Breaking into the modelling industry in 2018 with her first London Fashion Week show, Abdi has since amassed has a wealth of experience, including being cast in Burberry’s festive campaign in 2019 and walking for the likes of Balmain and Harris Reed. With a bright, burgeoning career and established names already under her belt, there’s no doubt that her success is a result of her initiative and dedication — qualities that initially helped her to forge her path into the fashion industry on her own terms.

Abdi celebrates contemporary modesty in her dressing in both her everyday life and work, becoming one of the first hijabi-wearing Muslim models to star in high-fashion campaigns and walk for designers across fashion weeks, paving the way forward for a more inclusive and diverse fashion industry.

For her Fashion Awards look this year, Abdi opted for a lustrous blue Richard Quinn gown with an embellished black bodice and full gloved-sleeves. She paired the look with a netted veil headpiece and a treasure trove of Pandora jewellery, including the Sparkling Eight Stones Drop Earrings and Infinite Sterling Silver Lab-grown Diamond Ring worn over her black gloves, an outfit that channelled a divine sophistication with a touch of opulence.

Pandora Sparkling Eight Stones Drop Earrings

Pandora Sparkling Herbarium Cluster Chain Bracelet

Pandora Infinite Sterling Silver Lab-grown Diamond Ring

Moments before heading out to the red carpet, we spoke to Abdi just about her chosen look, what’s involved in her pre-event preparation and her evolving relationship with fashion.

Please talk us through your look – what drew you to this particular outfit?

“I’m wearing the most incredible Richard Quinn blue gown and gloves, Emily London custom crystal veil headpiece and Jimmy Choo heels. It’s wonderful to see modest looks on the runway so I have had my eye on this since the show in September. My stylist Siân Gabari had some beautiful options for the awards so it really was a hard decision, we didn’t make up our minds until the day of. It’s nice to keep that element of surprise. 
I feel like I don’t often end up going for colour on a red carpet so we thought it would be fun to do something different.”

How do you decide which brands you want to work with?

“I usually have a discussion with Siân on what the mood is for a certain event. I have a very special place in my heart for my London-based designers, and I was also quite keen to wear a British brand, especially designers that we have relationships with, its so lovely to collaborate on a beautiful moment like this. Once we have created a moodboard we will go through brands and see who matches our vision. Sometimes designers approach us too and thats a lovely way to collaborate. I do think it’s so important to nurture relationships, and also support emerging talent, we always try to balance both.”

What makes Pandora such a great fit for you and your personal style?

“I love to stack jewellery, my personal style is honestly very relaxed, I’m so lucky that I get to dress up so much for my job and events but I love a more laid back, model off-duty, street vibe for my personal style. Pandora has the perfect everyday pieces I never get tired of, they’re so nice to stack and layer.”

How involved do you tend to be with the styling process?

“I’ve always loved fashion since I was young, but I don’t think I ever really grasped how much was involved in styling until working with a stylist. I’m grateful to have one I trust to pull the best options for me, but we do love to have conversations about the vibe and mood we like and we will often send each other screenshots or send looks we love on Instagram. It’s so fun being able to wear collections I loved or even walked for during fashion weeks.”

What kind of fashion makes you feel your most confident?

“I’m a bit torn, I either feel super confident in very dramatic red carpet looks like tonights, or my Cannes looks for example, but I also feel confident in an amazing blazer and denim. Sometimes a super easy look with sneakers and a cap, I’ll feel so confident.”

How has your style evolved over the years?

“My style has definitely evolved over the years, when I was younger it was influenced a lot more by my friends, family and culture. Now I’m so lucky to have an amazing team and access to not only so many designers but so much knowledge. It’s so amazing to work with industry professionals who I can learn so much from.”

What has been your most memorable fashion moment in recent years and why?

“I think my most memorable fashion moment in recent years was my 2023 Cannes look when I wore Nina Ricci. Sian and I still get people congratulating us on it now. It was also memorable because I was so nervous and conflicted to wear it, but once everything came together I couldn’t think of wearing anything else. There are a lot of other looks I can think of that are very sentimental to me, like my first Burberry campaign, first magazine cover, but for most memorable it’s got to be that.”

Whose style have you always admired and why?

“I have always loved Rihanna’s style, I actually heard a rumour she will be there tonight. She does glamorous so effortlessly. I also admire my mum’s style and my aunties. They have such fun, personal style and always incorporate an ethnic element too which I love, and of course, my stylists.”

What is your ideal getting-ready set-up?

“Bathroom with good lighting. Making Tiktoks with my friends or sister, good music in the background, honestly I can do my make-up anywhere. You’d be shocked to see how many events I did my make-up for in the car. I really love doing my make-up, I find it so relaxing and enjoyable.”

When do you feel most beautiful?

“I feel so beautiful when styled in gorgeous pieces and wearing amazing jewellery, but honestly I don’t think it’s always fashion that makes me feel beautiful. It’s strange to say as a model but I really do think so much of beauty is who you are on the inside, even though that sounds cliche, a beautiful heart and mind”

Fashion has a reputation for being frivolous, but why does what we wear matter?

“It matters so much, it can really change how not only a person is perceived but how they feel about themselves. Sometimes putting on a great outfit can really shift a mood. It frustrates me that a lot of female-dominated industries are labelled ‘frivolous’, it’s just so untrue. I mean even if you look at the history of fashion, on so many occasions it’s freedom for men and women.”