Barbie's first hijab: Meet the new Ibtihaj Muhammad doll
NEW YORK -- For the first time ever, Barbie will wear a hijab.
Mattel, which makes Barbie, announced Monday that the latest doll in its "Shero" collection will be modeled after Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. In 2016, Muhammad became the first American to compete in the games while wearing a hijab.
"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," Muhammad said in a tweet.
The news was announced at Glamour's Women of the Year summit. The doll will go on sale in 2018.
Barbie has been working hard to make its collection of dolls more diverse in an effort to broaden the brand's appeal.
In its most recent quarter, Mattel said Barbie sales were down 6% compared to last year.
The Shero line, which launched in 2015, includes dolls based on prominent women such as Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas, model Ashley Graham, ballerina Misty Copeland, director Ava DuVernay and actress Zendaya.
In 2016, Barbie rolled out tall, petite and curvy versions of the dolls.
The company followed suit with Ken dolls earlier this year. Barbie's boyfriend is now available in three body types and seven skin tones.
"Ibtihaj 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.
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