Tuesday 14 November 2017

Barbie Shero: Barbie gets a Makeover


Barbie has got a new look! One that we've been waiting and waiting for.

Introducing the new Hijab wearing Barbie, inspired by American fencer and Olympic bronze medalist, Ibtihaj Muhammad.

When Mattel told Ibtihaj that she would be the new inspiration for their next Barbie doll, she cried. Tears of joy, she made sure that her doll would be a true representation of her - dark eyeliner, big, strong legs and of course, the Hijab.


"It's something I wear like I wear a shirt or I wear pans," Ibtihaj says.

She says that she hopes children will "take it off and try it on their other Barbies."

For the initial product, the doll was dressed in a white padded fencing outfit which had 'Muhammad' printed in black lettering across the back with a removable helmet which reveals her hijab. 

Part of the Barbie's Shero collection - female heroes - which aims to encourage children to be anything they want to be and the women who break boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls.

"I think its revolutionary for Barbie to take a stand in this moment we're in," she told People.

Lisa McKnight, senior vice-president in charge of Barbie strategy at Mattel tells the New York Times that their new strategy is to find more women to base Barbie on.

"The trifecta - someone like Ibtihaj Muhammad, who has broken boundaries and inspires girls, and played with Barbies as a girl herself."

So, what Barbie can we expect to see next?

"Clearly, there's a lot of interest in women in STEM - science, technology, engineering and mathematics," says Lisa.

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