True Beauty Inside & Under a Hijab: Halima Aden Breaks the Rules of Fashion

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Features

Published on Thursday, 16 February 2017 10:16

Written by Lapacazo Sandoval & Art Shrian

“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years. “ — Audrey Hepburn

The words of beauty icon Audrey Hepburn are never more appreciate when describing the good news that IMG Models globally has signed Miss Minnesota USA— Halima Aden,—who made headlines for wearing her hijab, and a burkini during the swimwear competition.

Halima finished in the Top 15 as a semifinalist in the pageant, which is part of the Miss USA organization and owned by IMG. She caught the eye of iconic stylist Carine Roitfeld and will grace the inside of CR Fashion Book’s tenth issue (due out this Spring).
 

"Halima is breaking boundaries of beauty and perception by being herself. I find this incredibly inspiring, and I know she will be an icon. In CR issue 10 she represents the diversity of Paris, where a mix of global cultures converge." said Carine Roitfeld, EIC CR Fashion Book.
 
Halima Aden is a 19 year old freshman at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota, where she is also a member of the student government. The first-generation Somali-American was born in a refugee camp in Kenya and moved to the United States at the age of six and to Minnesota at the age of seven. Despite communication obstacles, and intially speaking no English, she went on to recieve high marks in Advanced Placement Classes.  

Additionally, Halima had the honor of being her town's 1st Muslim Homecoming Queen and says that the most important day of her life, thus far, was the day she became a U.S. Citizen. Halima is fluent in both English and Somali. History is her favorite subject in school and she aspires to someday be a UN Goodwill Ambassador.

 “I didn’t really have modeling in mind,” says Aden. “I wanted to spread a positive message about beauty and diversity, and to show other young Muslim women that there is room for them.”
 
Halima made her New York Fashion Week debut at Kanye West’s Yeezy presentation.

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