Sports Illustrated glamorized the oppression of women and promoted Sharia law by featuring a Muslim woman donning a hijab and burkini.
21-year-old Halima Aden, who was born in a refugee camp in Kenya and later moved to Minnesota, became the first Muslim model to be featured in a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit spread — fully covered in Islamic clothing, including a hijab.
“We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Halima Aden is the newest member of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit family, making history as the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and burkini in the magazine,” SI wrote.
Sports Illustrated traveled to Aden’s home country of Kenya to shoot the photos which will be featured in the May 8 issue.
“To grow up to live the American dream [and] to come back to Kenya and shoot for SI in the most beautiful parts of Kenya–I don’t think that’s a story that anybody could make up,” Aden told Sports Illustrated during her shoot.
“At SI Swimsuit, we strive to continue to spread the message that whether you are wearing one-piece, a two-piece, or a burkini, you are the pilot of your own beauty,” SI argued.
“We believe beauty knows no boundaries,” said SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day. “I admire Halima, and I consider her an inspirational human for what she has decided to use her platform for and her work with Unicef as an ambassador. She is, in my opinion, one of the great beauties of our time, not only outside but inside. When we met, I was instantaneously taken by her intelligence, enthusiasm and authenticity.”
Halima Aden makes history as the first model to wear a hijab and burkini for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit: https://t.co/8WFD4hHmiH. pic.twitter.com/OsBthnjoLY
— Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) April 29, 2019
Halima Aden was also the first woman to wear a hijab in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant — the oppression of women is now being celebrated under the guise of diversity. Let that sink in.
