Malaysia's first Playboy bunny, Felixia Yeap, announced Thursday, July 3, that she has converted to Islam.
July 3 was also significant to Yeap because it was her birthday, the fifth day of Ramadan, and Islamic prophet Muhammad's favorite day of the week, according to Yeap.
Over the past year, the former model had posted photos wearing a hijab, and explained in a blog post that she was not proud of her former salacious image.
"I believe I am worth more than just showing off my body," she wrote, according to the Malaysian Star. "I am more than this."
She also reflected on her influence on other women in the post, which was entitled "The Truth Behind My Hijab."
"I don't feel proud if attention- or fame-seeking model wannabes out there look at me as their idol or role model," she said.
Yeap's decision to convert came after years of exploring other religions. The 28-year-old said she did not feel connected to God until she discovered Islam.
"I went to Catholic Church every Sunday evening for two years," she wrote in another blog post. "I've tried to understand Christianity.
"I've tried to find new meaning in worshipping Kuan Yin and others. I also tried to adopt Buddhist practices.
"But my heart never felt close to God. My heart never felt touched."
She called her Islam conversion a "rebirth."
"I hope everyone will pray that I will be steadfast and committed in my new journey," Yeap wrote on Facebook. "Only Allah can repay all those who prayed for my new life."
On her Facebook page, Yeap posts encouraging messages, photos of herself, promotions for hijabs, eyeliner, and other products, and other status updates for over 860,000 followers.
She said that she is now proud to be a role model to others.
"The best example I am trying to set; is to be a Muslim, a Chinese and a Malaysian," she wrote on Sunday.
