HALIMA ADEN

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.

I feel like I'm here to bust those misconceptions and stereotypes of Muslim women.

My goal is to send a message to Muslim women and young women everywhere that it's okay to break stereotypes and be yourself.

What I have learned is that designers are willing to tell the world that they are here to empower women from all different backgrounds and different walks of life.

I love speaking at schools. That's always my favorite because I wish I'd had someone who was like me come speak at my school.

The fashion industry really welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. They've been very accepting of my faith. I have strict wardrobe requirements, and that's something they've upheld.

When I was younger, I didn't have that type of person that I could look up to and be like, 'OK, this is someone who dresses like me and I relate to.' I didn't have that growing up, so to give that opportunity to a younger generation of women - and not just Somali women, but anyone who feels different - that means a lot to me.

Society puts so much pressure on girls to look a certain way.

It's always been hard trying to find the right pieces that go together, but it's always been something that interests me - finding new ways to be fashionable and cute but still being modest.

What I do is I always try to educate myself about my neighbors, about the people I meet.

I'm covered up, but I'm still getting these comments that say I shouldn't be. But the girls who wear the bikinis, they're being told they're too revealing! Enough. It's their body, their choice.

When people put labels on us, it doesn't always enclose everything that we are. So even though I'm proud to be Somali, I'm proud to be American, at the end of the day, I'm still Halima, and I take things from both sides and combine them, and I make my own little category. I'm me!

People I looked up to a lot were, you know, Oprah because she had a rough childhood but overcame so many obstacles and broke barriers to become who she is. It was really eye opening to me: just because I had a rough childhood doesn't mean that I can't make something of myself.

I truly believe diversity is beauty.

Moving to the U.S. was an adjustment. I noticed that the kids played in groups. Back in Kakuma, everyone played together.

I don't want to be taller; I want to be myself.

I made a lot of mistakes growing up, trying so hard to fit in. I got so lost trying to please everybody.

A lot of people had a misconception that I would be the perfect poster child for Islam. So I got a lot of Instagram comments like, 'Oh, you don't have your neck covered, you're not a Muslim!' My thing is, stop judging women, especially if you're a man, because you don't know the responsibility that comes with wearing a hijab.

You don't have to show a lot of skin to be beautiful.

When you're a kid, to be honest, you could be in the worst situation ever, but you're still going to have ways to enjoy it.

I know I got to do something that's one in a million, to escape a refugee camp, to come to this country and have so many doors open for me. So I want to go back and make a difference and give motivation or hope to all the kids that never got to leave or have the privilege that I did.

Product-wise, I use a morning and night cleanser. I'm really not a brand person.

If there's one message I want people to take away is never compromise being your authentic self. Even if that means making others uncomfortable.

Back in high school, I didn't ever see a Muslim homecoming king or queen - there was never even anyone nominated. It just seemed for a lot of those events, Muslim kids were not being included, and it was probably our fault too - no one was going for it, but no one was trying to push us to do it, you know?

America has always been a land of diversity, basically made up of immigrants, and that is something I want to see continued. It's something I'm proud of when people think of America.