Halima

"... I always felt like I had so many identities that made me who I am – on one hand I was child refugee, on another hand I’m Somali- American, and on another hand, I’m also a black Muslim girl. The women in my life – like my mum who overcame so much; escaping the Somali Civil War, living life as a refugee, as a single mum – have always made me feel powerful to use my voice, and that’s a message all women should hear. Growing up, I could never flip through a magazine or watch TV and find someone who I could relate to – so I have always pushed myself to fill that gap. It was this push that helped me have the courage to stand behind my own choices, and then to become the first Muslim homecoming queen in my town, the first woman to wear a hijab in a Miss USA pageant, and the first model to wear a hijab on the cover of a major fashion magazine. I’m here to change the game – to inspire other women and make them feel seen. You don’t have to be silent. Your voice matters. You matter.”

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