Over the past 15 years, the fashion industry has increasingly embraced diversity, allowing models to showcase their unique identities rather than conform to outdated beauty standards.
Among the trailblazers redefining fashion is Ugbad Abdi, a Somali-American model who has remained true to her faith while breaking barriers on the runway.
Born in Somalia, Abdi and her family fled the Somali Civil War, spending years in a refugee camp in Kenya before resettling in Des Moines, Iowa, in 2009 with the help of UNICEF.
Despite her humble beginnings, Abdi’s striking features and undeniable presence caught fashion scouts’ attention shortly after graduating high school. Discovered on Instagram, she made her first trip to New York to meet with modeling agencies, eventually signing with Next Management.
A practising Muslim, Abdi began wearing the hijab at 14 and has maintained her commitment to modesty throughout her career.
She made history in 2019 as the first hijabi model to walk the runway for luxury fashion houses Fendi and Lanvin. Her presence in high fashion has paved the way for greater representation of Muslim women in the industry.
Halima Aden, another pioneering hijabi model who made history in 2017, expressed her admiration for Abdi’s journey.
“When I first stepped into the industry, there were no blueprints for what we were trying to do. Every step forward felt like an uphill battle at the start,” Aden shared. “To now witness Ugbad not just thriving but redefining the standards of beauty and elegance on her own terms is incredibly powerful.”
Abdi was recently honored by USA Today as the Woman of the Year, but a few years ago, she was working at Target in the wake of graduating high school in Des Moines, Iowa, thousands of miles away from the heart of haute couture — not just in distance, but in spirit, too. And less than a decade ago, all her possessions — every single scrap she could call hers — fit into one backpack. Today she is a superstar!
Abdi, who speaks both Somali and English, continues to inspire aspiring models worldwide. With five siblings—two of whom were born after the family moved to the U.S.—she remains deeply connected to her roots while making her mark on the global fashion stage.
As the industry continues to evolve, Abdi’s success serves as a testament to the power of representation and the ability to thrive while staying true to one’s values.
