MINNESOTA – An American Muslim teen made history on Sunday, November 27, by competing at Miss Minnesota competition in her traditional dress and modest swimwear, reaching the semi-finals of the beauty pageant.

“Halima [Aden] is bilingual. She speaks fluent English and Somali, and history is her favorite subject,” Denise Wallace, pageant executive co-director, announced to huge applause as Aden strutted for the judges, Star Tribune reported.

“She’s making history tonight.”

The 19-year-old Somali-American sauntered on stage during the Miss Minnesota USA pageant Saturday night in a “burkini,” a bathing suit covering her from neck to wrist to ankle.

She was the first fully covered Muslim to compete in the state pageant, where she made it to the semifinal round of 15 Sunday, but didn’t advance to the final five.

Donning burkini, her swimsuit stood in sharp contrast with the other 44 women, most of whom donned revealing bikinis during the pageant’s signature swimwear segment.

Aden added that she entered the competition at Burnsville’s Ames Center to break barriers for Muslim women and counter the prevalent notion that they are oppressed.

She hoped to be a role model for girls who felt that wearing the hijab might hold them back.

“I just want to go on as myself,” said Aden, a freshman at St. Cloud State University.

“When you have a lot of women in our state that do wear the hijab, we should be able to see that everywhere.”

Role Model

Aden’s appearance on the stage was met by a huge cheer from a group of friends and family, who beamed with pride for how Aden represented her community.

“We’re so proud of her,” said Aden’s cousin, Khaled Said. “She’s helping connect other generations.”

Aden’s mother, Rukia, who moved the family to Minnesota from a Kenyan refugee camp 12 years ago, when Aden was 7, cheered her young girl.

“I support my daughter,” said Rukia Aden.

“This was something new to me. I’m very happy to live in the United States where people are free and can wear what they want.”

“It was her choice and I’m happy with what she chose,” Rukia Aden said.

Seeing her participation as breaking stereotypes about Muslims, Aden said she received thank-you notes from parents and young girls who have been bullied.

“That’s made me so proud to be a part of this,” she said.

“Just give it a try. You might not win, but maybe the fifth, sixth girl will win. Don’t let anything get in the way.”