Mattel, maker of Barbie, is breaking stereotypes with its latest, and first of its kind, hijab wearing Barbie in honour of Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first American to compete in the games while wearing a headscarf.Â
Following in the footsteps of Nike, who has created a sports hijab, the Barbie is dresed in fencing gear and a hijab. The doll is a part of the “Shero” collection that represents bold women who challenge the norms and break steroetypes. The doll was revealed at the Glamour’s Women of the Year summit on Monday, the doll will be available online next fall.Â
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
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The hijab wearing barbie is an “inspiration for countless little girls who never saw themselves represented in sports and culture,” Mattel stated on its website.Â
We are so excited to honor @IbtihajMuhammad with a one-of-a-kind #Barbie doll! Ibtihaj continues to inspire women and girls everywhere to break boundaries. #Shero #YouCanBeAnything #GlamourWOTY pic.twitter.com/oV0e6ClgL6
— Barbie (@Barbie) November 13, 2017
What do you think of the doll? Let us know @CosmoMiddleEast