First hijab-wearing Barbie has been revealed as tribute to Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad

The new hijab-wearing Barbie, based on Olympic Medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad, was revealed on Monday
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Harriet Pavey14 November 2017

The first Barbie doll to wear a hijab has been revealed, inspired by the first US athlete to wear the garment at the Olympics.

The doll – modelled on 31-year-old fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who competed at Rio in 2016 – is part of the 'Shero' line of Barbies that honours women who break boundaries. However it will not be on sale until next autumn.

Previous dolls in the line have included Selma director Ava Duvernay and gymnast Gabby Douglas.

But the doll based on Ms Muhammad is the first one to be designed with a headscarf in Barbie’s 58 years of existence.

Ibtihaj Muhammad poses with her Barbie at Glamour's 2017 Women of The Year Awards
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She posed with the doll, manufactured by Barbie-makers Mattel, at Glamour’s Women of the Year Live Summit on Monday.

On Twitter, she thanked the company, saying it was a “childhood dream come true”:

“It's so cool to see myself in this little doll form with my fencing uniform on," she told People. “It says my name on the back and it has a fencing mask and the little sabre. I just love it.

“I think its revolutionary for Barbie to take a stand in this moment that we're in – and I would say, as a country, to have a doll wear a hijab and be the first of its kind.

The Ibtihaj Muhammad Barbie comes wearing fencing gear
Getty

“There has never been a Barbie doll to wear a hijab before.

"I'm really excited to have this moment happen in my life and also for all these little girls now who can shop for Barbie doll that may look them, may wear a hijab like they do, or like their mom does, or like a friend does.”

Glamour's 2017 Women of The Year Awards - In pictures

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The doll wears the Olympian's signature eyeliner and has a body shape that is more realistic than that of previous Barbies.

During the 2016 Games, Ms Muhammad made headlines after she told the Daily Beast she did not feel safe as a Muslim living in the US.

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