Model and Muslim-rights activist Halima Aden is featured on four Vogue Arabia May 2022 covers. Aden is styled by Amine Jreissati in images by Youssef Oubahou [IG].

Vogue Arabia EIC Manuel Arnault writes the interview: Halima Aden on Her Three-Year Hiatus from the Industry, Inhumane Working Conditions of Models, and Muslim Representation. I have read the entire interview and for the mostpart, Aden seems frozen in time.

Even in 2022, Halima was giving the same new interviews to media that shared her story of walking out of the fashion industry in 2020. AOC checks on her about every 90 days. Aden brings that identical voice to this Vogue Arabia May 2023 interview — but after therapy, which she cites as being very beneficial for her.

Is the fashion industry still rife with “inhumane working conditions for models”? I don’t know, but the New-York based Model Alliance four days ago posted on IG that the ‘Fashion Workers Act’, represents the culmination of the Model Alliance’s work over the last decade.

Here is the current public people face of the Models Alliance and I must say they have grown tremendously. Let me point out that there is no hijab-wearing woman of color, although the totality of representation is impressive. Perhaps Halima Aden can join and become part of a collective voice, rather than a solo, always highly-critical one?

The Master of Diplomacy

In AOC’s opinion, Manuel Arnault probably has the most delicate and politically-fraught EIC role in fashion media. He walks that tightrope with an impressive maturity and diplomacy that I certainly don’t possess.

Arnault impressed me today, because he has taken up the topic of the Cleopatra Netflix series. Hence the paragraph that preceds this one. I bow down, Manuel Arnault.

Halima Aden expresses select regrets about sending a torrent of Instagram blasts against the entire fashion industry and people close to her who tried to help her. I’ve had my say over that topic, but Halima had everyone including Carine Roitfeld trying to help her. You can’t do better than Carine.

Halima’s opinion that fashion world is basically corrupt and totally disrespectful of her religion hasn’t cooled in any way. She does admit the nobody at Sports Illustrated — and certainly not the empathetic-to-women MJ Day — intended to reduce her to a sex object in her burkini.

Literally while I was writing, these new posts of Halima quotes went up on Vogue Arabia’s IG. It was my intention to just post the remaining fashion story images and exit stage left. No way now.

Dear Halima,

I admit to being very concerned about America becoming a theocracy, as we see women’s rights being stripped away in America at every turn.

Christian nationalism is on the move in America, and I fear for all of our rights as almost any theocracy is authoritarian in nature by definition, and women lose our rights.

I don’t think you understand, Halima, that women like myself are as vehemently opposed to Christian nationalism, the right-wing sects of Hindu nationalism and uber-Orthodox Judaism as we are to Islam’s nationalism sects.

You assume every perceived slight is about you and your devotion to Islam, but it’s really about any theocracy — at least when it comes from me and my friends.

On Hijab Wearing Women Not Being Oppressed

Many of your comments seem tone-deaf, Halima. How can you say that hijab-wearing Muslim women are not oppressed? In many cases, they are not. I would argue that the reality is situational.

The United Nations announced Tuesday night, May 2, that its premier prize for press freedom has been awarded to three imprisoned Iranian female journalists “for their commitment to truth and accountability.”

Those imprisoned women are Niloufar Hamedi who broke the news that 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died last September while being held by the morality police for wearing her headscarf too loosely, and Elaheh Mohammadi who wrote about her funeral. The third winner is Narges Mohammadi, who has worked for many years as a journalist and is one of Iran’s most prominent activists.

What Is Your Opinion on the Iranian Women Wanting to Be Free to Choose Hijab, Halima?

Halima, do you support the demands on Iranian women that they must wear their hijabs — that they are not free to choose to wear a hijab or not, as is the case in America?

I am shocked over your position after several years of reflection, and especially knowing about the crackdown on Iranian women.

Do you understand that for a woman like myself, my obligation to the Iranian women is more important than my obligation to you as a devout Muslim woman? You have things very cut and dried in your mind, but in truth, most of life is quite fluid and we all must do our best to navigate tumultuous waters dominated by men and religion.

What About Closing Kakuma and Dadaab, Halima?

Are you aware that Kenya has been trying to close the camps for the last three years, Halima? Having been born in Kakuma, you probably know.

AOC wrote about the issue, which is only worse now with the new government in Sudan in a perilous place with two big-man egos shooting up the country in Khartoum.

There are refugees on the road, Halima and you could use your Vogue Arabia platform to try to help these people. Egypt worries that 800,000 people are headed their way.

AOC has a long history in Sudan, and I am dead on arrival there, because of my work against the brutal flogging of women for inappropriate dress. And I was recruited by the local people, Halima. I have no white missionary complex.

Sorry, Halima, that a light-skinned woman is speaking here. But it is Al Jeezera English, funded by the Qatari government, so I think it’s okay.

Kakuma has also become home to LGBTQ+ people in the region. In a war on homosexuals made way worse by American evangelicals over there trying to stir up trouble. I’m sure you know about Uganda and now the opposition in Kenya trying to make homosexuality a death sentence. Also death to mothers who don’t turn in their own gay children.

But good news. Seven hours ago CNN wrote that “As Saudi Arabia continues its drive to attract tourists, authorities in the country appear to be reaching out to a particularly lucrative section of the market: LGBTQ travelers.”

The website of the Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) seems to have had its Q&A section updated to state that gay visitors are welcome in the kingdom.

Sorry, Halima, but I feel as strongly about my values as you do yours. As you say above: “Sometimes you just have to say it like it is.”

What I do know is that your voice could be very effective for good — and for bad — on the world stage. The world exists in a perilous moment.

At any rate, your images are good. You have a wonderful backer in Manuel Arnault. We’ve both got lots of work to do. Good luck in your return to modeling, Halima. ~ Anne