this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour straight after this programme. halima aden made catwalk history when she became the world's first hijab—wearing supermodel. featuring in campaigns for some of the biggest names in the fashion industry. i had never got to experience flipping through a magazine and seeing somebody in a hijab, somebody i could relate to. so to be that person for other girls was just a dream come true. but over time, halima felt

the industry was clashing with her muslim faith, and in november 2020 she announced on instagram that she was quitting. i felt great pleasure being the first muslim, hijab—wearing model. it got to a place where i was so far removed from my own image. i ran into problems likejeans being placed on my head in the place of a regular scarf. i've arranged for halima to meet with an industry leader, fashion designer tommy hilfiger, to talk for the first time face—to—face about the need for change. i understand why you left the fashion industry. there's been a lot of abuse and a lot of disrespect. and halima exclusively tells us that by quitting, she hopes to stop other diverse talent from leaving the industry. don't change yourself, change the game. if anything, i want the girls to know halima took one for the team. you know, isacrificed my career so that they could feel comfortable to speak

up in any setting. halima aden was born in a kenyan refugee camp after herfamily fled civil war in somalia. they moved to the us state of minnesota when she was seven years old. at home, the focus was on getting good grades and going to college. halima aden, 19, st cloud! but after competing in miss minnesota usa in 2016, the first hijab and modest swimsuit wearing contestant to do so, she was spotted by modelling agency img. a couple of years ago, had you told me this was going to be my life, i would have been like, no way! i was working housekeeping, going to school full—time, and ijust, i didn't plan to be in the fashion industry. in the 102—year history, i was the first model in a hijab to feature on the cover of british vogue.

and i remember that being such a proud moment for me. it was written in her modelling contract that she would never remove her hijab, and that she would have a blacked—out box to change in on the shoots to protect her modesty. by 2019 she was walking the runway with fashion superstars and making history yet again, collaborating with designers like tommy hilfiger to become the first model to wear a burkini in sports illustrated magazine. hi! since quitting, she hasn't publicly spoken about her experiences with industry insiders, but now, i've arranged for her to meet back up with tommy hilfiger to talk about her decision. you're meeting tommy today and you have some questions for him. given everything we've been through this year, you know, the blm movement, it's just such a timely conversation and it's my first since my exit of the fashion industry and to sit down with one of the industry leaders, it'sjust, it's

going to be an iconic sit—down. tommy hilfiger has been vocal about the need to tackle racism and discrimination in the fashion industry, and in 2020 he pledged $15 million over three years to increase diverse representation. i've been speaking with models from diverse backgrounds here in london to find out what it's like working in the fashion industry, and they have some questions for tommy and halima. ramla is 22 years old, and is a muslim hijab—wearing model. i wanted to ask a question about how you said about how your religion and the fashion industry aren't compatible. and i just want to know if you have any advice for other hijabi models in the industry and what you think they can do and we can do to make industries compatible, and if you think it's possible. i think they should be compatible. i think for me, it was also,

my mom, early on, had a big problem with me leaving school and pursuing a modelling career. so for me it was multiple things that added to my decision to walk away from fashion, notjust religious reasons. but, you know, the first two years, i would come to every shoot with my hijab, i would do it myself, i had complete control. and in the last two years i kind of trusted the team on set to do my hijab, and that's where i run into problems like jeans being placed on my head in place of a regular scarf, just the way that they styled it, i got to a place where i was so far removed from my own image, and my hijab kept shrinking, it got smaller and smaller and smaller with each shoot. it's upsetting to me - to hear that some stylists, or some people, would try to alter your way i from who you are, even.

and i really believej that that's a flaw in the fashion industry. and i really believe - that the magazines are a lot to blame for enticing people to look a certain way, - even if they're not i comfortable doing it. you know, i've been in situations, i won't say any names, but for a different designer, and he actually put my dressing space where i had to walk in the men's dressing space to get my dressing space. and so it was like — wait, did you guys think this through? and it put me in a very uncomfortable position to then walk through the men changing to get to my dressing space. so disrespectful. and i know many models who have gone through difficult periods - of people doing things- with their hair and make—up, maybe making them feel- uncomfortable and putting them in compromising, even, positions. i ijust hope and pray that that chapter is behind us- in history, as being. the wrong thing to do. if every designer that i worked with treated me the way that you did on set, i think

i would've continued to stay in the fashion industry. but the reality is it really depended on each and every shoot. well, thank you, - that's a compliment. and i've enjoyed working. with you for all these years. and you have made me look good on the runway, in photographs. i and you were the first designer to invite me to paris fashion week, when at the time, they were like — paris, you know, they're not as open, they're not as inclusive yet, where milan is, new york is. well, i was very proud having you on our runway in paris. . and that was an example i of where we had all sizes, all different ages... mm—hmm, ethnicities. ..ethnicities, and - interestingly enough, the parisians applauded it.

