Halima Aden Hosts I Am You Premiere

Halima Aden, model and activist, hosted the premiere of I Am You, a feature film based on the true story of Afghan refugees. Sonia Nassery Cole, the filmmaker, partnered with Aden because she was a child refugee. "She’s a friend and an amazing girl, love her, but mostly I’m a refugee and so is she. And really as people we connected with each other because she lived in the camps for seven years and it was different kind of situation for her, nevertheless a refugee," said Nassery Cole. The I Am You filmmaker wanted someone that believes in her cause and would advocate for it. "I wanted someone to do something that will make a difference in refugees life," said Nassery Cole.

Aden made headlines last year when she wore a burkini in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Since her career launched, she became an ambassador for UNICEF and has been encouraging young children to give back. She met Nassery Cole at a UNICEF gala in Italy and they instantly formed a connection. "Sonia comes rushing to me and tells me all about I Am You and that she’s been working on it for three years," said Aden.  "I’m like I’m in love. I need to support this, what can I do?"

She began getting the word out about the film by promoting it on her social media accounts as well as doing interviews because she felt a special connection with the project. "There’s so many parts of journey and the movie that I connected it because my family lived it, experienced it, gone through it," said Aden.

Aden believed that showing this movie during NYFW was a good fit. "Fashion for me has always been combining fashion and activism," said Aden. I Am You highlights how dire this situation truly is and premiering it during NYFW can possibly encourage people to advocate to this cause. "It’s an actual journey that a lot of refugees find themselves in its not that they’re escaping for a better job or a better opportunity its life or death."

Since fashion month is very stressful, Aden tells us how she relaxed beforehand. "I started watching Handmaids Tale and Love, Explained on Netflix… I’ve watched all the episodes, that’s what I do on the plane. I’m always trying to squeeze in as many shows or movies as I can," said Aden.

If you’re interested in watching I Am You, a story about young refugee who loses his father at the hands of ISIS before embarking on the journey to find safety and hope. It will be available at the end of February.