Somali girls have rarely appeared on the covers of the biggest magazines in the world. Their way of dressing has always been thought to be at odds with the demands of the fashion industry. However, modern Somali girls have found a way of working in the industry and still uphold their values.
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Most of them haven’t had a smooth upbringing but have braved different challenges. Here are some Somali girls working in the fashion world today.
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Fatima Siad
Siad’s personal story is full of tragedy. She was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. Also, she lost her sisters during the war in Somalia, underwent Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and fled to the United States at the age of 13 with her mother. Despite these tribulations, she found it within herself to compete in the 2008 America’s Next Top Model.
This gave her exposure and she’s since been signed by IMG Models and currently is under New York Model Management and Munich Models in Germany. Fatima has graced the covers of several magazines including Elle, Cosmopolitan and Harper’s Bazaar.
She’s modelled for Giorgio Armani, Hermes and Trace Reese among other designers. Some events Fatima has worked in include New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week.
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Halima Aden
The Somali-American was born in Kenya at the Kakuma Refugee Camp. She moved to Minnesota in the United States and began her career at the Miss Minnesota pageant. This is where she became the first model to wear a hijab. This catapulted her to the national limelight.
In 2017, IMG Models signed her. Halima has been featured at numerous high-profile events including the New York Fashion Week, Miss USA 2017, Milan Fashion Week and London Modest Fashion. She’s also modelled for designers like Alberta Ferreti.
Halima is the first hijab-wearing model to appear on the covers of British Vogue, Essence Magazine and Vogue Arabia. Having had a meteoric rise in the modelling industry, Halima called it quits. Instead, she opted to become a fashion designer. She explained her shocking decision to Asharq Al-Awsat.
“I was always given a private place to change in, but many times I was the only one afforded this kind of privacy. I saw my fellow young women undress and change in public. To me, it was very jarring. I couldn’t be in an industry where basic human respect doesn’t exist.” Halima said.
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Now she makes modest designs for a Turkish online brand. You can also get some amazing designs for yourself by visiting Amazon. From bags, tops, trousers and jewellery plus more.
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Ugbad Abdi
Abdi was born in Kismayo Somalia. Her family fled the war and settled in the Kakuma Refugee Camp before UNICEF helped them move to the United States. Abdi caught the attention of fashion scouts on social media and was signed by Next Management.
Her first runway show was on the Valentino Haute Couture Show. Abdi has gone on and featured in other shows like Simone Rocha, Max Mara, Chanel, and Burberry. She’s also appeared on the covers of American, Arabian and British Vogue magazines.
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Ubah Hassan
Like her fellow Somali models, Ubah Hassan escaped the war-torn Somalia with her family. They moved to Ethiopia and Kenya before relocating to Canada. Hassan was scouted in a Canadian park and began modelling.
In 2007, Hassan was signed by Click Model Management. She now does high-profile shoots and events. Hassan has been on the covers of Vogue Italia and Allure. Other engagements include working with designers like Betsey Johnson, Rachael Roy, Cover Girl and Lucky Brand Jeans.
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Yasmin Warsame
Born in Mogadishu Somalia, Yasmin relocated to Canada with her family when she was 15. She began modelling for Ford Models. In 2002, she switched agencies and moved to NEXT Models Canada.
With this, she appeared on the cover of Lush Magzine, XYZ Living and Flare. Like other models, Yasmin has been on the covers of Vogue and Elle. She’s modelled for Jean Paul Gaultier and Christian Dior among others.
Somali girls have proven they can rise above their problems, start over again and create successful lives. If you want to have some fashionable items in your wardrobe, check out Amazon.
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