Teen becomes first Miss Minnesota USA contestant to wear a hijab for all rounds

Luther Vandross was outed as gay after his death.

Halima Aden has made history at just 19 years old. She is the first woman to wear a hijab for all rounds of the Miss Minnesota USA pageant as well as the first contestant to wear a burkini for the swimsuit portion of the contest.

Aden, who is Somali-American says that dressing modestly has allowed her to be more in touch with herself.

— Muslim women in hijabs assaulted hours after Trump win — 

“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,” she told TEGNA station KARE. “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.”

This year has seen several such new takes on the swimsuit competition portion of beauty pageant, with Miss Teen USA replacing it with a round of workout clothing. Aden’s decision to wear a full-body suit and hijab has also turned heads as the beauty industry is changing before our eyes.

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