and up until that point. people said, "oh, really? you're just going to - have a runway that's just not tall, thin white models?" imean... that, to me, is antiquated. and i think that having i respect for the consumer is very important. and i really — i remember, - we made you a special swimwear outfit. a scarf, on the burkini. that's right. i still, by the way, get messages from girls asking, "what is this, where can i buy this?" talking about the burkini. i think we sold out of it, i but we should make more. yes, i mean, it wasjust such an incredible experience, especially when you look at the history of the burkini. we have countries like france banning it in public pools and on beaches. and so i think we made quite the statement, to be featured in sports illustrated swimsuit, when other women were wearing a 2—piece,a1—piece, and somebody was dressed more

modestly, we pushed the needle. well, i think you have to be very proud of the fact that i you stuck to your beliefs. i mean, critics, sometimes, you know... i felt like it was a very thin line i had to walk. and i would be upsetting people sometimes from the muslim community. i have so many comments like, "this burkini is way too form fitting." "why would you shoot for a publication that's..." yada yada yada. and it just felt like i was constantly walking a very thin line. you know, trying to appease my muslim fans, but also keeping it very fashionable, because young girls were constantly messaging me. "we want to see you in unique looks, we want to see your scarf done differently." so it was a very — yeah, it was a very thin line to walk. ramla has been modelling for two years and wanted to share some of her industry experiences with halima and tommy.

i have been asked by a stylist if i could wear a cutout dress, and we had a whole argument about it, because i told them that i wasn't willing to wear something so revealing, and they just didn't understand. but it's like, these brands are looking for that diversity when they're marketing and putting out ads, but they're not showing that same consideration behind the scenes, and itjust feels a little performative. and another time, i was asked by a photographer if i was willing to get changed in the middle of the park. and i was so shocked, because, i'm a hijabi, like... it just shows how far the industry has to go. i think it's heartbreaking, because she's clearly trying to fit into this industry, but, you know, it's sad that the stylist didn't recognise that they have a hijab—wearing model, so she's not going to be comfortable wearing a cutup dress. what did you think about that? i think it's outrageous, - and i think it's disrespectful.

and i think it's — obviously, i she's working with someone without any empathy whatsoever, and that really angers me. - it's embarrassing to be a part of a business, i a part of a community, - that has such outrageously antiquated ideas, and not caring about the people . they're working with. you know, it's interesting, because when i started out for modelling, i was really like, "this is going to open the door for so many girls from my community." i'd never got to experience flipping through a magazine and seeing somebody in a hijab, somebody i could relate to, so to be that person for other girls wasjust a dream come true. but, you know, the last two years especially, i've been having so much internal conflict with the other hijab—wearing models coming up to me. and even what i saw, i was on a shoot once

and there was another muslim hijab—wearing girl, and so they gave me my box and they told her to go find a bathroom to change in. and so when i saw that we weren't being treated equally, like, that never sat well with me. i totally understand that, and even though i'm - disappointed you left. the industry, for selfish reasons, i understand it completely. - do you think it was a wake—up call for the industry? i do. i think it was a wake—up call for the industry- because i think other brandsl and other designers would be saying what did we do wrong? and i'm surprised more models have not been vocal about it. because there's been a lot of abuse and a lot of, - i would say, disrespect in the fashion industryl between photographers and models. _ i really hope if i did anything the last four years is to give models the opportunity to know that they can speak up. i felt great pressure being the first muslim,

hijab—wearing model in the industry and i felt a sense of responsibility for the girls who followed in my footsteps. and so i'm hoping through my exit and how vocal i have been, they're inspired to speak up on set. on a catwalk and in front of the camera, representation has been steadily improving. but the models here in the uk told me that behind the scenes it can often be a different story. my name's naomi, i'm 21 years old and i've been in the industry for almost five years. i have actually been a part of so many diversity shoots where the team in front of the camera, all the models, have been so diverse. but the team or the production off—camera or behind—the—scenes is dominantly white which makes it really difficult for them to work on different models, say, with different skin colour or different hair. and i always struggle with it, i always carry my own make up to sets.

