‘Breaking barriers’: Sports Illustrated to feature burkini model

Halima Aden to appear in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue as the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and a burkini.

A Somali-American supermodel has become the first Muslim model to appear in Sports Illustrated wearing a burkini. 

Halima Aden is featured in its annual swimsuit issue in the swimwear which covers the entire body except the face, hands and feet.

“Young girls who wear a hijab should have women they look up to in any and every industry,” she told the Sports Illustrated.

Halima Aden grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp, moved to the US aged seven and began wearing the hijab shortly after.

“We are now seeing politicians, business women, television reporters, and other successful hijabi women in visible roles and that is the message we need to be sending,” she said. 

“The response has been incredible and I’m so honoured that Sports Illustrated has taken the step to showcase the beauty that modestly dressed women possess.”