Hijab-Wearing Supermodel Halima Aden Quits Fashion Industry, Citing Religious Beliefs

Halima announced her decision to leave modeling on her Instagram account, reports The Guardian. She explained that her work in the fashion industry forced her to compromise her religious beliefs. On the web, the one who imposed herself with her hijab on magazine covers and on fashion runways across the United States and Europe, posted a series of images of her participation in several fashion shows, regretting the moments when she had lost her identity, missed prayer time, and was covered in jeans as a headpiece.

"I can only blame myself for caring more about opportunities than what was really at stake. [...] Where I blame the industry is in the lack of Muslim stylists," she said. The Muslim model evokes the feeling of being "a minority within a minority." "Thanks to Covid-19 and the disconnect from the industry, I finally realized where I went wrong in my personal journey," she adds.

However, the Somali-American says she is willing to continue her modeling career on the condition that her hijab is clearly "visible." "If my hijab can’t be as visible, I won’t come. This will be the rule if you want to work with me," Halima insists.