itself.  There are stories about not disturbing a bird’s nest, a woman entering heaven for giving water to a thirsty dog, a man punished for imprisoning a cat.

We’re called to reduce suffering wherever we can.  That becomes obvious when we look at the teachings without the filter of cultural habits and inherited biases.

If our survival required harming animals, it would be a different conversation.  But it doesn’t.  With cruelty-free options everywhere, killing becomes a choice.  A luxury.  I can’t imagine a merciful god who’d be okay with harm for the sake of convenience.

4- The Arab world has a long history of philosophers and poets advocating for ethical vegetarianism. Have any historical figures influenced your activism

Al-Ma’arri!  He was a blind Syrian poet and philosopher from a thousand years ago who rejected all forms of animal exploitation — not for religion or health, simply because it was the morally right thing to do.  An Arab was the first recorded vegan.  How badass.  His poetry is filled with this haunting, beautiful moral clarity about animals.

Finding his work felt like sinking into relief that this isn’t some modern trend, it’s part of our heritage.  We’ve always been here. There’s a long line of people who saw clearly and chose differently.

And if he — disabled, isolated, no grocery stores or Uber Eats — could live by those ethics a thousand years ago, what possible excuse do we have today? 

5- You’ve spoken about the connection between animal rights and other forms of injustice, including Palestinian activism and feminism. How do you see these movements intersecting?

“Honestly, I could dedicate all my work to exploring the intersections between injustices and never run out of material.

What connects them, for me, is erasure.  Animals, Palestinians, women, people of color — again and again, their pain is dismissed and sanitized.  Governments justify the violence.  Corporations profit from it.  Hostile algorithms bury it.  Anyone who speaks up gets labeled an extremist, dramatic, even dangerous.

The systems that enable one form of domination are the same ones fueling the rest. Justice has to be for everyone. Not just the ones who look or speak like us.”

6- You’ve mentioned that your long-term goal is to make animal activism your full-time job. What steps are you taking to achieve that dream, and how can people support your journey?

I’m creating more long-form videos — ones that dive deeper and hold more space for the stories and context that short-form can’t always give.  I’m sharing more consistently and working on building community, not just audience.

I also recently launched a Patreon, which is the most direct way to support the work I’m doing. It helps make this sustainable—literally and emotionally.

If people want to support, they can follow along, engage with my activism content, and join the Patreon if they’re able. Every little bit helps, truly!  Especially when you’re trying to speak up for something most people don’t want to look at.

Conclusion

Manar’s journey is a testament to the power of conviction, compassion, and courage. Her decision to dedicate her platform entirely to animal activism reflects a deep-rooted commitment to justice—one that refuses to be diluted for the sake of comfort or convenience. By challenging misconceptions, bridging cultural narratives, and drawing from history, she is forging a path for a more ethical future.

As she continues to build her advocacy, Manar reminds us that activism is not about perfection, but persistence. It’s about choosing to speak up, even when the world is slow to listen. With her Patreon community, book club, and unwavering dedication, she is transforming activism into action—one conversation, one story, one life at a time.

For those inspired by her work, the simplest way to support her mission is to engage, educate, and amplify. Because in a world where so many voices are silenced, raising our own in solidarity is a powerful form of resistance.