Barbie presents her first doll with hijab

In recent years, however, they have wanted to renew themselves, and for that reason they have created a line based on inspiring women. This year it was Ibtihaj Muhammad's turn, so the company presented its first doll with a hijab.

The first doll with hijab

The Sheroes line is a collection of dolls inspired by women who have broken the mold and they are an example to follow with their stories.

The latest addition is based on Ibtihaj Muhammad, an American fencer recognized for being the first American Muslim woman to wear a hijab while competing with the United States in the Olympics. Taking home a bronze medal, she also became the first American Muslim woman to reach the podium.

The athlete drew attention during that same competition for pointing out that the United States is not a safe country for Muslims, stating that she did not feel safe as such living in that country. Although she received harsh criticism from conservative sectors, her gesture was applauded by many.

A model to follow

Since then Muhammad

she has become a symbol of diversity and tolerance. She also works on the initiative of the United States Department of State for the empowerment of women and girls through sports.

When the company offered to have her own Barbie, Muhammad couldn't help crying. As a child she had played with Barbies herself and now served as a model for one. In an interview she commented that when she was little people talked about the size of her thighs, and That is why she thought it important to emphasize to the company that her doll had large legs and powerful.

He also asked them to show the well-marked eyeliner and, above all, to wear a hijab. Muhammad hopes that in this way the girls can play with him and put him on other of his dolls, in order to normalize it as one more garment.

Female empowerment collections

Mattel has tried to distinguish itself from its history of unlikely dolls by introducing several new collections that opt ​​for more natural and heterogeneous figures. One of the first was the Barbie line Fashionist, what included dolls of different sizes and shapes, whether they were petite, tall or curvy.

Another of its lines, Sheroes, is the one that includes the doll in question. This collection introduces dolls based on real women that have broken barriers and expanded horizons. True flesh and blood heroines that serve as inspiration for any woman.

Some of the examples of her have been those of the plus size model Ashley Graham or Academy Award-nominated director Ava DuVernay. Following Graham's instructions, her Barbie is the first to have a belly, wide arms, and touching thighs. DuVernay's Barbie on the other hand sold out within hours.

And is that this type of Barbies have been highly anticipated by thousands of girls and women around the world, who have waited to see a toy from their childhood that represents them. So what will be the first Barbie with a hijab will go on sale in autumn 2018 and is expected to be a best-seller.