Halima Aden is amongst the growing list of Muslim women who are collecting the titles of “firsts”, this particular first is an appearance in Sports Illustrated. The swimsuit issue has been published since 1964 highlighting women across industries in swimsuits, Halima is the first to appear in a Burkini.

She appears in the swimsuit edition in a number of colourful burkinis and complimentary coloured hijabs. She shared an image on her personal Instagram of her lying in the water on her side wearing the blue and turquoise burkini with the caption:

“Don’t change yourself .. Change the GAME!! Ladies anything is possible!!! Being in Sports Illustrated is so much bigger than me. It’s sending a message to my community and the world that women of all different backgrounds, looks, upbringings… can stand together and be celebrated. Thank you so much @si_swimsuit & the entire team for giving me this incredible opportunity.”

Halima also shared with the BBC that “Young girls who wear a hijab should have women they look up to in any and every industry.”

23 million people each week read Sports Illustrated, including over 18 million men around the globe. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw2W3qfhEfJ/

Many other well known Muslim women like Ibtihaj Muhammad who commented “ICONIC”, Noor Tagouri, Shahd Batal and Neelam can be seen supporting her in the comments below. Media across the world have also celebrated the recent cover.

Halima Aden Makes History as the First Model to Wear a Hijab and Burkini For Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue https://t.co/vWpi82luF3

— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) April 30, 2019

There have been mixed reviews from some in the Muslim community who have questioned whether we need representation across every single industry and likened it to the 2016 Noor Tagouri Playboy feature which garnered praise and backlash.

I've been looking at *that* cover shoot of Halima Aden.
I have mixed views on it, reminds me of when Noor Tagouri did that shoot for Playboy.
I'm not too keen on the whole 'first hijabi' trope. It diminishes the work of many Muslim women before us who've paved the way…BUT

— Sabbiyah Pervez (@SabbiyahPervez) April 30, 2019

We take a look at the opinions and comments across social media, Islamophobes are also serving up their opinions too. Would you like to write a discussion piece on this feature? What does representation mean and do we need it across every industry?

Are you celebrating the first or standing back? Send articles to contribute@amliah.com today.

Breaking all barriers to achieve the American dream! So proud of ⁦@Kinglimaa⁩! Halima Aden is the final rookie of SI Swimsuit 2019 – Sports Illustrated https://t.co/Um69P8CyKB

— Dr. Debbie Almontaser (@DebbiAlmontaser) April 29, 2019

Halima Aden in the new Sports Illustrated is a mooooood.
(She is the first model to appear in a burkini in the magazine’s famous swimsuit issue) pic.twitter.com/pbcC5sFlWi

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) April 30, 2019

Halima Aden writes history again. She is the first model everrr to wear a hijab and burkini for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. Love. Use the power of fashion and magazines to make society more inclusive. #diversityrules #beautyisdiverse #swimsuitsforall @SI_Swimsuit pic.twitter.com/XDSTBSNgnS

— Janice Deul (she/her) (@JaniceDeul) April 29, 2019

https://twitter.com/shariahaisha/status/1122980503215378434

https://twitter.com/ProfSyK/status/1123139893096603653

https://twitter.com/zay_zay20/status/1120388873127890944

Some of the reporting around it has also been questioned

https://twitter.com/frenchsaiai/status/1123123778979078149

https://twitter.com/blkgirlculture/status/1122960590815813634

https://twitter.com/bushraxyz/status/1123142373364699136

https://twitter.com/TarekFatah/status/1122998833112338434

https://twitter.com/GKeile/status/1122970673310310403

https://twitter.com/DTNart/status/1122974126975488000

https://twitter.com/_shireenahmed_/status/1122979329909116934

https://twitter.com/mariansulem_/status/1123139292673581057

https://twitter.com/delores8225/status/1123132422734929920

https://twitter.com/eemanabbasi/status/1122931038630633472

https://twitter.com/KeepIttMovingg/status/1122986853328506881

https://twitter.com/hyfreelance/status/1123043470594195456

https://twitter.com/meleskender_/status/1123016045428604928

https://twitter.com/basicbebe1/status/1122990270147059712

https://twitter.com/musegold/status/1122943360573038593