Halima Aden is a 20-year-old model who straddles the line between cover girl and activist, with a distinct approach to both. She’s the first hijabi woman to grace the cover of British Vogue. It’s the latest feat in a career stacked with firsts. In 2016, the Somali-American model was the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota beauty pageant. She was swiftly signed to IMG Models, which represents her to this day. 

“What a great time to be yourself. It’s 2018, it’s the year of female empowerment, it’s the generation of uplifting other women”, Amen told Vogue. “It’s not just one certain woman, it’s all of us from different backgrounds, different walks of life”. The young model is a commanding presence in the fashion world. “In my first meeting with IMG, we sat down and we talked for four hours. Now, every time I go on set, they already have a good idea of what I can wear”, Amen explained. “I dress differently from other girls, but if some skin is showing, I say, can we switch it? Doing it the right way, it’s about who you are – it’s not always about fitting in”.

To read Halima Aden’s full interview, head over to Vogue>