Born in a refugee camp in Kenya after her mother fled the Somali Civil War, Halima Aden spent her childhood there until the age of seven, when she and her mother moved to the US and eventually settled in Minnesota. From there Halima went from strength to strength, checking off firsts as she went. Thriving at college each academically and socially (she was St. Cloud’s first Muslim Homecoming Queen), Halima went on to school where she was the primary Somali member of the Student Government, before participating within the Miss Minnesota USA beauty pageant. As the primary contestant to wear a hijab and burkini within the pageant, Halima was catapulted into the highlight, resulting in her being signed by modelling agency IMG – the primary Hijab wearing model to sign to a significant agency. From there she continued to pave the way in which for Hijabi models, becoming the primary model to wear a hijab on the quilt of a significant US magazine, Allure, in 2017, becoming the primary model to wear a hijab on the quilt of British Vogue in 2018, and, earlier this 12 months, becoming the primary model to wear a full-body swimsuit and hijab in Sport Illustrated’s annual swimsuit issue. In between all that, she has also walked for shows including Yeezy, starred in campaigns like Fenty Beauty, been shot for Carine Roitfeld’s CR Fashion Book, launched a fashion collaboration of scarves and turbans with modest retailer Modanisa, and change into a UNICEF ambassador. And did we mention she’s only 21?

No big deal.

We caught up with the trailblazer to speak about how being a refugee gave her a greater appreciation for beauty, reactions to her wearing a hijab in Miss Minnesota and providing the much needed representation in mainstream media for all of the little girls on the market who appear to be her.

What’s your earliest beauty memory?
Halima Aden: My earliest beauty memory was from the refugee camp.  That’s where I learned to braid hair.  Then, after I got here to America, I might charge $10 to braid hair at my apartment complex.  Not a nasty gig for just a little kid.  

How did being a refugee shape your understanding of beauty and your relationship with self-care?
Halima Aden: I actually think being a refugee gave me a greater appreciation for beauty.  I didn’t grow up with things or toys, just nature and my imagination.  I had to seek out one of the best in my surroundings.  My relationship with self-care now that would go two ways.  On one hand, I all the time laugh at mums chasing their kids down with hand sanitiser and worrying about all the things their kids touch or put of their mouths. I grew up in a refugee camp and survived.  Alternatively, I feel it gave me quite an appreciation.  Just easy things that we take with no consideration which are basics of self-care: clean drinking water. I’m grateful for that.  My work with UNICEF also jogs my memory that these basic needs that children ought to be entitled to are still not met around the globe.  I often times feel guilty using a skincare product that costs a fortune.  Most of what I exploit is natural as my mom all the time said, “For those who can’t eat it, don’t put it in your skin.”  I make loads of at-home skincare with honey, aloe vera, and turmeric.  

Do you remember the primary time you were conscious of your appearance?
Halima Aden: The primary time I used to be really conscious of my appearance was after I began to wear the hijab in Middle School in Minnesota and students were making fun of me.  I couldn’t understand why as wearing the hijab was beautiful, my mother wore it.  I desired to be like her.  I used to be teased a lot about it, that I began to resent wearing it.  I had been so proud.  Pointless to say, I feel everyone can agree that Middle School years are hard and transformative. 

How were attitudes towards beauty different in Kenya and the US?
Halima Aden: Having been back to Kenya twice up to now 12 months – once for a Ted Talk with UNICEF at my camp and once to shoot Sports Illustrated Swimsuit – I can inform you that the locals weren’t impressed with me.  Ha!  I’m the model and here they’re wanting to take photos with my blonde hair, fair skin manager.  They thought she was the celebrity.  All joking aside, it makes me wonder if that’s what they associate beauty to be… actresses and models within the USA who’ve those characteristics?  

Why did you select to get entangled with beauty pageants?
Halima Aden: I received a letter to compete within the Miss Minnesota USA pageant and was so excited for the chance to satisfy other girls my age from across the state and really have a weekend all about us.  The school scholarship opportunities were an enormous draw for me too.  I did my research before the pageant weekend and got here to learn that the Miss Universe Organization had been celebrating the variety of girls around the globe for over 65 years.  It gave the impression of a natural fit for me.  The pageant was really my first taste of the style and beauty world.  I had my make-up professionally done and borrowed a night gown from one other competitor.  