my name is kaeleen, i'm 23 years old, and i've been in the modelling industry for five years. i've been on set at times where people didn't know how to work with my hair, people were scared to touch my hair. there's never any products for my hair. i've been on set where people have touched my body without my permission, where people have commented on my skin and how silky and soft it looks, i've had an experience modelling for a big publication and the editor came and actually patted my bum. yikees. i mean, what do. you think of that? wow, i think it's very disheartening. these are young women and i feel like sometimes people think that they're easy to exploit and fashion can be an industry that's very exploitive. but i would say, again, this is another reason why there needs to be diversity with the make up crew, the hairstylists, and so it's notjust about having a diverse

catwalk, it's also, what about the people behind—the—scenes? i think it's outrageous, - actually, and i think that it has to change. i hope i can be a leader. of that change and i really believe that it comes from the top down. i the owners of these companies, the head of these companies, i because they can i make a difference. all they have to do is call the shots. . all they have to do i is make the rulebook. there's so much that goes - on behind the scenes that has to be corrected. so, tommy, what are you doing to champion diversity within the fashion industry? well, we created the people's place program, named - after my first business, - to embrace the bipoc community and unlock doors for talentedl people of colour who wouldn't ordinarily get the opportunity to really work for a big - company or have mentorship.

i really believe that having - the programmes we have in place will enhance the situation. why is it so personal to you? you know, 52 years ago, i i started my first business when i was 18 years old, - and from the very beginning, i wanted my brand to be - for everyone and everybody, and when i launched - the tommy hilfiger brand, i launched with the most. diverse ad campaign i think america had ever seen. and when i started - dressing the hip—hop kids and the rappers... aaliyah! aaliyah. beyonce when she was 16, - before people knew who she was. salt n pepa, tlc, puff daddy, snoop dogg...

a lot of people came to me, said, "do you want to - dress those people?" i said, oh, my god, it's a compliment. it's...do you realise _ what a compliment it was to me that they want - to wear the clothes? it made may brand cooler and it made my brand relevant. - fashion brands around the world have pledged to improve diversity at all levels of their company. but a 2019 study of the beauty and fashion industry in the us found that almost three quarters of board of director positions were held by white men. kaeleen has a question for tommy on what is he is doing to ensure representation across the board. my question to tommy hilfiger is, if you're educating your staff and casting directors as to what diversity really is. to answer the question, i've had, i would say, i knock down drag out fights - with casting directors who have worked for us, stylists . who have worked for us, who have told me that this girl doesn't belong on a runway. for certain reasons, . and i have said, look, my name is on the door. you work for me, we'rei

doing what i want to do. good for you. but how do we tackle the issue of diversity behind—the—scenes? so, board members. like, how do we make sure that's also inclusive? well, you set up rules - and basically, you enforce the rules. so with my teams, i make sure that we are equally as diverse i and inclusive behind—the—scenes i as we are in front of the lens. i now let's hear from ramla again. when brands cast me, it often feels like they're basically casting me because i'm black and muslim, and i tick both boxes, so it means that quota's done, they don't really have to worry

about it, and it's definitely reflected in the way that they cast hijabi models. you kind of see that the brands will cast one model for, like, the entire fashion week, or a certain sector of fashion and then they'lljust like oh, 0k, we have the one, we don't really need any more because we've covered our quota. and i just wish that wasn't really how it is. i think it's called tokenism. and i've seen a lot of other brands where they have, i i don't know, six white models and then they put one personl of colour in. but when i cast people of colour in my showsl or on my runway, it's. because i choose them because it's the real world. did you feel like a token - in any of the campaigns you've done in the past for others? not necessarily a token but i understood that i checked many boxes. you know, on one hand i'm a somali american,

