Mattel, the American toy manufacturing company behind such hits as Fisher-Price and Hot Wheels toys, has produced another standout product – a hijab wearing Barbie doll.
The doll was modeled after Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who became the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab during competition at the the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The company praised Muhammad for “inspir(ing) women and girls everywhere to break boundaries.”
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
Muhammad said the honor of being modeled as a Barbie doll was fulfillment of a “childhood dream.”
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
Mattel might have wanted to do a little research on their newest ‘inspiration’ and role model.
Muhammad claimed in February that she “personally was held at Customs” for hours in an attempt to travel, strongly implying that it was due to Trump’s alleged ‘Muslim ban.’
She made a reference to the ‘seven countries’ in the President’s travel ban, then watched the media run with the story.
Olympic athlete Ibtihaj Muhammad was detained because of President Trump’s travel ban https://t.co/8jOOZIaDzM
— TIME (@TIME) February 9, 2017
There was just one problem with her story – Muhammad was detained in December, when President Obama was still in office.
Thanks to all who reached out regarding the December incident at customs. I will continue be a voice for all impacted by profiling & bigotry
— Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) February 11, 2017
Muhammed is also a big fan of anti-American former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, a man who kneels at the sight of the American flag, the same flag she competed under in the Olympics.
Olympian @IbtihajMuhammad is here with her dad, a retired Newark police officer, to show their support for #ColinKaepernick. #UnitedWeStand pic.twitter.com/EDzLaZgpM0
— Women’s March (@womensmarch) August 23, 2017
Yeah, some role model for young girls.
What are your thoughts on the new hijab-wearing Barbie? Share them in the comments section below!