Barbie Makes Hijab-Wearing Doll To Honor Maplewood Olympian

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — An inimitable Olympic fencing champion from New Jersey now has a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll in her likeness. That’s the latest bridge that Maplewood’s pioneering Ibtihaj Muhammad will cross in the fall of 2018 when Mattel officially releases its latest Barbie “Shero.”

“We are celebrating Ibtihaj Muhammad as the latest Barbie Shero by unveiling a one-of-a-kind doll in her likeness at the 2017 Glamour Women of the Year Live Summit,” Mattel stated on its website. “As an inspiration for countless little girls who never saw themselves represented in sport and culture, we hope this doll shows girls they can be anything.”

The doll is a striking reproduction of Muhammad, a practicing Muslim who made history in 2016 as the first Olympian to compete in a hijab.

The Ibtihaj Muhammad doll is part of Mattel’s Shero line, which “recognizes female heroes who inspire girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere.” Other products in the line include dolls modeled after Gabby Douglas, Ava Duvernay, Ashley Graham and Misty Copeland.

"Barbie is celebrating Ibtihaj not only for her accolades as an Olympian, but for embracing what makes her stand out," said Sejal Shah Miller, Barbie's vice president of global marketing. "Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented, and by honoring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be and do anything."

Muhammad’s reaction? The doll is “a childhood dream come true.”

“I’m proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear a hijab,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Through playing with Barbie, I was able to imagine and dream about who I could become,” Muhammad said. “I love that my relationship with Barbie has come full circle, and now I have my own doll wearing a hijab that the next generation of girls can use to play out their own dreams.”

• See related article: Black Disney Princesses: Newark Mom Empowers Girls With Doll Giveaway

In April, Muhammad – an observant Muslim - was named as one of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People" for 2016.

• See related article: Maplewood Fencer, Muslim Named To Time's '100 Most Influential' List

"I think my motto is that sports is something you can do in hijab, and you shouldn't let your faith compromise how athletically gifted you become," the future Olympian told Patch in 2011."Just like race or gender, religion should not hinder you from achieving your goals."

• See related article: In Fencer's Hijab...Struggle and Inspiration
• See related article: Maplewood Muslim Fencer Asked To Remove Hijab For ID Photo: South By Southwest

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Photos: Mattel

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