6 Powerful Photos of Inspirational SI Swim Model Halima Aden in the Dominican Republic

The two-time brand star made history with her debut in 2019, and returned to the fold the next year.

Ananya Panchal | Mar 4, 2024

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic.

Kate Powers/Sports Illustrated

Halima Aden made history with her SI Swimsuit debut in 2019, as the first hijab-wearing model to grace the pages of the magazine. She traveled to Watamu Beach in her home country of Kenya with photographer Yu Tsai and was captured in a series of breathtaking, inspiring pics wearing a burkini.

The Somali-American model returned to the fold the following year and worked with photographer Kate Powers for a powerful, summery photo shoot in the Dominican Republic.

The 26-year-old, who was named a semi-finalist in the Miss Minnesota USA 2016 pageant, is signed with IMG Models. She has posed for major magazines, including Elle Singapore, Vogue Arabia and Grazia UK, and has made waves in the industry along the way.

“I keep thinking [back] to 6-year-old me who, in this same country, was in a refugee camp,” Aden said while on location in Kenya. “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.”

SI Swimsuit editor in chief MJ Day said including Aden in the issue was a no-brainer, and the two women aligned greatly in their shared philosophy that the ideal definition of beauty is incredibly vast and subjective.

“We believe beauty knows no boundaries,” Day said. “I admire Halima, and I consider her an inspirational human for what she has decided to use her platform for and her work with Unicef as an ambassador. She is, in my opinion, one of the great beauties of our time, not only outside but inside. When we met, I was instantaneously taken by her intelligence, enthusiasm and authenticity.”

Below are six phenomenal photos from Aden’s 2020 photo shoot in the Dominican Republic.

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Myra Swim.

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Krahs.

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Sports Illustrated Swim.

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by LYRA Swim.

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Amazon Fashion.

Halima Aden was photographed by Kate Powers in the Dominican Republic. Swimsuit by Cynthia Rowley.

Published Mar 4, 2024

ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit. Before joining SI Swimsuit in 2022, she worked at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. When she is not writing or doom-scrolling on social media, Panchal can be found playing sudoku, rewatching One Tree Hill or trying new restaurants. She's also a coffee and chocolate (separately) enthusiast. Panchal has a bachelor’s in communications and journalism from Boston University.