Halima Aden is no stranger to making waves and she’s done it again as the first model to don a hijab and burkini for Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue.
Born in a Kenyan refugee camp and raised in St. Cloud, Minn., the Somali-American made headlines in 2016 as the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant where was a semi-finalist.
Since then, the 21-year-old phenom has coveted numerous international modeling gigs, including covers for British Vogue, Vogue Arabia and a New York Fashion Week debut in Kanye West’s Yeezy Season 5 show in 2017.
Her groundbreaking SI debut was shot on Watuma Beach in her birthplace of Kenya. “To grow up to live the American dream [and] come back to Kenya and shoot for SI in the most beautiful parts of Kenya; I don’t think that’s a story that anybody could make up,” Aden told SI during her shoot.
Halima Aden makes history as the first model to wear a hijab and burkini for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: https://t.co/8WFD4hHmiH. pic.twitter.com/OsBthnjoLY
- ADVERTISEMENT -— Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) April 29, 2019
She added, “I never really felt represented because I never could flip through a magazine and see a girl who was wearing a hijab. Don’t be afraid to be the first.” She’ll appear in the May 8th issue.
In addition to modeling, Aden also serves as a UNICEF ambassador and uses her platform to fight for various causes.
To see more of the SI shoot, go here.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.
