PrettyLittleThing features its first model to wear a hijab - CNN

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Written by Alaa Elassar, CNN

A Black, Muslim plus-size model is breaking barriers in the fashion industry after being chosen by PrettyLittleThing to model its new line of modest clothing.

Billy Marsal, 21, is a London-based influencer who regularly posts photos of herself wearing trendy and modest outfits on Instagram. The online retail giant scouted her on social media shortly after entering the Middle East market.

Marsal's work with PrettyLittleThing marks the first time the brand has featured a model wearing a hijab or headscarf, the UK-based company confirmed.

"I didn't realize how big of a deal it was until I started getting replies and messages from people who were so excited about it, then I realized, wow, this is amazing," Marsal told CNN.

"It's an insane feeling, Yes, I am Black, I am Muslim, I am plus size, but I never thought it would be me to make people feel like this."

Marsal is new to the world of professional modeling, but is excited to represent young Muslim women and help them find fashionable clothes that uphold their religious values.

"As girls who wear the hijab, we grew up buying clothes and having to alter things to make them modest so for them now to tell Muslim girls, 'Guys, we're catering to you, too' is a very big deal," she said.

Marsal announced her work with PrettyLittleThing in a tweet on Monday that has since garnered more than 500,000 likes and 60,000 retweets. "Soooo... that's me. THE FIRST HIJABI ON PLT!!! Still so wild to me," she said.

PrettyLittleThing, which has collaborated with celebrities like Kylie Jenner and Hailey Baldwin, sells fashion "inspired from the catwalk and the coolest muses of the moment" at affordable prices.

The retailer aims to "inspire confidence" in customers with a message of equality and body positivity, according to its website.

"Following our successful launch into the Middle East we are delighted to be launching our 'Modest clothing' collection on site," PrettyLittleThing said in a news release. "Our ethos of 'EveryBODYinPLT is extremely important to us, so it's been amazing seeing such positive customer feedback and working with models who represent all of our customer base."

In recent years, models wearing a hijab have been featured in New York Fashion Week and Sports Illustrated magazine. But it's still not common.

Marsal said she's happy to see the industry change to include more Muslim women, and looks forward to the day when it's no longer surprising to see a model wearing a hijab.

"I think what's going to happen is this will one day be so normal it's not surprising anymore, because competitors are noticing what brands like PrettyLittleThing are doing and it's going to become the norm," she said.

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PrettyLittleThing features its first model to wear a hijab - CNN
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