Njideka Akabogu
Remember Halima Aden, the muslim model who made NYFW history by walking Kanye West‘s Yeezy Season 5 show with her hijab on? She is on the cover of CR Fashion Book Issue 10 and she’s still not letting go of her hijab.
The model who gained fame after she contested in the Miss Minnesota U.S.A pageant last November wearing her hijab in the midst of other contestants who were relatively scantily-dressed, has continued to make a case for diversity in the fashion industry and redefining the perception of young muslim Americans.
For her feature in the magazine which has also featured Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and more in the past, Halima who is originally from Somali, got interviewed by her hero and fellow Somali native, the supermodel Iman.
See excerpts below.
IMAN: I hear that you want to someday be a United Nations goodwill ambassador.
HA: I just think that there’s so much work to be done. I remember when I lived in a refugee camp, it was the people who weren’t Somali, the people who came from Western countries, who helped the most. I remember being six and thinking, I want to be one of those woman because I knew how much they helped us.
IMAN: So why did you enter the Miss Minnesota pageant?
HA: I did it for a number of reasons. First, I wanted to meet other young women in my state—you don’t get that kind of chance every day. But I also wanted representation. This is a pageant that goes far beyond physical beauty, so I wanted young women who wear the hijab to realize that you could participate in such a thing.
IMAN: What does the support you’ve received mean to you?
HA: To me, it represents freedom of choice. A lot of people have the misconception that, as a Muslim woman, I am somehow against women wearing bikinis. No, I want women to feel comfortable and confident in whatever they wear.
IMAN: What’s next for you?
HA: I want to see this message spread. As Muslims we just need more positive stories. Period.
Photography: Mario Sorrenti
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