When Vogue Arabia featured Gigi Hadid in a hijab that barely covered anything, eyebrows were raised. But the team has upped its game and has put Somali-American Halima Aden on the cover of this issue.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUwJ8dHBNef/?taken-by=voguearabia
She’s used to being the first person do things: she was the first woman to compete in a Miss USA state pageant wearing a hijab and burkini. She was then signed to IMG Models.
And she’ll also be a judge in the 2017 MISS USA Competition. She’s also walked for Yeezy and MaxMara (which she’ll be wearing in the All Eyes on Halima shoot).
The 19-year-old left us with an important message on the Vogue Arabia IG page: ‘Every little girl deserves to see a role model that’s dressed like her, resembles her or even has the same characteristics as her. I think beauty’s for everyone and everyone can look beautiful, you just have to be confident.’
https://www.instagram.com/p/BSZBwYBhr4B/?taken-by=voguearabia
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUl-w7lhuvJ/
The issue hits stands today! This is great news for diversity – even though, as far as we can tell, the only black woman wearing a hijab on the Vogue Arabia IG page is Halima. The struggle for representation is not over yet!