First hijabi supermodel Halima Aden returns to modelling, opens up on what made her quit

 

 

Opening up on what made her quit the fashion industry, Aden told Vogue Arabia, “During lockdown, there were no distractions, so I had to be at one with my own mind, and that was tough. I thought that I hadn’t done enough when it comes to showcasing the hijab in a proper way; I thought it went off the deep end and I could no longer relate to this identity of wearing a hijab. Towards the end of my career, in my photoshoots, my hijab became more adventurous… It was very experimental, and I confess I also had a part to play in that. Nobody forced me to put jeans on my head instead of a traditional veil, to do a shoot being fully decked out with jewellery, and very sexy even though it was modest”.

Aden shared how the fashion industry can compromise with individuals personal space and despite her getting special treatment, looking at other girls’ struggles made her question the working conditions of the fashion industry. “I think that a big part of the reason why I quit was the lack of privacy backstage. I was mortified early on in my career when I realised some shows had just clothing racks to separate the girls from the public, from male photographers, from the people bringing food… For me, as a newbie, I had my own box, literally one box just for myself… It was awkward and just didn’t feel right”.

She added, “When you come from the refugee community I hail from, the one thing I can’t stand is when the perks are not applied to everybody else. When the other models came to me to ask if they could use my small dressing box, I remember thinking, ‘Why can’t they just create a covered space for all of us?’”

Aden calls the fashion industry a “cruel business to be a part of” and commenting on sharing her experience publicly she says, “sometimes you just have to say it like it is. You can’t be so scared, because other people are not afraid to tell you ‘You’re not good enough, you’re doing this wrong.’”

 

Aden was also part of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty campaign in 2017 and later received global attention after she was signed by the biggest modelling agency IMG. She also became the first model to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Aden is now busy with various projects that include an ongoing partnership with the Turkish modest wear e-tailer Modanisa, where she doubles as global ambassador while also designing turbans and headscarves. In 2024, the hijabi supermodel is all set to release a ready-to-wear collection in collaboration with a Jordanian and Muslim entrepreneur.

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