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Hijab-Wearing Model Halima Aden Debuts at Milan Fashion Week

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FASHION-ITALY-WOMEN-MAX MARA
US-Somalia model Halima Aden presents a creation for fashion house Max Mara during the Women's Fall/Winter 2017/2018 fashion week in Milan, on February 23, 2017. / AFP / Miguel MEDINA (Photo credit should read MIGUEL MEDINA/AFP/Getty Images)MIGUEL MEDINA—AFP/Getty Images
By Samantha Cooney

Muslim model Halima Aden, 19, who made history for wearing a hijab and burkini to the Miss Minnesota USA pageant, is now making waves at Milan Fashion Week.

The model, who inked a contract with IMG earlier this month, walked alongside Gigi and Bella Hadid for Alberta Ferretti on Wednesday. “Embracing culture and diversity to break norms and change the thinking of modern-day fashion,” the Instagram account for Alberta Ferretti captioned a photo of Aden in the show.

Alberta Ferretti - Runway - Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017/18
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Model Halima Aden walks the runway at the Alberta Ferretti show during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017/18 on February 22, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Pietro D'aprano/Getty Images)Pietro D'aprano—Getty Images

On Thursday, she strutted down the catwalk at Max Mara, which also featured Vogue cover girl Liu Wen. The appearances follow Aden’s New York Fashion Week debut at Kanye West’s Yeezy show.

Max Mara - Runway - Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017/18
MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 23: Halima Aden walks the runway at the Max Mara show during Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2017/18 on February 23, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Victor Boyko/Getty Images)Victor Boyko—Getty Images

“It’s unbelievable,” Aden told People about walking in West’s show. “I never thought that I would see a hijab-wearing model walking in such a prestigious event, but it makes it even more exciting that it was me.”

[H/T the Guardian]

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Write to Samantha Cooney at samantha.cooney@time.com