Meet the First Hijab-Wearing Model To Be on British Vogue's Cover

Halima Aden, a 20-year-old model, is making history by being the first hijab-wearing model featured on the cover of British Vogue in the magazine’s 102-year run.

The nine cover models on the magazine’s May issue have been described as fashion’s “New Frontiers” and selected with an eye towards increasing diversity, reports The Independent.

“Like so many industries in recent months, fashion has found itself at an important crossroads. At the world’s great design houses, at photographic studios, at fashion weeks and in the offices of magazines such as mine at #BritishVogue, crucial questions have been asked about working practices, safety and respect. Stock has been taken and safeguards to the way we operate have been made…” editor-in-chief @Edward_Enninful writes in his editor’s letter for May Vogue. “Yet as a new mood begins to take hold – one that will only enrich and enliven creativity in fashion – I also believe that the time has come for us to look forward. In short, it is a moment for Vogue to do what it has always done best: to offer a bold vision of what the future can – and should – look like.” For the May issue, nine models each changing the face of the fashion industry in their own way are photographed by @CraigMcDeanStudio with styling by Enninful for the cover story. From L to R: @vittoceretti, @Halima, @adutakech, @LaFaretta, @Palomija, @Pazhatu, @mulan_bae, @fransummers and @selenaforrest. Story by @ellie_pithers, make-up by @diane.kendal, hair by @orlandopita and nails by @megumiyamamotonyc. On newsstands April 6. Read Enninful’s letter in full, plus how to subscribe to #NewVogue all at the link in bio

A post shared by British Vogue (@britishvogue) on Mar 30, 2018 at 9:00am PDT

It was incredibly important to Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful to give the models the opportunity to introduce themselves to the fashion world. “It is a moment for Vogue to do what it has always done best: to offer a bold vision of what the future can – and should – look like,” he wrote, according to The Economic Times.

Aden is joined on the cover by fellow models Adut Akech, Radhika Nair, Yoon Young Bae, Faretta, Fran Summers, Vittoria Ceretti, Paloma Elsesser and Selena Forrest. An Instagram photo of the issue has garnered more than 22,000 likes in less than a day.