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Khadijah Omar: The First-Ever Hijabi Miss Universe Contestant

Khadijah Omar is making history as Somalia’s first-ever Miss Universe contestant and the first hijabi woman to participate in the renowned competition. After migrating to Canada with her family at the age of 10, she embraced her new home while remaining deeply connected to her Somali roots. Now, she is breaking barriers in the world of beauty and pageantry, her journey a powerful testament to resilience, representation, and the courage to challenge norms.

As she prepares to step onto the international stage at the 73rd edition of Miss Universe on November 16, 2024, Khadijah’s story serves as an inspiration to many. Here’s a closer look at the woman behind this groundbreaking moment.

Khadija Omar

From Refugee Camp to Global Stage

Khadijah Omar’s incredible journey began in Kenya, where she was born at the Hagadera Refugee Camp, managed by the UNHCR Field Office Alinjugur. At the age of 10, she and her family migrated to Canada, seeking a brighter future. This transformative experience shaped her resilience and determination, turning her into a role model for young Muslim girls worldwide.

Now, Khadijah stands as a beacon of hope, proving that with perseverance and ambition, dreams can transcend borders.

A Multi-Talented Trailblazer

Khadijah is much more than a beauty queen—she is a creative powerhouse. From her work as a beauty influencer and makeup artist to her passion for photography and retouching, she uses her talents to tell stories that inspire and uplift. Her artistic pursuits reflect her dedication to empowering others while celebrating her unique identity.

A Pageantry Powerhouse

Khadijah has been shattering glass ceilings in the world of pageantry for years. Before making history at Miss Universe, she was the first hijabi to compete in Miss World in 2021. Her achievements include being crowned 3rd runner-up at Miss Universe Canada, where she also earned the title of Miss Photogenic. At just 23 years old, her youth and charisma made her a standout competitor, further fueling her passion for pageantry.

Changemaker and Advocate

Khadijah uses her platform to spark meaningful change. She challenges conventional beauty standards while advocating for critical issues like climate change, which deeply impacts her homeland of Somalia. Her activism extends to improving education and healthcare in underserved communities, driven by her personal experiences and commitment to creating a better world.

As a voice for displaced populations, she is determined to shift narratives and inspire action.

Khadija Omar Miss Universe

A Social Media Maven

With a degree from York University, Khadijah has honed her skills as a social media specialist in the beauty and fashion industries. Her expertise in brand development and community building complements her work as a public figure, making her a dynamic presence both online and offline.

Khadijah Omar’s journey is far more than a competition—it’s a movement. Representing Somalia, Canada, and countless women breaking barriers, she embodies the power of representation, resilience, and the courage to dream big. On the Miss Universe stage, Khadijah isn’t just making history; she’s paving the way for others to follow.

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THE DEATH OF HODAN NALAYEH & AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA MOVING BACK TO THE CONTINENT

Hodan didn’t deserve to go like this (does anyone?), in the hands of the very thing she came to change. The story of her passing will forever be told in the manner she wanted people to stop seeing her country.

I made a new friend recently who was considering moving permanently back from the US to Nigeria. She’d moved to the US as a child, and decided to intern in Nigeria this summer to see if moving back was a good idea. In fact, she’d made the decision, and the internship was to serve as a sort of acclimatisation to our own very different norms.

We’d discussed the subtle realities of racism, and the difficulties of raising a black kid over there (I don’t want my black son to be shot by the police, she said), so there was no point in asking her why she wanted to move back. I swallowed the reply I instinctively turn to when any of my friends suggest moving back permanently (That’s a terrible idea, I always say). It occurred to me that she considered Nigeria home, and no matter how long she’d stayed in the US, home, that often transcendent thing, that place where the soul was most comfortable, was Nigeria. And this is the case for all of my other friends too, as well as so many other Africans living in the diaspora.

All of this was just last week.

Which was why reading about the death of Hodan Nalayeh over the past weekend was painful.

Hodan was a Somali-Canadian who moved back to Somalia back in April after 30 years in the diaspora. Hodan was passionate about telling Somali stories different from the tragedies you read in the news. Her Instagram is rife with the faces of smiling children, the dazzling blue Somali skies, clean beaches, orange sunsets.

She founded Integration TV, an online platform that describes itself as “building a community of inspiring and uplifting stories for Somalis worldwide.” She interviews women making strides in a country known for its terrorist attacks and radical Islam.

Yet, only weeks after moving back with a determination to change the narrative about her country, Hodan was murdered in a terrorist attack. Gunmen invaded the Asasey Hotel, where she was staying, after a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle loaded with explosives outside the hotel. Hodan and 25 others, including her husband Farid Jama Suleiman, a businessman and former regional minister, were killed.

While the commiserations have been pouring in, I’ve been considering my only just reversed stance on Africans in the diaspora returning. Hodan didn’t deserve to go like this (does anyone?), in the hands of the very thing she came to change. The story of her passing will forever be told in the manner she wanted people to stop seeing her country.

With the rise of white nationalism and xenophobia across the globe (a scroll through my Twitter a minute ago had me seeing back to back tweets about origins and immigration), there’s a case to be made for people returning and making their home countries better, liveable. But a question keeps swimming around in my head – is home really home if it offers no peace? As with most cases in life, there are no easy answers.

Photo Credit: hodantv

By: Niyi Ademoroti for Bellanaija

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