Say hello to Hijarbie, Barbie with a hijab: Meet the woman behind this doll

Carrying on with the pink trend thanks to the latest Hollywood film Barbie that was a huge success at the box office and a great conversation starter, there is now a doll that is here to break even more stereotypes and not conform to only a certain type of beauty definitives. Nigerian artist Haneefah Adam has relaunched a Barbie and called 'Hijarbie' as she has her hair covered with a hijab and is seen dressed in modest attire with no skin show at all.

Sharing a version of Hijarbie with netizens, the African artist wrote, “This #Hijarbie is back”.

She added a photo of a doll wearing a sugar-pink dress and hijab. The artist first showcased this Barbie doll in 2015 after noticing a lack of modest fashion or hijabs on the social media she followed. She then decided to make her own and set to work sewing a maxi shirt, blouse, and a black hijab for her Barbie.

The need for Hijarbie, Barbie with a hijab

On what motivated her to make Hijarbie, Haneefah said, “I didn’t see a doll that looked like me.” Haneefah has now designed about 70 outfits so far. She describes her work as a celebration of her culture and identity.

The revived interest in Barbie and feminist messaging around the film prompted Haneefah to return with Hijarbie.

“Barbie has created a new phenomenon, celebrating femininity, independence, and female power.”

Since creating her account, Haneefah has met with a lot of positive reactions from people around the world. In 2017, Mattel (the company behind Barbie) released the first Barbie doll that wears a hijab. This Barbie was modelled on the US Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad – a year after Haneefahhad created her own version of the athlete. She was also thrilled to see a hijab-wearing Barbie in the Margot Robbie and Ryan Goslingfilm. This Barbie is played byFatumina Said Abukar.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE