Olympian fencer inspires Barbie’s first hijab-wearing doll

LONDON — Doll company Barbie has unveiled its first hijab-wearing doll to honor an American Olympic fencer, as the traditional Islamic headscarf goes mainstream through catwalks, magazine covers and smartphone emojis.

Ibtihaj Muhammad made history in Rio last year as the first US Olympian to represent her country wearing a hijab, after earlier winning a gold medal in 2014 at the world fencing championships in Russia.

"I'm proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab! This is a childhood dream come true," the Olympian posted on Twitter late Monday.

Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad holds a Barbie doll made in her likeness as she attends the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Awards at the Kings Theater in Brooklyn, New York, November 13, 2017. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

 

Feeling honored to be back at the @glamourmag Women of the Year Awards in great company with @IbtihajMuhammad and @theashleygraham! Cheers to an event highlighting powerful women proving anything is possible. ?? #GlamourWOTY #barbie #barbiestyle

A post shared by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on

Nov 13, 2017 at 4:07pm PST

 

Thank you @Mattel for announcing me as the newest member of the @Barbie Shero family! The Barbie Shero Program recognizes women who break boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls and I am so excited to join this incredible group of women. I’m proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab! This is a childhood dream come true ???????? #shero

A post shared by Ibtihaj Muhammad (@ibtihajmuhammad) on

Nov 13, 2017 at 10:12am PST

The hijab—one of the most visible signs of Islamic culture—is becoming increasingly popular with Western businesses, from hijab-wearing models in top fashion magazines to Apple's recently launched 'emoji' character in a hijab.

The hijab-wearing Barbie, produced by company Mattel, is part of Barbie's "Shero" line which recognizes women "who break boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls," and will go on sale in 2018, the company said.

"Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented," Barbie's marketing vice president Sejal Shah Miller said in a statement.

"By honoring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be and do anything."

Many Muslim women cover their heads in public with the hijab as a sign of modesty, although some critics see it as a sign of female oppression.

Other dolls in the collection include African-American ballerina Misty Copeland, and Ava DuVernay, director of "Selma," a highly acclaimed film about the US civil rights movement.

In November, Danish toymaker Lego released figurines of five women scientists, engineers and astronauts who worked for US space agency NASA to inspire more girls to pursue careers in science. — Thomson Reuters Foundation