Model Halima Aden Is the First Muslim Woman to Wear a Hijab on the Cover of a Major Magazine

While fashion still has a long way to go when it comes to diverse represenation, Allure magazine just made a huge step in the right direction, making Halima Aden the first Muslim model to grace a major glossy cover wearing a hijab.

Aden’s cover is part of the magazine’s “American Beauty” issue, and the up-and-coming 19-year-old model is not only groundbreaking, but also gorgeous in a Nike hijab and a very July-appropriate red, white and blue athleisure look. In other words, the girl is killing it.

 

Say hello to #HalimaAden—the first hijab-wearing model to a) sign to IMG, b) walk in a Yeezy Season fashion show, c) compete in Miss Minnesota USA, and d) cover #allure. Get to know the 19-year-old Somalian American model, who’s breaking down every boundary in the fashion industry. “Society puts so much pressure on girls to look a certain way,” she says. “I have much more to offer than my physical appearance, and a hijab protects me against ‘You’re too skinny,’ ‘You’re too thick,’ ‘Look at her hips,’ ‘Look at her thigh gap.’ I don’t have to worry about that.” Tap the link in bio for our full interview. : @solvesundsbostudio : @beatbolliger : @philippetholimet : @thevalgarland : @mariannewman

A post shared by Allure Magazine (@allure) on Jun 20, 2017 at 5:02am PDT

In her cover interview, Aden also breaks down the stereotypes about Muslim women – offering an important reminder that wearing a hijab is her choice and no one else’s. “It’s how I interpret my religion, but there are women who are Muslim who choose not to wear the hijab,” she told the magazine. “That’s something people often forget.” PREACH.

This won’t be the last time you hear her name, either. This year alone, Aden has also walked the runway for major designers, including Yeezy, and starred in a Vogue shoot. (NBD or anything.) 

• allure
• beauty standards
• fashion
• hijab
• Muslim
• style