New Barbie honours hijab-wearing Olympian
Mattel makes doll base don U.S. Ibtihaj Muhammad
NEWYORK— The maker of Barbie has announced it will sell a doll modelled after Ib ti haj Muhammad, an American fencer who competed in last year’s Olympics while wearing a hijab.
Mattel Inc. said the doll will be available online next fall. The doll is part of Barbie’ s S hero line that honours women who break boundaries. Past dolls have included gymnast Gabby Douglas and Selma director Ava DUVERNAY.
“I had so many moments as an athlete, where I didn’ t feel included, where I was often in spaces where there was a lack of representation ,” Muhammad said Monday night at the Glamour Women of the Year gala in New York. “So to be in this moment, as a U.S. Olympian, to have Mattel, such a global brand, diversify their toy line to include a Barbie doll that wears a hi jab is very moving to me.”
Muhammad, the first American to compete at the Olympics while wearing a hi jab, won a bronze medal in fencing at the 2016 Rio Games.
“There was so much about the doll that was important tome ,” she said. “I know as a kid I was bullied for having larger legs, and sport taught me to embrace my body and to love my body and the strength that it could produce. I think that having strong legs helped me win a medal at the Olympic Games, so I wanted my legs to be larger, more athletic legs, toned legs. And I am very into eyeliner, so I wanted a strong-winged cat eye. And Matt el listened to everything, everything even down to the fabric of the hijab.