Barbie is the Next Hijabisista-stylista

By JUICE Malaysia • 14 Nov 2017 in News

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Barbie has come a long way from its basic blonde aesthetic. Early last year, Mattel introduced Barbies with different body types – petite, curvy, and tall – and everyone fell in love with them. Yesterday, the company released their first ever hijab-wearing Barbie doll off their Shero line.

A post shared by Ibtihaj Muhammad (@ibtihajmuhammad) on Nov 13, 2017 at 4:57pm PST

The latest Barbie from the Shero line is modelled after American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. In 2016, Muhammad became the first American to compete at the Olympics while wearing a hijab. Even more amazing is that she’s the first female Muslim to win a medal at the Olympics, having won bronze at Rio.

Thank you @Mattel for announcing me as the newest member of the @Barbie #Shero family! 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 pic.twitter.com/py7nbtb2KD

— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) November 13, 2017

Muhammad kindly requested Mattel to include big, strong legs and that the doll wore dark eyeliner and obviously, the hijab. “When I was a kid, I remember people commenting on the size of my thighs. Then I got involved in sports, and I came to appreciate my body,” she revealed to the New York Times.

The Shero Barbie line, which launched in 2015, includes dolls based on prominent women such as Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, model Ashley Graham, ballerina Misty Copeland, director Ava DuVernay, and actress Zendaya.

“Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented, and by honouring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be and do anything,” Sejal Shah Miller, Barbie’s Vice President of Global Marketing, said in a statement.