This Gorgeous Hijab-Wearing Model Is Being Called Fashion’s Next Big Thing

Minnesota teen Halima Aden—a Somali American born in a Kenyan refugee camp and who wears a hijab—just scored a major modeling contract with IMG. Though its making strides, the fashion industry isn’t exactly known for being particularly inclusive, so this is an important indication that there are positive changes happening.

Aden, now 19, first rose to fame last year, when she competed in Minnesota’s Miss USA competition wearing a hijab and, in the swimsuit portion of the competition, a burkini.

“I didn’t really have modeling in mind,” Aden told Business of Fashion. “I wanted to spread a positive message about beauty and diversity, and to show other young Muslim women that there is room for them.”

From there, she caught the eye of one of the most influential modeling agents in the world, IMG president Ivan Bart. “I found that she was just so brave to stick to what she really believed in and yet go after the American dream of being in a beauty contest,” he said. “We’ll see how the industry reacts to Halima and works with the restrictions or not.”

Aden’s star is already on the rise: She’s featured prominently in the next issue of high-fashion magazine CR Fashion Book, and is set to appear in Kanye West’s Yeezy presentation during New York Fashion Week.

The signing of Aden by IMG, it should be noted, isn’t just a powerful message of religious tolerance and inclusivity; it’s also a highly savvy business move given how increasingly lucrative the Muslim market is for fashion brands: A 2016 report by Thomson Reuters revealed that Muslim shoppers spent $266 billion on clothing and footwear in 2013, and predicted that spending could reach $488 billion by 2019.

Some brands are wisely taking notice—Dolce & Gabbana, in an effort to capitalize, launched a collection of hijabs and abayas (ankle-length robes) targeting Muslim shoppers in the Middle East last year—and trend forecasters predict that other fashion labels will follow suit.

Related:

Halima Aden on Hijab-Wearing Women in Fashion: “It’s Not Something I Thought I’d See”