Barbie is an iconic doll that has held a special place in the hearts of countless little children around the globe for many generations. Ever since the doll made its debut in 1959, it quickly gained popularity and became a beloved toy in every household. With time the brand grew and evolved and released dolls that were inclusive and diverse over time, in order to reflect different ethnicities, body shapes, and other defining characteristics. She even became an icon in terms of fashion with Mattel’s Barbie Fashionistas line, their collaborations with high fashion brands like Vera Wang, Moschino and more and also their Instagram account @barbiestyle, dedicated to the most stylish dolls ever.
Although Barbie has come quite far in terms of diversity and inclusivity, one medical scientist thought otherwise. Enter Hijarbie, a revolutionary idea of representing Muslim women, through the lens of Barbie dolls.
Haneefa Adam is a Nigerian medical scientist turned visual artist, who started her journey of dressing Barbie dolls modestly in 2015. In a previous interview with DAZED, she explained how she felt like there was a lack of representation in terms of Muslim women on the Barbie Style Instagram account, and wanted to see more dolls that dressed like her. “It got me thinking about how I’d like to see a doll dressed up like me – covered up,” she said. “I went to the mall, purchased a doll, dressed it up, documented it and here we are.”
The Hijarbie account now has nearly 60,000 followers on Instagram and has been a beacon for little girls to look up to. Haneefa has created a space for Muslim girls to feel included and seen. In an interview with Al Jazeera, she comments on how modesty and fashion can go hand-in-hand, “The hijab is actually more about modesty than fashion but who says you can’t incorporate both together? Fashion with faith.”
Her account has been noticed by notable news organizations as well as celebrities that admire her work and the message she’s conveying through these dolls.
Much like the Barbie Sheroes collection that features countless women in power, Haneefa decided to pay homage to Muslim women who have accomplished wonders and have managed to establish themselves in a position of power. Little girls who come across such dolls inadvertently might experience a boost of self-esteem and have the ambition to achieve the same someday. Here are a few Muslim icons that she has tried to recreate.
Manal Rostom
Manal Rostom is a Dubai-based Egyptian athlete who has managed to achieve astounding feats such as being the first Egyptian woman to run the six world marathon and the first Egyptian woman to climb Mount Everest. Rostom also runs a Facebook group for Hijabi women, Surviving Hijab, that encourages and uplifts Muslim women to follow their dreams. Muslim visionaries like HH Sheikha Mozah Al Maktoum, Haneefa Admas and more have been featured on her page.
Deedra Abboud
Deedra Abboud ran as a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Arizona in the 2018 elections. She is a social justice activist who speaks on issues regarding women and minority rights.
Samah Safi Bayazid
Samah Safi Bayazid is a 34-year-old Jordanian filmmaker who has created many projects that shed light on issues such as Islamophobia and refugees which has earned her an award and recognition of millions.
This is only the beginning of Haneefa’s dreams, she hopes her efforts and message can go global and is soon about to launch the Hijarbie website, for all to have access to.
Read More: Watch: This Giant Barbie Stands Nearly As Tall As Dubai’s Burj Khalifa
