Skin care is so much more important than makeup. Makeup is for when you're having fun and going out. But your skin is forever.

How boring would this world be if everyone was the same?

Be who you are. It's easy to feel like you have to blend in, but it takes courage to live your life with conviction and embrace the person that you are.

My favorite part of modeling is backstage. Every day you work with different people, and as much as people learn about my story, I get to learn about theirs.

I want to go see Somalia because I've never been there, and I feel like I'm missing out. I want to learn that heritage; I want to learn about my culture.

I am proud of being a Somali-American Muslim, and my wardrobe has been an important part of my religious and cultural upbringing.

I used to be so self-conscious about my braces that people thought I was shy - I just never talked. It took me a long time to realize, whatever, it's not like I'll have them forever, so I might as well enjoy it while I do!

The hijab is a symbol that we wear on our heads, but I want people to know that it is my choice. I'm doing it because I want to do it. I wanted people to see that you could still be really cute and modest at the same time.

There's always room to volunteer. I think that's a huge space to be involved with.

Always stay true to who you are - barriers can and will be broken!

I sleep with aloe vera on - it's super moisturizing and good for the skin - and I'll switch that up with honey, which I leave on for 10 minutes then wash off.

There is not one description of beauty - that in fact it has different faces, different stories, and different background, and it's important to embrace all of those.

A lot of people will look at you and will fail to see your beauty because you're covered up and they're not used to it. So growing up, I just had to work on my people skills and give people a chance to really know me besides the clothing.

I remember, when I lived in a refugee camp, it was the people who weren't Somali, the people who came from Western countries, who helped the most. I remember being six and thinking, 'I want to be one of those women,' because I knew how much they helped us.

For me, being able to say that my first-ever photo shoot was with one of the most well-known and iconic fashion photographers in the world is unbelievable.

I truly believe diversity is beauty.

If there's one message I want people to take away is never compromise being your authentic self. Even if that means making others uncomfortable.

For a really long time, I thought being different was a negative thing. But as I grew older, I started to realize we were all born to stand out; nobody is born to blend in.

Being Somali, being Muslim, it's always something I've been very proud of.

I don't want to be taller; I want to be myself.

Having the chance to walk at New York Fashion Week for Yeezy and Milan Fashion Week for Alberta Ferretti and Max Mara in a hijab is so significant. It sends a message to young women everywhere that you can be beautiful for just being you.

I thought for a very long time that I had to conform or maybe change the way I look, or maybe the hijab was dimming my beauty. I took a moment, and then I realized, you know what, there's a lot of girls who do wear this, and this is their reality. It just made me even more prouder to wear it.

I know I got to do something that's one in a million, to escape a refugee camp, to come to this country and have so many doors open for me. So I want to go back and make a difference and give motivation or hope to all the kids that never got to leave or have the privilege that I did.

I will stand up for a girl who is being harassed or bullied for choosing to wear revealing clothes. I will stand up for that!

Diversity and inclusion are always something industries should strive for.

I mix things from my Somali culture and my American side.

Sometimes I'll go with a long hijab, or sometimes I'll wear my scarf and go somewhat business-y with a blazer. Every day is something new.

I love Somali foods like canjeero, a pancakelike bread; same for pizza, burgers, and sushi.

America has always been a land of diversity, basically made up of immigrants, and that is something I want to see continued. It's something I'm proud of when people think of America.

Back in high school, I didn't ever see a Muslim homecoming king or queen - there was never even anyone nominated. It just seemed for a lot of those events, Muslim kids were not being included, and it was probably our fault too - no one was going for it, but no one was trying to push us to do it, you know?

The fashion industry really welcomed me with open arms and open hearts. They've been very accepting of my faith. I have strict wardrobe requirements, and that's something they've upheld.

Moving to the U.S. was an adjustment. I noticed that the kids played in groups. Back in Kakuma, everyone played together.

I say this all the time, but my hijab, it really is my crown, and it's something that I bring to the table. It's something that makes me unique. It shows the world who I truly am.

You don't let being the first to do it stop you or get in the way.

I am Minnesotan.

I did notice growing up that there are so many things, obstacles and things, that people think you can't do because you're Muslim or because you're wearing a hijab. You hear a lot of no's. That was something that I wanted to see change.

I feel bad for my little cousins who don't see themselves being represented, or the little girls in my community who won't have a chance to see a Disney princess... who resembles them.

I haven't received any pressure to be anything other than myself, and for that, I am so grateful.

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

I feel like I'm here to bust those misconceptions and stereotypes of Muslim women.

When people put labels on us, it doesn't always enclose everything that we are. So even though I'm proud to be Somali, I'm proud to be American, at the end of the day, I'm still Halima, and I take things from both sides and combine them, and I make my own little category. I'm me!

If you think people are against you and that you're a target, things will start appearing that way. I just go about my day, and I don't think anyone is out to get me.

Every little girl looks up to her mom so much - that's your first hero.

I have much more to offer than my physical appearance, and a hijab protects me against 'You're too skinny,' 'You're too thick,' 'Look at her hips,' 'Look at her thigh gap.' I don't have to worry about that.

Society puts so much pressure on girls to look a certain way.

My mom and grandma, growing up, one thing they emphasized was that you need to make sure that anything you put on your skin is also digestible by the body. For example, if something isn't safe for me to eat or consume, it's probably not good for your face. So I do a lot of natural remedies.

Moisturizing every night is important. When you're 50 or 60, it's going to show if you don't take care of it. You have to prepare when you're young, so you still have that healthy, glowing skin when you're 60 or 70.

Product-wise, I use a morning and night cleanser. I'm really not a brand person.

I feel like with anything you choose to do in this world, there are always gonna be people who disagree. But I've had a lot more supporters than critics.

I choose to focus on the positive.