This cover story appears in V131, available for purchase now

V Magazine: Was there a moment that was a turning point in your career?

Nyja Abdullah: The turning point in my career just might be getting the cover of VMagazine! I’ve been signed for about two years, and one [of those years] we were in lockdown. I’m still pretty much a new face, so this is such a big moment for me.

V: What was the spark that first made you want to do what you do?

NA: I always wanted to be signed to the men’s and women’s [divisions] because I felt like there was no one representing gender fluidity [in the industry]. I am gay, but I’m very gender-fluid, especially when it comes to clothing.

Pants LOIS JEANS + V DENIM, Necklace Elsa Peretti® Scorpion Necklace in 18K Gold for Tiffany & Co.,Top Tom Ford, Sunglasses Inez and Vinoodh x Clean Waves by Parley for the Oceans; On face Dior Backstage Face and Body Powder-No-Powder

V: What’s a passion or interest you have that people might not know about?

NA: A passion I have that most people don’t know about is that I love music, and I also love making beats. Although I’m in the process of teaching myself, I want to get pretty good at it and eventually become a beat maker.

V: What do you remember about your first pair of denim? What made it special?

NA: My first pair of denim was special because the fit was perfection.

V: What advice would you give to your teenage self?

NA: The advice I would give to my teenage self would be to be yourself, always.

V: If a crystal ball could tell you the truth about yourself, your life, the future or anything else, what would you want to know?

NA: If a crystal ball could tell me the truth about my life or future, I wouldn’t want to know [anything]. I love a good surprise and letting your blessings come to you [naturally]. Letting your life just fall into place is actually a beautiful thing.

V: What words do you live by?

NA: The words I live by are “why not?” I live by those words because we should all do whatever makes us happy and whatever we are most passionate about. Follow your dreams, even the wildest ones, because why not?

Pants LOIS JEANS + V DENIM, Cuff Elsa Peretti® Large Bone Cuff in 18K Gold for Tiffany & Co., Necklace Elsa Peretti® Scorpion Necklace in 18K Gold for Tiffany & Co., Top Tom Ford, Belt Artemas Quibble

V: What’s the memory you hold most dear?

NA: A memory I hold most dear would have to be experiencing New York for the first time, years ago, with my grandmother. She loves to travel and I always used to tell her how I wanted to live in New York even as a child.

V: As your cover launches on Fourth of July weekend, what would your message to the readers be? What advice can you offer on how to move forward this summer after the past year we’ve had?

NA: Moving forward this summer you should really get intune with yourself. [Be sure to] love everyone important to you very hard, and just do whatever you want in life.

V: What would you like the legacy of your career to be?

NA: My legacy career-wise would have to be to help pave the way for people who enjoy all different kinds of clothes whether it’s feminine or masculine-presenting clothing if you feel comfortable and confident in it, then wear it, because clothes don’t define you or your sexuality.

Head to shop.vmagazine.com to pre-order your copy of V131 now!