It is sad to realize that we are living in a world where sometimes hate wins. Whether you are Christian, Buddhist, or Hindu, you can’t help but be shocked by the atrocious acts of violence that are happening worldwide, such as the mass terrorist shootings in New Zealand’s Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Center.
Halima (back) Wears Top, Dior Couture; Ikram (front left) Wears Dress, Givenchy; Amina (front right) Wears Top, Jumpsuit, Dior Couture. Photographed by Txema Yeste for Vogue Arabia April 2019.
Personally, I am also deeply disturbed by videos that pop up on social media every day, showing Muslim women being chased and harassed in supermarkets, on public transportation, or in schools, just because they dare to be truthful to their beliefs, wearing their hijabs and headscarves. Imagining that this could happen to one of my friends or colleagues is a horrible feeling.
Photographed by Txema Yeste for Vogue Arabia April 2019.
Being produced in the heart of the Arab world, with the added weight of being one of the biggest voices in media, I believe Vogue Arabia has the power and the duty to shed a positive light on the misconceptions about the women of our region, and Muslims. While modest fashion is economically booming, there’s still a certain ignorance regarding the women who’ve been consuming it since long before the word “modesty” was associated with a global fashion movement. Our intention with this issue is to showcase that wearing a hijab or a headscarf is a personal and empowering choice, as illustrated by the supermodels, Olympic athletes, “don’t mess with them” politicians, and top businesswomen who we proudly feature on our pages this month. Leaders and achievers such as Ilhan Omar, Ghizlan Guenez, and Zahra Lari choose Vogue Arabia to share their struggles and battles but, most importantly, their stories of success and how they’ve shattered stereotypes by being the first hijabi woman in the US Congress, a top CEO, and the first Emirati figure skater to aim for Olympic gold.
Photographed by Txema Yeste for Vogue Arabia April 2019.
With this issue, I truly hope our modest-dressing readers feel represented and proud, and – as Halima Aden once stated – continue to wear their hijab as a crown. If that is what they choose to.
Photographed by Txema Yeste for Vogue Arabia April 2019.
Read Next: Hijabi Cover Stars Highlight the Power of Choice and What Modesty Means Today
