Muslim supermodel Halima Aden is steadily making her way to the top of the modeling ladder, and she is taking her faith with her! Halima is the first model to appear in Sport’s Illustrated’s swimsuit issue sporting her religious garments!
According to CNN, Halima traveled back to her home country of Kenya to shoot for the magazine. She is photographed serving looks in a head to toe wetsuit worn by muslim women called a burkini.
“I keep thinking about 6-year-old me who, in this same country, was in a refugee camp,” she said. “So to grow up to live the American dream, to come back to Kenya and shoot for SI in the most beautiful parts of Kenya–I don’t think that’s a story anybody could make up.”
Posing beside other supermodels has always been one of Halima’s dreams and Sports Illustrated was happy to help her break boundaries in the process!
“We believe beauty knows no boundaries,” SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day said. “I admire Halima and I consider her an inspirational human for what she has decided to use her platform for and her work with Unicef as an ambassador.”
This isn’t the first time Halima has broken boundaries though! In March, she was featured on the cover of Vogue Arabia alongside two other black hijabi models. She also brought her talents to British Vogue as the first Hijabi woman on the cover.
“I empower women by staying true to myself and also encouraging them to go out and not be scared to be the first,” Halima told CNN. “If you don’t see yourself represented in any given field, take it upon yourself to be the one.”
Halima’s Sports Illustrated edition goes on sale May 8. Are y’all gonna pick up a copy #Roommates??
Photos: Sports Illustrated
Source: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/halima-aden-sports-illustrated-hijab-burkini-style-scli-intl/index.html
