Sports Illustrated is excited to share that Halima Aden, a young and lively Muslim woman, is featured in this year’s swimsuit edition. She’s making waves by wearing a hijab and burkini. This marks a special moment as Halima shows the world the beauty of being different, all while in a gorgeous location in Kenya.
Halima Aden is making history as the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and burkini in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
Born in a refugee camp in Kenya, the 21-year-old Somali-American went back to Kenya for her first photo shoot with the magazine. The shoot took place on Watamu Beach and was photographed by Yu Tsai.
Sports Illustrated excitedly shared that Halima Aden is part of its 2019 rookie class. They gave us a sneak peek of her groundbreaking photo shoot for the upcoming issue, set to be released on May 8. In the photos, Halima can be seen on the beach, wearing a colorful geometric print burkini in one picture, and a red hijab paired with a custom burkini that features beaded details in another.
Halima, who once lived in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, has moved to the United States when she was seven. Reflecting on her incredible journey during the photo shoot, she remembered her younger self living in a refugee camp in the same country. She finds it surreal to have lived the American dream and to return to Kenya for a shoot with Sports Illustrated in some of the country’s most beautiful spots. She believes her story is like a dream come true and feels incredibly grateful for the experience.
Halima has always valued representation, having grown up in the United States without seeing women who looked like her in the media. She broke barriers early on, becoming her high school’s first homecoming queen and later, the first Muslim Somali student senator in her college. Her journey of breaking norms continued when she participated in the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant in 2016, wearing a hijab and burkini, and becoming a semi-finalist. This experience was pivotal for her, challenging perceptions and encouraging her not to be afraid of being the first in new spaces.
Her courage led her to become the first hijab-wearing model signed by a major modeling agency, IMG, in February 2017. Shortly after, she made her runway debut in a fashion show by Kanye West. By appearing in Sports Illustrated, she continues to challenge norms about modesty in fashion. Sports Illustrated has been making efforts to diversify its representation of beauty, embracing models of all sizes, shapes, and backgrounds.
The magazine’s editor, MJ Day, praised Halima for her inspirational use of her platform and her work as an ambassador for UNICEF. She admires Halima for her beauty, intelligence, and authenticity. Their immediate connection over the idea of Halima participating in the issue marks a significant moment for the magazine, as it’s the first time modest swimwear is featured.
This inclusion reflects Sports Illustrated’s commitment to showing that beauty has no boundaries and that women should feel confident and worthy, whether they choose to wear a burkini or a bikini.
The issue celebrates several firsts, including Winnie Harlow as the first model with vitiligo, Veronica Pome’e as the first Polynesian model, and features Paulina Porizkova and Christie Brinkley, highlighting beauty at any age. Ashley Graham was celebrated as the first plus-size model to pose for the magazine, further illustrating Sports Illustrated’s evolving approach to beauty and representation.
