H&M has hired its first ever hijab-wearing model

H&M has hired its first ever hijab-wearing model.

Mariah Idrissi, 23, from London, was chosen by the Swedish fashion firm to be one of the stars of its latest campaign entitled 'Close the Loop'.

Her modelling potential was spotted by her friend who works as a casting director.

When she was offered the job, Mariah reportedly said: “Are you sure they know I wear a hijab?”

Mariah - who runs a beauty salon specialising in henna tattoos and halal nail polish manicures - said it was "amazing to show" a Muslim woman in a hijab representing such a high-profile brand.

She told BuzzFeed that it "means a lot" to feature in the campaign, explaining why she believed it was important Muslim women were given opportunities in the industry.

"I think it’s important to use women in hijab because Islam is the second largest religion in the world.”

Mariah said she now hoped to see more "covered women in the mainstream fashion world".

Mariah appears in the promotional video from around the 55-second mark: