Halima Aden, a model, takes a step back from the fashion industry to focus on herself and her beliefs.
“If my hijab can’t be that visible, I won’t show up,” wrote Ms. Aden, 23, on Instagram.
Ms. Aden, who was the first model to wear a hijab for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and walk the runway for labels like Yeezy, shared on her Instagram story this week that she felt she had compromised her religious values and beliefs to do this fit into the fashion industry.
She alluded to being too fearful to speak up when she was influenced to change her clothes, including the way she wore her headscarf.
“When I look back now, I did what I said I would never do. That’s a compromise on who I am to fit in, ”wrote Ms. Aden on the social media platform. “Remember, they call it a ‘hijab journey’ for a reason, and it’s never too late to restore your boundaries.”
The Somali-American model was born in a Kenyan refugee camp and first rose to fame in 2016 after competing in the Miss Minnesota USA contest in her hijab. Since then, she has been on the covers of American Vogue, Vogue Arabia, Elle and Allure.
There was, she said, struggle and discomfort that made many of these images possible. She also highlighted moments when brands had their hair covered with jeans or other ornaments instead of their hijab instead, and heavy makeup on them when she would have preferred a more reserved look that was in keeping with her humble principles.
She cited confusion, a sense of rebellion and a lack of Muslim representation in the industry as major factors in her internal struggle.
“The pressure became unbearable and I’m sad to say that I was against the hijab for a while,” Ms. Aden wrote on Instagram. She went on to write that the pandemic and a break with the industry had led her to realize where she felt she went wrong on her own hijab journey.
Muslim women who choose to wear a headscarf often have very personal and dynamic relationships with their hijabs, and Ms. Aden has received a wave of support from many who have had similar experiences on Instagram and Twitter.
“Halima’s decision to withdraw from the modeling scene reinforced my conviction,” wrote Aminah Bakhtair, 19, who shared her admiration for Ms. Aden on social media, in a direct message. “I am proud of her for taking an attitude that many would hesitate to take, to take back what the hijab really means and to stand up for the religion of Islam.”
Simply wearing a hijab has often been discriminated against on both a social and bureaucratic level, especially in Europe. France has banned the hijab in public schools and in public workers. Chancellor Angela Merkel said in 2016 that full face veils, which are sometimes worn by Muslim women as part of their hijab, should be banned.
In the United States, Muslim women have long reported cases of feeling like they have been discriminated against for wearing their hijabs, and President Donald J. Trump’s travel ban from several Muslim majority countries is still in place.
Asmaa Ali, 23, an attentive hijab wearer for much of her life, has experienced Islamophobia both in person and online but said she was inspired by Ms. Aden’s message and tweeted that she found the model’s story “beautiful”.
“The decision to take her hijab more seriously really inspired me to hold on to my beliefs and not apologize for my identity as a black Muslim woman,” said Ms. Ali. “I think the essence of what Halima was talking about isn’t necessarily that there is a right or a wrong way to wear a hijab. I think the message is to be true to yourself. “
Fellow hijabi models like Ikram Abdi Omar have also thought about how Ms. Aden’s public disclosure affected them.
“To be honest, Halima Aden’s Insta story posts moved me to tears and I started looking back at my old pictures on Instagram and I miss Ikram more than anything,” shared Ms. Abdi Omar in her Instagram story With.
Rihanna, Gigi Hadid and Bella Hadid have also republished Ms. Aden’s story on their own Instagram. Gigi Hadid wrote, “As a hijabi or not, it is so important to reflect on yourself and get back to what feels real to us – it is the only way to really feel fulfilled.”
Ms. Aden and her long-time agency IMG Models did not immediately respond to comments. According to her stories on the platform, the model plans to stop doing runway shows and travel for the fashion season.
“I don’t owe anyone but Allah SWT,” she wrote – the letters stand for the Arabic expression “Subhanahu wa ta’ala”, which is supposed to glorify God when he mentions his name. “And you can literally kick stones.”
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