Nov. 14 (UPI) — Barbie is honoring Muslim athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad with its first hijab-wearing doll.
Mattel, which manufactures Barbie, unveiled a special edition doll in the 31-year-old Olympic fencer’s likeness Tuesday as the latest addition to its Sheroes collection.
“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,” the Barbie official Twitter account wrote.
Muhammad became the first Muslim American women to wear a hijab while competing for the United States at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Her doll is depicted wearing a white hijab and fencing uniform.
“Thank you @Mattel for announcing me as the newest member of the @Barbie Shero family!” the athlete captioned a photo on Instagram of herself with the toy.
“The Barbie Shero program recognizes women who break boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls and I am so excited to join this incredible group of women,” she said. “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.”
The Sheroes collection also features dolls based on Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, director Ava Duvernay, model Ashley Graham and ballerina Misty Copeland. Muhammad’s doll will be available in 2018.
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
