Daiyaana Muhammad on Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, September 2025. Dress, Do Long. Jewelry, The Jewelry Album. Shoes, Steve Madden.
Our conversation with Daiyaana Muhammad for Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam unfolds in a serene, sunlit space, where wide windows spill light across a minimalist sanctuary.
We sink into a soft, generous couch. The mood is unhurried, more like a quiet exchange between friends than a formal interview. Daiyaana’s style speaks in subtle notes: a perfectly cut tee, tailored trousers, and hair that falls in a sleek, shining cascade. She looks both approachable and magnetic.
Full Look, Yueqi Qi.
Daiyaana Muhammad: Two worlds – one heart
In one life, she moves through sterile corridors, steady hands and steady breath guiding patients through their most fragile moments. In another, she steps onto runways bathed in light, her presence commanding and serene. Daiyaana Muhammad lives between these worlds: healing and creating, saving lives and celebrating beauty.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Daiyaana’s beginnings were not among the dazzle of catwalks but under the unforgiving lights of the Emergency Department. There, as a registered nurse, she met life at its most fragile and learned to stand unshaken. “Nursing shaped who I am. It taught me resilience, discipline, and how to remain calm amidst chaos.”
Gown, Monsoori. Jewelry, Vivienne Westwood.
Her academic pursuits tell an equally compelling story: a Master’s degree in Leadership and Healthcare Management, numerous healthcare certifications, and qualification as a certified reformer Pilates instructor.
Yet, beneath her professional attire and medical tools, another passion quietly thrived. “Even during long ER shifts, I’d sketch fashion designs in my mind or watch runway shows during breaks. Fashion was always there, waiting for me.”
That dream began to take shape in an unexpected way. Daiyaana Muhammad stepped into the fashion world with the same determination she brought to patient care. Over the years, her striking presence and confident walk have graced the runways of London, Paris, Copenhagen, and Tokyo Fashion Week. “It was surreal”, she adds. “Walking those runways, wearing pieces that are works of art, felt like I was living two lives, one saving lives, the other celebrating beauty and creativity.”
Sculptural Top, Diana Couture. Skirt, Monsoori. Jewelry, Alexis Bittar. Shoes, Steve Madden.
The art of balancing
Despite her diverse career, Daiyaana’s most treasured role is that of mother. She is a devoted mother to three children and fiancée to NFL star Dion Dawkins of the Buffalo Bills. “Dion is my biggest cheerleader. We push each other to keep growing.”
Balancing family, fashion, and healthcare is no easy feat, yet Daiyaana Muhammad manages it with purpose. “It’s challenging,” she says, “but I believe you can be fully present both at work and at home, it all comes down to intention.”
Her view on motherhood echoes her broader ambitions. “I don’t want my children to feel like they’re competing with my dreams. I want them to see I’m living them, showing them that passion and responsibility can coexist.”
Travel is woven into her life, with fashion weeks, editorial shoots, and collaborations taking her around the world. Yet, the skills she honed as a nurse have given her a unique strength. “In both fields, you have to anticipate what’s next. In the ER, it’s patient needs; on the runway, it’s the designer’s vision, the photographer’s shot, the audience’s energy… You can be a mother, a partner, a professional, and still pursue your dreams. We’re capable of all of it.”
Dress, Yueqi Qi. Shoes, KWK by Kay Kwok.
Wellness, style and lasting impact
For Daiyaana, beauty and wellness are inseparable, two forces that fuel and balance each other. Every day, she makes time for both her body and her mind. “Wellness isn’t a trend for me; it’s a necessity. Pilates keeps me physically strong and mentally reset. I pay close attention to my diet, rest, and energy management.”
Her approach to fashion feels just as genuine and intentional. “Beauty isn’t about perfection, it’s about authenticity. Fashion often encourages fitting into specific molds, but I believe the most compelling people are those who embrace who they truly are.” As a model, she moves easily between the dramatic flair of the runway and the refined precision of editorial work, bringing her unique energy to each.
Gloves, Diana Couture.
But for her, style is much more than surface appeal. “I want to inspire women to embrace every layer of themselves. My goal is to show that purpose and artistry, ambition and self-care, can all coexist without compromise,” she says with conviction.
Looking ahead, Daiyaana hopes to blend her healthcare background with her voice in fashion and beauty to create meaningful projects that truly empower others. “Style is powerful, but true confidence comes from feeling healthy and whole.”
Her story is still unfolding, and she’s fully aware of the message she wants to send. “I’m still writing my story,” she says.
“And I hope it inspires other women to write theirs – boldly, unapologetically, and beautifully.”
Dress, Do Long. Jewelry, The Jewelry Album. Shoes, Steve Madden.
Muse: Daiyaana Muhammad @daiyaana.
Photography: Reinhardt Kenneth @reinhardtkenneth.
Stylist: Sebastien Day @visionarybash.
Assistant Stylist: Terri Lan Thurman @terri.lan.
Hair: Sergio Cheveu @sergiocheveu.
Makeup: Armando Kole @kole_mua.
Lighting Director: Hugo Arvizu @arvizu_arts.
Gaffer: Ben Danielson @bcdanielson.
Photographer’s Assistant: Carina Brielle O’Neill @carinabrielleoneill.
Videographer: Aaron Mercado @aaron_mercado_official.
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam
