Just over twelve months ago Anila Baig was head-hunted and asked to join the Sun newspaper.

She had just been named Columnist of the year by the Press Gazette. She followed that up by winning the Yorkshire Columnist of the year prize.

It was a bold move by the Sun newspaper to employ an hijab wearing writer but an even bolder one for Anila.

Initially, I had mis-givings about the job but then I was encouraged by my parents and the thought that as a writer the aim is to reach as many people as possible.

The aim is to share your thoughts with different people and chances like working for the UKs biggest newspaper dont very often.

The newspaper is more known for its semi-naked models on page three but even some people must have been taken aback to see hjiab wearing female-Muslim commenting on everything from the latest goings-on in Eastenders to condeming acts of terrorism.

When I was offered the post I made a point of saying that I didnt want to write just on Asian issues. And its turned out like that.

The recent bombings of London brought a whole new perspective to things.

My first thoughts were that of sheer horror. Then the realisation that the last thing people are going to want to see in a national newspaper is a hijab-wearing woman.

Since then I think most people understand that its not all Muslims who are terrorists. We have become victims twice over.

Whilst there are idiots who will make stupid comments I think has become much more difficult for women in headscarfs because they are more identifiable.

The 35-year-old single mother has let her talent speak for itself. She began her first column in the newspaper by stating...Don't be put off by the picture of me, I'm just a gal who likes to hide her highlights under a bushel - or a headscarf."

Humour has continued to play a big part in many of Anilas columns.

Your child always comes first when you are single mother and Ive always tried to balance my life so as not to unsettle my son.

I think people can relate to you more if you come across as normal. Ive got the same concerns as everyone else and try to get those across in my columns and articles.

I get so many invites to dinners and events now but I cant always attend. I think my mother loves going to them more than I do!

After working for her local newspaper in Bradford the Telegrapgh and Argus she moved to the Yorkshire Post in Leeds. Asian Image readers were one of the first to read her columns as she had a two year spell with the newspaper. Something she fondly remembers.

There is only one Asian Image and there only ever will be. Can I get paid now?

When you write for a local newspaper you get a lot more feed back from people you know in your town. I kind of miss that sometimes.

She is in the process of completing a documentary for Channel Four which she is filming in London about the history of Islam in Britain. The programme is due to be aired during the month of Ramadan and is something Anila says she thoroughly enjoyed doing.

There was so much information that I didnt even know about how Muslims came to Britain long before many Asians in the 1950s. It was very eye-opening and I think many people will learn a lot from it.