6 Bright and Beautiful Photos of Halima Aden in Kenya

The Somali-American model became the first hijab-wearing woman to appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2019.
Halima Aden

Halima Aden was photographed by Yu Tsai in Kenya.


When she posed for the SI Swimsuit Issue in 2019, Halima Aden became the first hijab-wearing model to appear in the magazine in its history. She traveled to her native Kenya with photographer Yu Tsai for the occasion. 

The following year, the 26-year-old returned to the fold, this time posing for the publication in the Dominican Republic in front of the lens of visual artist Kate Powers. 

In addition to her work with the SI Swimsuit Issue, Aden is known for being a semi-finalist in the Miss Minnesota USA 2016 pageant, where she was the first woman to wear a burkini during the swimsuit competition. Today, she is signed to IMG Models and has graced the covers of notable publications like Elle Singapore, Vogue Arabia and Grazia UK.

The Somali-American model was photographed at Watamu Beach in Kenya for her rookie SI Swimsuit feature, which was quite a full-circle moment for Aden.

“I keep thinking [back] to 6-year-old me who, in this same country, was in a refugee camp,” Halima said during her photo shoot. “So to grow up to live the American dream [and] to come back to Kenya and shoot for SI in the most beautiful parts of Kenya–I don’t think that’s a story that anybody could make up.”

While on location in the East African country, Aden modeled several bright and beautiful looks. Below are just a few of our favorites from her time with Yu Tsai.

Halima Aden
Halima Aden
Halima Aden
Halima Aden
Halima Aden
Halima Aden

Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube!


Published
Cara O’Bleness
CARA O’BLENESS

Cara O’Bleness is a writer and editor on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Prior to joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked as a writer and editor across a number of content verticals, including food, lifestyle, health and wellness, and small business and entrepreneurship. In her free time, O’Bleness loves reading, spending time with her family and making her way through Michigan’s many microbreweries. She is a graduate of Michigan State University’s School of Journalism.