The First Hijab Wearing Barbie Is Modeled After US Athlete, Ibtihaj Muhammad And This Is What We Know About Her


 

Ibtihaj Muhammad  is best known for being the first Muslim American woman to wear a hijab while competing for the United States in the Olympics. In a twist many didn’t see coming, the talented athlete now has the first hijab-wearing barbie modeled after her.

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The history-making dolls were unveiled at the Glamour’s Women Of The Year Summit which held on the 13th of November 2017. The dolls which were modeled after Ibtihaj’s face are a striking look-alike with a complete set of fencing gear and outfit.

An overwhelmed Ibtihaj said the dolls were a dream come true,  “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.”

 

Here is all we know about Ibtihaj

Early Life


Ibtihaj was born and raised in Maplewood, New Jersey and is of African-American descent. Her parents were born in the United states and converted to Islam. She was raised with the moral values of a Muslim with four other siblings. Her parents sought out a sport for her that would allow her  cover herself up in accordance with their religion.

Education

She attended Columbia High School in Maplewood, graduating in 2003 then got a dual bachelor’s degrees in international relations and African and African-American studies from Duke University in 2007

Fencing Career

In high school, she joined the fencing team at age 13. In late 2002, Muhammad joined the prestigious Peter Westbrook Foundation, a program which utilizes the sport of fencing as a vehicle to develop life skills in young people from underserved communities. She was invited to train under the Westbrook Foundation’s Elite Athlete Program in New York City.

Recognitions

At Duke University, she received a scholarship. She was a 3-time All-American and the 2005 Junior Olympic Champion.  Muhammad has been a member of the United States National Fencing Team since 2010. She as of 2016 ranks No. 2 in the United States and No. 8 in the world. She is a 5-time Senior World medalist, including 2014 World Champion in the team event. She later became the first female Muslim-American athlete to earn a medal at the Olympics.

Other Achievements

In 2014, Muhammad and her siblings launched their own clothing company, Louella, which aims to bring modest fashionable clothing to the United States market. She is also a sports ambassador, serving on the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative. She has traveled to various countries to engage in dialogue on the importance of sports and education. She is presently the promotional presenter of the Mattel doll designed after her; Barbie in Hijab.





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