What were the reactions to you wearing a hijab?
Halima Aden: The applause I received after I stepped on the Miss Minnesota USA pageant stage in my hijab and burkini still gives me chills. The group and my fellow competitors were so accepting and amazing.  Where I’m from, we call it “Minnesota Nice.”  Once I was backstage with the opposite girls, my hijab never got here up in conversation we were just girls having fun and having fun with ourselves. What I used to be most pleased with is that only one 12 months later, I got here back to the pageant and there have been eight girls wearing the hijab.  Sometimes it just takes one person to step outside of their comfort zone and be the primary for other girls to see that they’ll do it too.

Beauty pageants are sometimes criticised for the strict beauty standards they uphold.  What are your feelings about pageants?  Has your opinion modified over time because you competed?
Halima Aden: I feel people could be surprised to learn, it’s quite the contrary.  Really, often times, it’s the women who possibly don’t stand a probability to truly win the pageant that profit probably the most from the experience.  What number of young girls put themselves in situations where they get to face on a stage and be applauded.  It’s an event that’s all about women’s empowerment and celebrating one another.  I can’t inform you how most of the girls I competed with who’ve credited the pageant to landing jobs or opportunities resulting from the interview experience they gained the weekend of the pageant.  The motto of the Miss Universe Organization is “Confidently Beautiful” and I felt just that after I competed.  I feel people sometimes fail to recognise that with beauty, comes power.  When you might have the power to show heads, you’ll be able to do some pretty positive things.  The ladies who capture the crown and hold these titles are movers and shakers doing incredible charity work.  They align themselves with various causes and organisations to bring awareness and lift funds.  It’s admirable.   

How did you get into modelling?
Halima Aden: I became a model from my experience with the pageant. That’s how I used to be scouted. I garnered loads of international media attention because I wore a hijab and burkini, a completely covered modest swimsuit. I used to be then asked to are available in for a follow-up meeting with IMG where I laid out my conditions:  wearing my hijab in any respect times, being styled in clothes that don’t reveal skin, a non-public changing space, and having my female manager dress me on set. IMG agreed to all of it. It’s really vital to say what you might be comfortable with, and I feel prefer it is my job to set a precedent for others who’re entering the industry.

What does being a model mean to you?
Halima Aden: To me, being a model means so rather more than putting on designer clothes and make-up. I’ve used my platform to mix fashion and activism, two things I feel very much go hand-in-hand.  I’m continuously interested by how I could make the connection.  Once I was back on the refugee camp last summer, most of the students there told me they desired to change into pilots.  I remember immediately asking if Etihad Airlines, who I had previously worked with on a “Runway to Runway” event would have the pilots send letters to the children.  I feel like my brain is all the time attempting to connect the dots and mix my two worlds of working as a model and as a UNICEF Ambassador.  I used to be recently within the Philippines with Vita Coco learning more in regards to the incredible work they’re doing on the bottom for coconut farmers and the colleges there and we did a fashion show for the children. It’s about being a model, but additionally a job model as cheesy as that sounds.

When do you are feeling most beautiful?
Halima Aden: Truthfully, I feel most beautiful with my make-up on point.  I actually have my go-to gal in NYC, Meg, and when she does my make-up, I feel like I can tackle the world. 

Do you ever feel insecure?  How do you overcome those feelings?
Halima Aden: Who doesn’t?  Absolutely, I feel insecure.  I overcome it by reminding myself not to check myself to others.  I should be one of the best authentic version of me.  I also overcome it by surrounding myself with positive people.  I actually have a team and tribe of incredible women behind me.  They proceed to uplift me and be my voice of reason.  I also see all of my girls on Instagram messaging me – I see you ladies and I appreciate your support all the time!

Where do you think that the industry is when it comes to visibility and variety.  What still must be done?
Halima Aden: I can speak first hand that unless you see someone who looks such as you in an ad or on a billboard, it’s hard to examine yourself wearing something. The reality of the matter is, mainstream fashion brands have pieces that work for the modest dresser, it might just mean layering or including a turtleneck and pants or adding a skirt. It could possibly be done.  I feel brands are recognising this and using models who their shoppers can relate to in ads.  The identical goes for make-up brands; many are featuring models with a wide selection of skin-tones of their campaigns. That’s vital for each little girl on the market.  All of them should see someone who looks like them or who they’ll ultimately connect with wearing a make-up product or piece of clothing. 

How do you hope to vary it personally?
Halima Aden: I’ve lived by the mantra, “Don’t change yourself, change the sport.”  I feel I can proceed to vary the industry by being present and telling my story.  There are still loads of spaces now we have yet to see a hijabi woman and whether that’s me or another person, I would like us to tackle as lots of those uncharted territories as possible.  It should make it easier for the following set of women.