Barbie has had her fair share of controversies over the past 57 years, but with time she has also diversified and has made leaps and bounds in terms of her career and social standing. Mattel, the multinational toy manufacturing company who owns Barbie, announced on Monday that their latest doll in their Shero collection is modelled after American Olympic Fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad.
According to Barbie, they are celebrating Muhammad not only for her accolades as an Olympian, but for embracing what makes her stand out.
We are so excited to honor @IbtihajMuhammad with a one-of-a-kind #Barbie doll! Ibtihaj continues to inspire women and girls everywhere to break boundaries. #Shero #YouCanBeAnything #GlamourWOTY pic.twitter.com/oV0e6ClgL6
— Barbie (@Barbie) November 13, 2017
And for Muhammad, it's a dream come true and she's proud to have inspired this new addition to the Barbie family.
Thank you @Mattel for announcing me as the newest member of the @Barbie #Shero family! I’m proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab! This is a childhood dream come true ???? #shero pic.twitter.com/py7nbtb2KD
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) November 13, 2017
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Muhammad created history at Rio's 2016 Summer Olympics when she became the first Muslim American woman to don her headscarf while competing for the US. Plus, she was also the first female Muslim athlete to win a medal at the sporting event.
People were ecstatic upon hearing the news, with Kerry Washington's positive and exciting response being the cutest:
Wait. WHAT?! I need one!!!!! #Shero #GlamourWOTY https://t.co/I4fjSCgTND
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) November 14, 2017
THIS is the kind of heart-warming story I look for on Twitter. Glad to know this campaign to end the stereotypical “Barbie look” is being greeted with such a positive attitude! #shero
— Madison Bryant (@madisonbryant99) November 14, 2017
Love this so hard. ?? #shero #barbie #girlpower https://t.co/EJTybu11oo
— Erin J. Elliott (@edawg4eva) November 14, 2017
I can't wait for my #shero to have a doll of her #shero. ???? pic.twitter.com/1QBzyeVhvC
— Jason E Griffin (@jasonegriffin) November 13, 2017
I cannot wait to give your doll to all of the young women in my life...#shero indeed!
— Bennett Ritvo (@BennettRitvo) November 14, 2017
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Barbie has been working hard to make its collection of dolls more diverse in an effort to broaden the brand's appeal, notes CNN Money.
"Ibtihaj (Muhammad) 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," Sejal Shah Miller, Barbie's vice president of global marketing, said in a statement.
The Shero line has released dolls after several iconic women, including American director Ava Duvernay, ballet dancer Misty Copeland and actress Zendaya.
One of TIME magazine’s "100 Most Influential People" of 2016, Muhammad also has her own clothing line, Louella. Noticing a gap in the marketplace, she designs fresh and vibrant looks for the modest fashion industry.
"Ibtihaj Muhammad has challenged every stereotype—which to me is the definition of a modern American woman," said Glamour Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive.
In a world where Muslim women are often ridiculed for embracing the headscarf, Ibtihaj is truly admirable for breaking boundaries and is deserving of this honour, and for Barbie, along with the release of their petite, curvy and African-American dolls, this is a significant step towards representation.
And can we just take a second to drool over Hijarbie's stylish robe? Man, does she look fierce! The doll will hit stores in 2018.
Took a long time for diversity to kick the door open and challenge the status quo, ABSOLUTELY Loving this iconic Barbie. New and #Fresh #barbie #IbtihajMuhammad pic.twitter.com/NMr7GePmXh
— HGM (Official) (@HOTGIRLMOVEMENT) November 15, 2017
WATCH: Exclusive! The History-Making Olympic Fencer