i'm a petite model, 5'5.5". you know, iam black, i'm muslim, i wear the hijab. so there's so much that makes up who i am. i think it's time that leave tokenism in the past. muslim, hijab—wearing models, they're no different than the other models on the runway or on set, you know, they're really no different besides an article of clothing. and so how do we make them feel comfortable, make them feel like they're part of the show, part of the campaign, in a way that's not checking, ticking a box? but you're going to go down in history as the one - who made the difference. you know, i might have been the first model but thank the lord that i'm not the last, and there's so many young muslim girls who have since entered the industry who are paving the way themselves. i've said it once and i will say it again here — don't change yourself, change the game. and if anything, i want the girls to know halima i took one for the team. i sacrificed my career

so that they could feel comfortable to speak up in any setting, and so i would want them — or any model, you know, notjust muslim models, but really any woman in the industry, to feel safe and comfortable to voice her opinions, to know that she is part of the creative process. you're notjust a mannequin, you're part of the team. i want to know - what's next for you. what are you going to do next? i am looking at other industries and other fields that don't have a strong muslim women presence, and how could i break the mould again, just like i did with fashion. like, how can i be the first, you know, in the film industry, writing a children's book about the refugee crisis. so, the future is looking really bright and i'm excited for what's to come. what do you want your legacy to be? i want people to think that tommy hilfiger the brand i cared about others. i want to be known as someone who walked the walk, _ didn't just talk the talk.

my hope is that the entire industry changes. - and i know that i cannoti affect that change alone. i would like other executives to realise the importance - of it. that goes from the top - of the company to the bottom of the company. and it'sjust not- for the ad campaign. 0r it'sjust notl for the runway. but it has to run like a river. through the entire company. i hope we can have more conversations like this where you're inviting models to have a seat at the table, where it can be more collaborative, and above all, i want it to be inclusive, i want us to care about one another and for it to be genuine, on and off the runway. and so the future of fashion, it's looking very...promising.

hello there. storm evert is bringing a quite exceptionally windy spell of weather for this time of year across the south of the uk, with a met office amber warning issued for a good part of cornwall and the isles of scilly. it's all because of this area of low pressure, quite a small low, but quite a powerful one tracking its way eastwards, with the strongest winds on the southern flank. you can see the amber warning area here across cornwall into the isles of scilly. those are the wind gusts in the black circles. but the winds also really quite brisk across a good part

of devon, dorset, into hampshire, up the bristol channel and across the south coast of wales as well. so, some damage and disruption quite possible as we start the day, and with this curl of wet weather as well, some heavy and potentially thundery bursts of rain at times. our storm tracks its way eastwards across england and wales through the day. for northern ireland and scotland, calmer weather, quite a lot of cloud and some showers, some of which could be heavy, but a few sunny spells breaking through as well. stays windy for a good part of the day down towards the south, but those winds will slowly be easing as we head towards the end of the afternoon. temperatures, well, a bit disappointing, really, for this time of year, 17—20 degrees. now, you can see our swirl of low pressure clearing away eastwards as we head through friday night. into the early hours of saturday, fairly large areas of cloud, one or two showers and some clear spells. temperatures between 12—15 degrees as we begin the weekend. so, the remnants of storm evert clearing away eastwards. high pressure trying to build in from the west, but not having much luck. stranded between low pressure and high pressure, we will have a northerly wind

through the weekend, and that means it will, generally speaking, be rather cool for the time of year. we will see some spells of sunshine, but also some showers, some of which could be quite heavy. quite a lot of cloud, i think, as we start saturday morning. some outbreaks of patchy rain here and there. some sunny spells developing, but some pretty sharp showers, especially down towards the south. could be the odd flash of lightning, the odd rumble of thunder. in the sunniest spots, up to 21—22 degrees. and then as we look ahead to sunday, again quite a lot of cloud, some showers or potentially longer spells of rain, the odd thunderstorm down towards the south later on. we will see some sunny spells, but temperatures quite disappointing, especially in northern scotland. here, just 111—15 degrees.

welcome to bbc news — i'm ben boulos. our top stories: alarm injapan — is home success at the tokyo olympics fuelling the continuing rise of covid cases? there is a time lag between the rise of infection and the rise of the seriously ill patients inundating the hospitals and leading to the collapse of the medical system. president biden tells millions of federal workers to get vaccinated or face regular testing, but there is a cash incentive. i know that paying people to get vaccinated might sound unfair to folks who've gotten vaccinated already, but here's the deal — if incentives help us beat the virus, i believe we should use them.