Sports Illustrated has announced that the beautiful Halima Aden appears in their annual swimsuit spread wearing a Burkini and Hijab. This makes history and marks the first time that modest swimwear has been featured in the issue – a major breakthrough for modest fashion.

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My first Paris fashion show could not have been more special thanks to @zendaya & @tommyhilfiger!! What a powerful tribute to women ❤️🙏🏾 #tommyxzendaya #tommynow

A post shared by Halima (@halima) on Mar 3, 2019 at 11:48am PST

The 21-year-old model is leading the way for inclusivity in the modeling industry by being the first woman to wear a burkini in the Miss Minnesota beauty pageant, the first Hijab wearing model to sign with IMG and now the first model to appear in modest swimwear for the famous Sports Illustrated. Not only is Halima now a hugely successful international model, but a champion of growing the traditional definition of beauty too! From the covers of British Vogue to walking NYFW, Halima has proved there is a place for modest models in the world of fashion becoming an inspiration to so many young Muslim girls all over the world.

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Shattering perceptions by wearing a burkini and hijab in the 2019 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue!!! Go buy your copy of #SISwim now!

A post shared by Halima (@halima) on May 8, 2019 at 8:03am PDT

The stunning shots were taken at Watamu Beach in Kenya, where the Somali-American, boundary-breaking supermodel lived in a refugee camp until the age of 7, before immigrating America. Halima posted a striking image from the shoot, along with a motivational and empowering caption.

‘Don’t change yourself… change the GAME!! Ladies anything is possible!!! Being in Sports Illustrated is so much bigger than me. It’s sending a message to my community and the world that women of all different backgrounds, looks, upbringings.. . can stand together and be celebrated. Thank you so much @si_swimsuit & the entire team for giving me this incredible opportunity’.

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Don’t change yourself .. Change the GAME!! Ladies anything is possible!!! Being in Sports Illustrated is so much bigger than me. It’s sending a message to my community and the world that women of all different backgrounds, looks, upbringings… can stand together and be celebrated. Thank you so much @si_swimsuit & the entire team for giving me this incredible opportunity.

A post shared by Halima (@halima) on Apr 29, 2019 at 11:21am PDT

We hope this trailblazer keeps on pushing the beauty boundaries of fashion and continues to inspire young girls just like her to stand up and change the game!

Sport’s Illustrated’s 2019 Swimsuit Issue drops on 8th May