Stephanie Kurlow is a 14-year-old girl who, in 2010, converted to Islam. It's brought her so much happiness, she said, but it also caused her to end her promising young ballet career.

Kurlow says she stopped performing because she couldn't imagine a world where she'd be able to perform wearing her hijab, but after watching the likes of Michaela De Prince and Misty Copeland break through barriers of their own[3], she's rekindling her dream of one day becoming a professional ballerina.

Part of that journey has taken her to LaunchGood.com, where the young Australian woman is trying to raise funds for an academy that will help ballerinas of all ethnicities and religions pursue the craft together.

According to the site:[4]

In this day and age there is a lack of facilitation for youth who are disengaged or of a different religion or race. I plan on bringing the world together by becoming the very first Muslim Ballerina so that I can inspire so many other people to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams. My dream is to train in a Full Time Ballet School catered for aspiring young girls who want to train 30-45 hours a week so they can become a professional ballerina. I want to encourage everyone to join together no matter what faith, race or colour. To bring harmony and a world of acceptance for future generations. YOU can help me achieve this dream.

Kurlow frequently posts about ballet on her instagram account, too.