Model Halima Aden covers the March 2019 issue of Paper Magazine. Nazanin Shahnavaz styles the hajib-wearing model and protégé of Carine Roitfeld in images by Desiree Mattsson for ‘TRANSFORMATION: Halima Wants the Next Generation to Dream Big’ . / Makeup by Laura Dominique

Fellow Somali-born Minneapolis resident, Najma Sharif sits down with Halima in Minneapolis. The two women instantly recognized each other as being members of Minnesota’s largest Somali population in America. Her political district elected in November America's first Somali-American congressperson, Ilhan Omar.

Aden’s background in well-known to AOC readers, as we’ve followed Halima from day one due to Carine, her status as a refugee model and our deep commitment to international women’s rights. Halima was born in the massive Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where we support the Kibera School for Girls as part of our GlamTribal philanthropy. Like Halima, we are committed to promoting fashion with advocacy.

Now that she's found success in fashion, Aden wants to pay it forward. "I want to be known for encouraging other girls to go out and have their own success stories," she says. "I'm focused on the next generation. I want to one day see a hijabi at the Met Gala. I want to see a hijabi being a lead actress. Think of all the many firsts that are still out there. What can I do to encourage girls to dream big, to bring it home?" Last year she became a UNICEF ambassador, a position through which she advocates for migrants and refugees. She returned to her birthplace — Kakuma — with UNICEF to deliver a TEDx Talk (the first ever to take place inside a refugee camp) where she shared her story and once more stressed the value of connecting with, and learning from, those with different backgrounds.

We highlight AOC stores about Halima’s activism and humanitarian work at end of editorial.