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Grazia USA
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Grazia USA
"I'm No Longer Performing. I'm No Longer Persuading": Is Halima Aden Quitting The Fashion World For Good?
Photo: Getty Halima Aden has become one of the most well-known faces in fashion and has, arguably, over the last decade, truly changed the face of the industry, too. When the Somali-American model entered the space in 2017 after being signed by IMG Models following her groundbreaking appearance in the Miss Minnesota USA Pageant as the first hijabi contestant, she instantly became a huge role model and representative for modest dressing and the global Muslim community. However, it seems the 27-year-old has hinted she is stepping away from the world of fashion for good following a recent Instagram post where she declared she is 'no longer performing'. Over the weekend, Aden posted what many are calling her final goodbye to the fashion industry. She shared a simple, powerful image, with the word 'Allah' in Arabic calligraphy, followed by the words: 'Niqab on. Voice off. May He be pleased.' In the caption of the post, she further elaborated, writing, 'I'm no longer performing. I'm no longer persuading. I belong to Allah. This account is now an archive…' It's not clear whether the declaration is literal or symbolic, as since the post on Sunday, Aden's account has remained quiet. However, it does appear the model is strongly suggesting she is taking a firm step back from the fashion world and perhaps social media altogether. This isn't the first time Aden has declared she was taking a step back from modelling. In November 2020, during the pandemic, Aden shared she felt her 'personal hijab journey' has been compromised in the fashion industry. 'I finally realised where I went wrong in my personal hijab journey,' she wrote on Instagram at the time, simultaneously sharing past photo shoots she appeared in, one of which a pair of jeans was styled on her head instead of a scarf. 'I was so desperate back then for any 'representation' that I lost touch with who I was,' she added. The following year, Aden sat down with designer Tommy Hilfiger in an interview for BBC World Service, recalling how she 'ran into problems' with her hijab. Photo: @riyadhfashionweek Instagram While she felt she was helping to open doors for women and girls in her community, giving them the much-needed representation they had been missing for so long in media and fashion, it caused the model 'internal conflict'. 'When I started I thought: 'This is going to open the door for so many girls in my community,'' she recalled in the interview. 'I never got to flip through a magazine and see someone in a hijab, so to be that person for other girls was a dream come true. But the last two years [of my career], I had so much internal conflict.' One such big moment for Aden was appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated wearing a burkini by Tommy Hilfiger, which she declared 'made quite the statement' but also noted that she was treading a 'thin line'. 'I'd be upsetting members of the Muslim community,' she recalled. '[I would hear] comments like, 'This burkini is way too form-fitting' and 'Why would you shoot for a publication [like that]?' It felt like I was constantly trying to appease my Muslim fans but also keeping it very fashionable.' However, last December, Aden made a return to the world of modelling, which she described as being on 'her terms'. Headlining Modest Fashion Week, which took place in Abu Dhabi, she walked the runway in a stunning Marina abaya. Prior to Aden's post hinting she would be taking a step back from the fashion world, she shared a plea to her 1.2 million followers to help the people of Gaza, where the population is facing a 'man-made famine and widespread starvation' by Israel, the UN recently declared. 'I'm not here to be political. I'm here to be human,' she wrote. 'Gaza's children are starving, and my soul can't stay silent. This isn't about hate, it's about hunger, faith and accountability.' She urged her followers to spread awareness and to donate to help those in need.
Vogue Arabia
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
Modest Fashion Week Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi
Three days at a beachside resort in Abu Dhabi, celebrating covered-up fashion through runway shows and panel talks while networking and mingling with like-minded women: it's the dream girls' getaway for fans of modest fashion. Marking its 10th edition, Modest Fashion Week kicked off at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort on April 14, with an opening day packed with runway shows and a celebrity appearance by pioneering modest model, Halima Aden. Aden opened the show for Marina, a Turkish brand presenting full-coverage swimwear on the runway. Functional fabrics were brought to life with colour-blocking and design details such as drawstrings at the waists and ruching at the hems. The moment was a meaningful one for Aden, who in 2016, became the first contestant to wear a hijab and burkini while participating in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. She was also the first hijab-wearing model to star in a Sports Illustrated swimwear issue. 'Dedicated modest fashion weeks are essential because they create a space where our community isn't an afterthought – we're the main event, Aden shared in our recent report on the evolution of modest fashion. A grand, spot-lit runway was erected in the resort's Regal Ballroom, bordered by a room full of participating brands' booths, allowing them to showcase their collections to buyers and clients interested in closeup looks. Ayana Ife, who famously became the first hijab-wearing designer to compete in American television series, Project Runway, debuted her athletic line in Abu Dhabi with a cast of diverse models in sporty trainers. Panelled tracksuits were loose-fitting and models sauntered down the runway with a distinctive swagger, as if they were being transported from the ballroom to the basketball court. Ayana Active at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week. Photography by Rooful Ali Ayana Active at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week. Photography by Rooful Ali With more formal attire, Turkish label Miha's passion for Victorian-era fashion was made abundantly clear from the first look of its show. Tiered dresses, rainbow-hued ruffles and wallpaper flowers appeared in a palette of sorbet shades, paired with humble ballerina flats and raffia hats. Miha at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week Miha at Abu Dhabi Modest Fashion Week This was followed by a showcase of all-white bridal gowns by Palestinian label Salaam, and then a comparatively casual presentation of crochet dresses from New York-based Arta Kallaba. The maxi dresses and skirt-and-shirt pairings featured kitschy rosettes; a colourful meeting point of granny chic and contemporary cool.
