Miss Minnesota Contestant Makes History
Halima Aden is flawlessly breaking down barriers in the pageant community: Over the weekend, the 19-year-old made history as the first contestant in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant to wear a hijab throughout the competition and a burkini during the swimsuit round.
And needless to say, she looked absolutely stunning.
Halima Aden makes history as the first woman to compete wearing a burkini during the Miss Minnesota pageant @StarTribune pic.twitter.com/QEJWToIFC1
- Leila Navidi (@LeilaNavidi) November 27, 2016
Halima Aden starts off Miss Minnesota USA's swimsuit segment to big cheers from the crowd. Announcer: "She's making history tonight." pic.twitter.com/OUvbHv6xct
- Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) November 27, 2016
The Somali-American teenager, who was born in a Kenyan refugee camp and moved to America when she was just 6 years old, ultimately made it to the pageant's semifinals Sunday. But as she told multiple sources both before and after the pageant was over, despite not winning, she hoped her participation would serve as a reminder that beauty comes in many different forms.
"A lot of people will look at you and will fail to see your beauty because you’re covered up and they’re not used to it. So growing up, I just had to work on my people skills and give people a chance to really know me besides the clothing," she said in an interview with KARE-11. "Be who you are. It’s easy to feel like you have to blend in, but it takes courage to live your life with conviction and embrace the person that you are."
Halima Aden with her top 15 trophy. First person to wear hijab to Miss Minnesota USA pageant. Hear from her tonight on @kare11 pic.twitter.com/1fBRFJkjf3
- Ellery McCardle (@ElleryTV) November 28, 2016
Halima Aden, who made semifinals tonight, does post-pageant interviews while in her evening gown. pic.twitter.com/cuNHvjxVQa
- Liz Sawyer (@ByLizSawyer) November 28, 2016
Even more importantly, Aden also hoped her participation in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant might help change America's perception of Muslim women and help fight the rampant Islamophobia taking root in this country. It's worth noting that Aden lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota, which was recently the subject of an episode of This American Life that centered on the city's intense xenophobia. As the episode explains, St. Cloud is home to a large number of Somali refugees - and possibly just as many false misconceptions about Islam and those who believe in it.
"The people that are doing bad things, they don’t represent an entire group,” Aden said in an interview with ABC. "I feel like I’m here to bust those misconceptions and stereotypes of Muslim women."
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