Halima Aden

Somali-American model Halima Aden has made headlines for countless reasons over the years. She was the first hijab-wearing model to grace the cover of British Vogue, sign with IMG Models, and compete in the Miss Minnesota USA pageant. She also made history as the first Muslim model to wear a hijab and burkini in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and has walked for the likes of Max Mara, Alberta Ferretti, and Yeezy. It’s no wonder then that her recent decision to step away from the fashion industry has led to more eyes on her than ever before. The 23-year-old took to her Instagram account to reveal that the pandemic gave her time to reflect on her values as a Muslim woman – and how modelling often clashed with them. “I can only blame myself for caring more about the opportunity than what was actually at stake,” she said. “I blame myself for being naive and rebellious. What I do blame the industry for is the lack of muslim women stylists.” What the model will do next is anyone’s guess, but we predict that the UNICEF Ambassador will focus more on her humanitarian efforts.

The Crown

The Crown S4. Picture shows: Princess Diana (EMMA CORRIN) and Prince Charles (JOSH O CONNOR). Filming Location: Kensington Town Hall

The Crown is hardly new on the pop culture scene, but its fourth season has prompted all kinds of questions, conversations, and controversies. Opinions were fast formed about the miscasting of actress Erin Doherty (who plays Princess Anne as a bit of a tomboy), while the royal family is reportedly not pleased with the show’s depiction of Princess Margaret’s distant cousins – Katherine and Nerissa Bowes-Lyon – being abandoned by their family. Also making the news? UK culture secretary Oliver Dowden suggested that Netflix should add a disclaimer that the historical drama is a work of fiction. And the streaming giant’s response? “We have always presented The Crown as a drama, and we have every confidence our members understand it’s a work of fiction that’s broadly based on historical events. As a result, we have no plans – and see no need – to add a disclaimer.” However, the biggest question at this point remains: will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s story be told? The two recently signed a massive deal with Netflix, and some reports suggest their contract demands that the show end before Megxit is depicted.

Vaccine Passports

A few months ago, Qantas divided opinions by launching a decently pricey “flight to nowhere” – which incidentally sold out in 10 minutes – and it’s doing it again. Alan Joyce, CEO of the Australia airline, recently revealed that international air travellers will soon need to prove they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to board Qantas flights, referring to the move as a “necessity”. While Qantas is currently the only airline to require its passengers to be vaccinated before travel, industry insiders predict that others will follow suit. “I think that’s going to be a common thing talking to my colleagues in other airlines around the globe,” he said. The decision has led to the term ‘vaccine passport’ entering our everyday vernacular. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), a digital health pass – which will likely include vaccine information alongside details about Covid-19 travel requirements and restrictions – is the key to opening borders. The IATA Travel Pass is currently in the final phase of development, and is set to launch in the first quarter of 2021.