Mattel at this week's Glamour Women of the Year LIVE Summit “unveiled a new ‘Barbie Shero’ inspired” by U.S. fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad’s achievements, according to Tammy Grubb of the Durham HERALD-SUN. Mattel VP and Head of Barbie Global & U.S. Marketing Sejal Shah Miller said, "Barbie is celebrating Ibtihaj not only for her accolades as an Olympian, but for embracing what makes her stand out." Grubb notes the Barbie Shero line “reflects the company’s effort to offer more diverse dolls, while recognizing women who break boundaries.” Gold Medal-winning U.S. gymnast Gabby Douglas also is “represented by the Shero line,” which launched in '15. Muhammad’s doll “will be available for purchase” in ’18. At this week's event in Brooklyn, Muhammad said, “Through playing with Barbie, I was able to imagine and dream about who I could become. I love that my relationship with Barbie has come full circle, and now I have my own doll wearing a hijab that the next generation of girls can use to play out their own dreams.” Grubb notes Muhammad also has “launched her own modest clothing line Louella” (Durham HERALD-SUN, 11/14). In DC, Des Bieler notes in addition to the hijab, Muhammad’s doll “features her helmet, saber and Nike shoes” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 11/14).
MORE TO BE DONE: AD AGE’s Nafisa Bakkar writes that while Nike announced it will launch its Sports Hijab next year, a “bigger win for Muslims -- and Nike -- would have been for the brand to use its influence to lobby for Muslim women to be able to compete in hijabs, or oppose the hijab ban” by FIBA (ADAGE.com, 11/14).
