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Today Diawara’s world looks much different.
Her two older sisters, who had no basic edu-
cation when they came to the U.S., are now
professionals in pharmacology and neurology,
and her little sisters, who were born here, are
social media savvy and deeply entrenched in
American culture. Her days are filled with pho-
to shoots, go-sees and playing dress-up for
designers. When she’s not doing that, the
self-proclaimed science nerd is working her
side hustles and studying.
She has become a cross-cul-
tural ambassador of sorts for
her family, embodying both
Muslim tradition and modern
American culture. And in the
modeling world, she’s re-
cently piqued the interest of
many designers and
brands—and not just be-
cause she’s wears a hijab.
An early breakout talent
for her agency with lots of
hype around her work, Di-
awara was one to watch. After jobs with
clients such as Adidas and Pyer Moss, she
was on the rise. Then she plateaued, learn-
ing firsthand the old saying that in the fash-
ion industry, one day you’re in, the next day
you’re out. Now signed to a new agency,
she is having a resurgence, giving the intro-
spective beauty a chance to redefine who
she wants to be.
She’s starting off the season playing with
some of the hottest beauty colors and one of
the boldest trends we’ve seen in years: feath-
ers. Wearing a head covering also offers a
unique advantage: All face means all beauty all
the time—a makeup artist’s dream. Diawara
owns it. Her excitement for bold eye makeup is
Statement
Lips
Red lips are not a new
concept in beauty,
but this tried-and-true
look works for an array
of melanin-rich skin
tones. Runways and
red carpets were filled
with the classic staple
this season, reminding
us of why it’s always
a go-to if you want
to play up your pout.
And in combination
with daring add-ons,
it’s a more-is-more
look we love.
Good
Feather
Feathers are easily
the boldest creative
trend of the fall.
They’re neither ef-
fortless nor simple to
pull off, but they’re
magical when done
right. The season’s
color trends lend
themselves to beauty
effects that incorpo-
rate this over-the-top
element, creating
dramatic, look-at-me
moments.
he road to modeling was far from easy for Kadija Diawara.
Born in the Ivory Coast and raised in Egypt until her family
immigrated to the United States when she was 6, Diawara
has been through some challenging times. She considers all of it part of
the mix that has made her into the woman she is today. Growing up
in New Jersey as a Muslim with a large immediate family (14 brothers and
sisters) and parents who didn’t speak English—she spoke only the West
African language Bambara when she first arrived—she had an uphill battle.
She recalls living in a small house that had no lights or heat, where the
family showered with rainwater they caught in buckets, and her mother
cooked their food outside on a charcoal grill.
I’m here as
a depiction and
representation of
the kind of
inclusivity that
transcends fashion.”
—KADIJA DIAWARA
TRENDS
EXCLUSIVE
For more on this photo
shoot, check out our
video coverage on
ESSENCE.com/video.
tangible. As she moves from a sunset look to a
warm metallic eye to a strong geometric liner
paired with feather lash accents—and even
eyes surrounded by an array of black and
white feathers—her persona adapts. “When
you’re used to your hair being out, like when
you’re at home, there are different shadows
that play on your face,” she says. “But when
your head is covered, it’s just you—you’re all
face. So I definitely play up my eyes. I don’t do
mascara as much as I used to,
but I do eyeliner when I need
to, and I can’t live without con-
cealer and blush.”
But the twentysomething
is more than just a Muslim
model with a covered head.
She wants her presence to be
more powerful than that. She
intends for her contribution
to be impactful so that a
model in a hijab or burkini or
wheelchair isn’t groundbreak-
ing, it’s the norm. “Hijabis in
fashion and beauty are an amazing thing. I
think it helps to increase inclusivity and
shows that we can coexist in a culture that
goes beyond stereotypes of what people
think we are,” she says. “But my agenda isn’t
solely hijabi. I would advocate for it, but at
the same time that’s not my main stance. I’m
here as a depiction and representation of the
kind of inclusivity that transcends fashion.” Opposite page:
HAUTE HIJAB silk
hijab and ALBERTO
ZAMBELLI blouse.
T
ESSENCE.COM I 48 I SEPTEMBER 2019