Sports Illustrated’s famous burkini cover: why US model Halima Aden wears a hijab – and 4 other things about the Unicef ambassador
A devout Muslim and the first contestant in the Miss USA pageant to wear a burkini, Halima Aden also has her own clothing line and puts a premium on humanitarian work
Halima Aden is a world-famous model who stands out for a number of reasons. Read on to get to know why this fascinating woman has gained so much international attention.
She got off to a rough start in life
Halima Aden’s parents were forced to flee their native Somalia after her mother’s village was burnt to the ground. Aden was born in a UN refugee camp in northeastern Kenya, where food insecurity was the norm. They were able to emigrate to the United States when Halima was seven years old.
Her career is credited with many ‘firsts’
Aden was the first contestant in the Miss USA pageant to wear a burkini (a modest bathing suit) and a hijab (the head covering worn by Muslim women). She later became the first hijab-wearing model to be signed to a major agency (IMG), walk an international runway, and be featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia, Allure and British Vogue. She was also the first model to wear a burkini and hijab for Sports Illustrated.
Wearing the hijab is non-negotiable
As a devout Muslim, Aden wears a hijab and states that it is a non-negotiable part of any contract. She will not uncover her head for any job, under any conditions. And while there are fashion companies that won’t give her work, standing up for what she believes in hasn’t harmed her career in the long term, and she is credited with promoting diversity in the fashion industry.
She has her own clothing line
Aden has partnered with Turkish clothing company Modanisa to create a 27-piece collection of shawls, turbans and hijabs. Aden says the collection, which debuted at Istanbul’s Modest Fashion Week in April 2019, is designed to appeal to Muslim and non-Muslim women alike.