There is a 19-year-old who is in the competition for the title of Miss Minnesota USA. She is also one of the first Somali-American women to compete for the title, and she’s planning on rocking a burkini.
Halima Aden is not the only teenager of Somali heritage planning to compete in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant this year.
However, instead of wearing a one-piece, or a bikini for the swimsuit competition, Aden has asked pageant directors if she can wear a burkini instead.
“I’m going in as me, my authentic self. I’m not going to dress down or change myself,” Aden was quoted as saying.
Aden said she’s hoping her participation in the pageant will showcase the beauty of Muslim women.
“As long as I could remember, the media portrays Muslim women as oppressed and in a very negative light,” she said. “But you never see the beauty and the good things that come from Muslim women.”
“Not seeing women that look like you in media in general and especially in beauty competitions sends the message that you’re not beautiful or you have to change the way you look to be considered beautiful,” she added. “And that’s not true.”
Designed by Aheda Zanetti, the burqini/burkini is sportswear suitable for Muslim women. It is described on the burqini website as “swimwear which is ‘two piece like a bikini’ and ‘smaller than a burka’ (a full cover over coat).”
Good luck with that Halima. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning than winning Miss Minnesota.