Previous model fights for more diversity: – Much remains to be done

Norwegian-Somali Mona Ali, founder of the modeling agency Fiiri, is working to make the catwalk at Copenhagen Fashion Week more diverse. According to the website Marie Claire, Ali has built her agency with the goal of representing the underrepresented in the fashion industry.

“I was always told I was too short. I was told I was too old – and I was around 27,” Ali says of her own experiences as a model.

Fiiri, which means “to see” in Somali, was founded in 2019. Already in the 2021 season, Ali began signing clients and booking them for shows during Copenhagen Fashion Week. The majority of her clients fall into the “plus size” category.

Ali describes her role as a “people collector.” She looks for models who break away from the commercial template other catwalkers prefer. In Copenhagen, designers understand that “anyone can wear clothes on a catwalk,” Ali explains.

Despite the progress, Ali believes there is still room for improvement, especially when it comes to hair and makeup.

“It may look nice on the outside, but it also has to truly reflect diversity on the inside. I think there is still a lot of work to be done,” she says.