Model Halima Aden covers Teen Vogue, shot by Scanderbergs

Date
3 July 2018
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Shot by Scanderbergs for Teen Vogue

Model Halima Aden covers the digital issue of Teen Vogue and is the first model wearing a hijab to do so. The model is pictured alongside the coverline ‘I Am America’ and the story is shot by Scanderbergs.

Photography duo Scanderbergs, made up of Stefano Colombini and Alberto Albanese shoot her dressed in a Nike hijab and silver bomber jacket clutching a sparkler invoking the poetry of ‘4th of July’, updating the representations of western cowgirls in a red and white suit.

20-year-old Aden was born in Kenya and suffered the consequences of the 1992 Somali Civil War, displacing her and her family and eventually seeing them resettle in the U.S.

In the story she discusses her experiences of being a child refugee and tells Teen Vogue, “Child refugees are a nonpartisan issue”. Speaking about breaking barriers in fashion she cites the editorial decision to make her a cover star, made by editor of CR Fashion Book Carina Roitfield, which gave Aden her first big break and led to her being the first hijabi model to sign with international modelling agency, IMG.

“She said she picked me because she thought I was beautiful and nothing more. Forget the hijab, she just thought I was beautiful” Aden tells Teen Vogue. “That makes me feel like I can be myself and that’s enough.”

The digital issue of Teen Vogue is out now.

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Shot by Scanderbergs for Teen Vogue

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Kieran Yates

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