Halima Aden is a fashion and beauty trailblazer. Born to Somali parents in a Kenyan refugee camp, she immigrated to the US at age seven. She made history as the first contestant to wear a hijab and burkini in a US pageant, later becoming the first hijab-wearing supermodel signed by IMG Models. Aden graced the covers of Vogue, Allure, and Sports Illustrated, shattering traditional industry standards. After famously walking away from high fashion in 2020 over religious compromises, she returned briefly on her own terms. However, in July 2025, Aden made a profound personal choice, announcing she would be donning the niqab (face veil) and permanently stepping back from public performance and social media, declaring, “Niqab on. Voice off… I belong to Allah”.