A British woman who was once jailed for taking her toddler son to join the Islamic State terror group has reinvented herself as a luxury lifestyle influencer, amassing tens of thousands of followers on social media.
From Raqqa to Runway: A Radical Transformation
Tareena Shakil, 34, from Birmingham, made headlines in 2014 when she used a £400 student loan to travel to Syria with her 14-month-old son. The former healthcare worker, lured by ISIS propaganda, intended to become a so-called 'jihadi bride' and lived in a house in Raqqa with other women awaiting marriage to foreign fighters.
Her time with the extremist group was shockingly documented on her own social media, where she posted images of her young son holding an ISIS-branded balaclava and an AK-47 assault rifle alongside the group's notorious flag. However, within weeks, Shakil realised her grave mistake and fled, returning to the UK in February 2015.
Upon arrival at Heathrow Airport, she was arrested. In 2016, she was convicted of being a member of ISIS and encouraging acts of terrorism, serving half of a six-year prison sentence.
The 'Thatgirl.tamtam' Persona: Luxury Travel and Dating Advice
Today, the woman once dubbed the 'Towie jihadi' presents a starkly different image online. Under the username "thatgirl.tamtam", she has built a TikTok following of nearly 50,000, with videos garnering over five million likes.
Her content largely focuses on relationship guidance, with videos titled "signs that someone is your soulmate" and "blocking explained", all under the reassuring banner: "You're safe here girls". On YouTube, she posts longer videos about positivity and developing a "mindset for success".
Her lifestyle, as showcased on Instagram, is one of opulent travel. Recent posts feature a Christmas trip to Paris, including trying on outfits at the Chanel store. Over the past year, she has enjoyed a hot air balloon ride over a desert, a luxury Thai island getaway, and trips to Rome, Romania, Egypt, Amsterdam, and the Cotswolds.
Expressing Regret and Rebuilding a Life
In past interviews, Shakil has expressed profound regret for her actions. Speaking to the Mirror, she stated she had been "groomed" while in a "very vulnerable position" following a failed marriage. "I regret what I did, but I have learned from my mistakes," she said, claiming she had returned to being the "Spice Girls-loving girl" she was before.
In her online videos, she alludes to overcoming past trauma without explicit reference to her ISIS involvement. "You need the bad times guys - the crying yourself to sleep at night. When you go through these things you are built up to be a fantastic version of yourself," she told followers.
Her mother, Mandy, previously expressed bewilderment at her daughter's actions, saying she was "naive and gullible" and had been tricked by a false image of life under ISIS. "She thought she was going to a place where women are treated very well, but she felt she had been tricked," Mandy said.
The story of Tareena Shakil remains a deeply controversial narrative of radicalisation, justice, and a very public personal reinvention in the digital age.
