There is an insufficient incorporation of culture, religion, and traditional aspects in the pageant world, most notable in the swimwear segments. One St. Cloud teenage girl decided to remain covered in a pageant competition and opted for a personal traditional attire that managed to break cultural barriers.

Halima Aden, a 19-year-old Somali-American, became the first women to wear a hijab during the state pageant and burkini in the swimwear segment while competing in Miss Minnesota USA pageant.

The St. Cloud State University student was one of the 45 women who competed in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. She chose to wear a hijab and burkini to empower and inspire women to embrace themselves and their differences.

Aden stated in an interview with KARE-11, “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.”

Aden made it to the semifinals but did not advance past the top 15 competitors. Despite not winning the competition, Aden has spread a positive message about the importance of loving/embracing oneself and our differences. Additionally, Aden has managed to give representation to Muslim women like her in the pageant world.

Aden has tackled the misconceptions of Muslim women and the stereotypes women like her face, through her choice of wearing the hijab and burkini. Aden does not wear the hijab and cover up because of oppression.

She decided to wear her traditional attire because it was her choice to do so and simply because she is the most comfortable wearing it.

“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,” Aden told KARE-11.

Halima Aden represented who she is proudly on that stage and sends a clear message to women everywhere: The endless possibilities for women exist if you work hard and believe in yourself.