At just 24 years old, social media influencer Yusuf Siddiqui has become a prominent Muslim lifestyle creator on social media under his account name yusuftruth.

From a shy boy full of acne to becoming an inspiration for young Muslim men, having nearly a million followers on Instagram and TikTok, his content blends self-improvement, faith and fashion.

Born to Pakistani and Filipino parents in New Orleans, Siddiqui grew up attending Islamic schools before enrolling in a military-style boarding school in New York at age 12. While the environment was strict and disciplined, it also left him sheltered and disconnected from the outside world.

“I grew up in a boarding school from age 12 to 16. I didn’t really have a normal childhood,” he said, contrasting his upbringing with the typical American teen experience of “prom, parties, friends, all that.” Instead, he said, “We had to live a very specific lifestyle.”

But weekends with a cousin who was preparing for a bodybuilding competition offered him a glimpse into the world beyond his rigid routine. That cousin, who became a mentor for him, often reminded Siddiqui that life after graduation would be different, and pushed him to think bigger.

“He would tell me things like, ‘The life you’re living right now, inside of a boarding school, is not how actual life is,” he recalled. “The actual reality is you get out of there, you graduate, you’re going to learn different things, try new things and meet new people.’”

One day, his cousin gave him a blank journal and encouraged him to write about the life he wanted to live—a practice that Siddiqui still keeps today.

After graduating at 16 and returning to New Orleans, Siddiqui said he found it hard to relate to his peers at school.

“I couldn’t relate to the kids in public school,” he said. “Everyone was planning for college, just the language they were using. Everything just didn’t align with who I was.”

Though he had already become respected in the local Muslim community as a “hafidh,” a memorizer of the Quran, Siddiqui said he felt introverted and out of place. 

That began to change when a friend introduced him to the world of personal development.

“We’d always have these conversations about getting married, doing good in life, building businesses,” he said. “That was the first initial start of my self-improvement journey and who I am today.”

He recalled how the gym became a turning point.

“When I got into the gym, everything changed,” he said. “My physique changed and my own self-image changed. I got completely obsessed with nutrition and diet.”

As his body transformed, so did his confidence, and he started documenting his journey online.

“I was this kid full of acne, super skinny, had no confidence, had no physique,” he said. “And then two years later, I had a decent physique. Acne was gone [and] I started taking better care of my fashion.”

Today, Siddiqui emphasizes that growth is a lifelong process.

“Even now I’m still in this process. It's always a journey of understanding yourself,” he said.

He started posting photos and videos with personal reflections and life advice, which helped him build a loyal following.

“So I started sharing more of that. Reflections, things I came across and just my take on how I am as a person,” he said. “That’s pretty much how I found my tribe.”

His content today focuses on self-improvement, spirituality and masculine style. He credits his consistency to the impact his work has on others.

“I do want to be an example for the youth. Because every time someone approaches me in person, it does kind of fuel me to keep going and to continue going on.”

He offers simple guidance: be authentic and pursue excellence.

[Yusuf Siddiqui]

“When I meet kids at the masjid or coffee shops, and they ask me for advice, I’ll tell them, 'Just stay true to yourself, of course, but then always be in the noble pursuit of excellence.”

Social media users often go to the comments of his posts with appreciation.

“My life sucks right now,” one user wrote. “And I open Instagram, and your posts are the first I see… and I feel as a Muslim, so peaceful.”

Others describe him as “an inspiration,” or “the man every boy wanted to be,” and praise his work as “the best reel I’ve watched and listened to so far.”

Siddiqui believes there is a void on social media for Muslims. He wants there to be more visible content creators who live with purpose and depth, starting with himself.

“We need more people who are living a diverse life and who are still doing things through the lens of our Deen and still doing things in the lens of a noble pursuit.”

He especially hopes to guide young Muslim men, using his own transformation to show what’s possible.

“You can build that level of grit inside of your life,” he said. “You can get that level of discipline, and that motivation can transfer over into all the other aspects of your life.”

At the core of his message, though, is kindness.

“I definitely want to be that creator who makes people feel good about themselves when I pop up on their screen,” he said. “I want them to be reminded to keep doing good for themselves, while also smiling about it.”

In April 2025, Siddiqui launched a fashion brand called Headed Home, a project that fuses his love for clothing with his vision for a modern yet noble Muslim identity.

“I’ve always had a love for fashion… just presenting myself in the right way.”

He said he wants to move beyond “streetwear” and introduce more elegance and class into Muslim men’s fashion, something he feels is lacking.

“The idea is to essentially become the Muslim version for a Ralph Lauren and Banana Republic audience.”

The brand’s first drop, featuring tailored T-shirts and trousers, is expected this fall. Siddiqui also hopes to develop athletic wear.

“I also want to have an athletic line. That’s also another big passion of mine.”

For him, the vision behind it all, content, fashion and influence, is simple: to live with purpose and encourage others to do the same.

“You live your best when you live a noble life,” he said. “Be in the pursuit of nobility and excellence, because that’s what our Deen teaches us.”