American Muslim model Halima Aden has opened about the fashion industry coercing her to compromise on her identity as a hijabi woman. From now on, Aden says she will model looks that really represent who she is.
Who is Halima Aden?
Halima Aden made waves as a hijabi model. Despite the industry striving to be inclusive by offering opportunities to diverse models, it still has a long way to go in this regard.
In a series of Instagram stories the 23-year-old detailed the inner turmoil that came with her line of work while balancing her identity as a practicing Muslim woman.
The model doesn’t want to be there as the ‘trophy hijabi.‘ She wants to feel represented on her own terms. She especially spoke up about brands stepping in to ‘represent’ hijabs, when no one asked for it or even needed it.
“If my hijab can’t be this visible, I’m not showing up, period. This is the standard moving forward if you want to work with me. Come correct or don’t come at all.”
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Halima also talked about how being the first to do something made it a journey of trial and error. After all, she was ‘a minority within a minority’ making her way into the industry.
She says:
“Looking back, now I did what I said I would never do. Which is compromise who I am in order to fit in.”
However, she blames the fashion fraternity for the lack of Muslim stylists. Without Muslim stylists, she believes that Muslim models won’t be seen the way they want to be.
“What I do he blamed the system for is the lack of Muslim women stylists”.
After reflecting on her choices the model is firm on asserting her identity, not blending in. She thanked her sisters, family, mother, and Denise for having her back and reminding her of who she really is, a role model, not just a model.
“(Rihanna) let me wear the hijab I brought to set. This is the girl I’m returning to, the real Halima”.
The model has said that she’s ‘bowing out’, while simultaneously saying that whoever wants to work with her must do so on her terms. Does that sound like she is quitting the fashion industry? Well not entirely.
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As the first woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine in a ‘burkini’ and hijab she still paved the way for other hijabi women. The Somali-American model shot to fame as the first hijabi woman to compete in the Miss Minnesota Pageant.
