Fadhi’s Fashionable Journey from Refugee to Runway Star
As a young girl growing up in London, Fadhi Mohamed never imagined that one day her face would grace the covers of the fashion world’s most prestigious magazines. Yet through hard work, perseverance, and an unflinching dedication to being true to herself, this Somali-British beauty has catapulted to modeling stardom seemingly overnight.
Fadhi’s fascination with fashion began at an early age. She vividly recalls watching old runway footage from the 90s and trying to mimic the hypnotic struts of supermodels like Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, and Naomi Campbell. She would parade around the house in her mother’s high heels, much to the amusement of her parents and five siblings. Modeling was merely a childhood fantasy, however – when a scout approached 15-year-old Fadhi about pursuing a career in front of the camera, she decided to focus on her studies instead.
“I didn’t think it was something that made sense for me at the time, or even something that I could do,” she confessed in a recent interview with Hello! Fashion. It wasn’t until her second year at Queen Mary University in London that Fadhi regained her confidence and personal style. With the loving support of family and friends, she strutted into Storm Model Management and immediately landed a contract. “I had a test shoot and then they gave me a contract,” she said. “I’ve been there ever since.”
Fadhi considers booking her first editorial for Vogue Arabia in 2020 as her big break in the industry. “It was my first big shoot and a pivotal moment, because things started to happen for me after that,” she explained. “It meant I started to be seen and everything kicked off from there.” The Floodgates burst open – Fadhi was soon shooting editorials for fashion heavyweights like Vogue Italia, British Vogue, and CR Fashion Book.
In 2022, acclaimed photographer Campbell Addy selected a headshot of Fadhi wearing a lavender hijab for the cover of his first book, Feeling Seen. It was a powerful endorsement from Addy, who also photographed the likes of Naomi Campbell and Beyonce for the book’s interior pages. Clearly, Fadhi had arrived.
Despite her stratospheric success, the model remains humble and gracious about her good fortune. Fadhi and her family arrived in London as refugees escaping civil war in Somalia when she was just two years old. She holds few memories of the strife they endured. “People often ask if I remember Somalia, but I don’t,” she says peacefully. “The family settled in a leafy area in North West London, where they are still based now.” As the eldest of six children, Fadhi feels a responsibility to set a positive example. “I have to set the standard,” she asserts.
Fadhi’s parents, who pushed her to pursue higher education first and foremost, are extremely proud of their daughter’s accomplishments. “They pushed me to go through school and pursue my education, but also to do whatever I want beyond that, once I’d figured it out,” Fadhi says gratefully. After earning her mathematics degree and working briefly in insurance, her path became clear.
Despite her early difficulties with math, Fadhi persevered through long hours of independent study to earn top marks. “A lot of people think I was really good at math, but I was never the person that was in the top set at school,” she confides. “I had to push for better grades and I think that’s what motivated me.” Her tireless efforts paid off with straight A’s. “Striving for something I really dreamed of is one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of,” Fadhi asserts. “It is something that people can look at and think: ‘If she can do it, I can too.'”
As she continues blazing trails in the fashion world, Fadhi hopes to motivate other young women to work hard and dream big. “I would like to be able to bring about positive change and one of my priorities is to encourage more women to go into STEM degrees and enter careers in finance,” she says earnestly. With her breathtaking beauty, luminous spirit, and inspirational life story, Fadhi Mohamed seems destined to become one of modeling’s most influential voices. She’s living proof that when you stay true to yourself and focus on lifting others up, you can’t help but rise.
