The Independent , the Diaspora ’ s Multicultural Voice November 15 2017 11
Sports
First Hijab-wearing Barbie inspired by athlete
The first hijab-wearing Barbie doll has been released to honour an American fencer who became the first US woman to wear the Islamic headscarf while competing at the Olympics .
The face of the doll has been modelled on Ibtihaj
Muhammad , who won a bronze medal in Rio last year . She says the doll is a " childhood dream come true ". The company which makes the dolls has in the past been criticised for making them too thin and overly sexualised .
Now the maker Mattel says it is planning to release a range of new figures next year modelled on inspirational women .
The Barbie doll was unveiled at Glamour ' s Women of the Year summit .
" When I think about my own journey , me being a Muslim girl involved in the sport of fencing , there were people who made me feel like I didn ' t belong ," Muhammad said .
" For all those people who didn ' t believe in me , this Barbie doll is for you ."
The New Jersey athlete used to make tiny hijabs as a child out of tissues to wrap around the heads of her Barbie dolls so they would look more like her and her sisters .
The Barbie designed in her likeness has full fencing gear , including a mask and sabre , wears training shoes and has a hijab around her head .
Muhammad said she hoped the doll would inspire girls " to embrace what makes them unique ."
" Today I ' m proud to know that little girls who wear hijab and , just as powerfully , those who don ' t can play with a Barbie who chooses to wear a headscarf ," she said .
" She ' s a Barbie who is strong enough to wield a giant sabre and dedicated enough to spend years working her way to an Olympic medal ."
The first hijab-wearing Barbie doll was unveiled by Ibtihaj Muhammad at Glamour ' s Women of the Year summit
We sell
A . A . West Indian Market
1260 Kennedy Road ( between Ellesmere & Lawrence ) Scarborough . 647-230-3718 Email : 1260kennedyrduhaul @ gmail . com
We rent U-Haul Trucks
Boxes and Moving Supplies
Packaging and Shipping Supplies
We cut keys -- home keys and others We clone car keys with chip
Email us for prices on supplies and trucks