Somali- American model, Halima Aden, has been making headlines since 2016 when she entered the Miss Minnesota US pageant show, leaving as a semi-finalist and becoming the first fully- covered Muslim woman to do that.
She was signed to IMG Models in 2017, going on to be the first hijab- wearing model to appear on the cover of an important and major US Magazine when she was featured in US Allure Magazine at the same time as making her break at the New York Fashion Week for Yeezy Season 5 (February). In 2018, she became the first coloured model, wearing a hijab on the cover of the British Vogue magazine. In March 2019, Halima, along with two other Somali, hijab- wearing models, was featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia.
However, today she just broke the biggest record yet. Halima Aden became the first model, ever to wear a full burkini (long garment worn by Muslim women) and hijab on Sports Illustrated. She is clearly no stranger to breaking boundaries.
Halima Aden was born in United Nations Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. She recalled childhood at the refugee camp saying, “Different people, different refugees from all over Africa came together in Kakuma. Yet we still found a common ground.” At the age of six, her family moved out to Minnesota, United States. She started Apollo High School at St Cloud, MN and is now a student at St Cloud University. While attending high school, she was voted by her classmates as their school ‘Homecoming Queen’. Now, her goal is to become a role model for all American Muslim youth.
” I am doing me, and I have no reason to think that other people are against me,” Aden said. “So, I just guess I ‘m oblivious.” Halima told interviewers in 2017 that she is happy being an Icon for diversity in the modelling industry, but she wants to return to Kakuma to work with refugee children. Well, she just fulfilled that wish. Not only did she shoot ground-breaking photo today in Kakuma, but she also got to see refugees at the same camp that she was at. Halima Aden is already a flourishing inspiration for all women, especially Muslim women, and her vibrant personality will allow her to grow and continue inspiring everyone.
