Barbie just got a lot more inclusive: in a history-making move, the iconic doll company announced Monday that it will be releasing its first Barbie that wears a hijab, the Huffington Post reports. Even better? It’s designed to look like Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the first Muslim American woman to compete in the Olympics while wearing a hijab,
The new doll was announced as part of Barbie’s “Shero” collection, which, each year, honors some of the most accomplished #girlbosses out there — including the likes of Gabby Douglas, Misty Copeland and Ava DuVernay — by creating Barbie dolls in their likenesses. This year, it is (rightfully) Muhammad’s turn — she became the first Muslim American woman to medal in the Olympics when she brought home the bronze medal in sabre fencing at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Not only does Ibtihaj Muhammad’s Barbie come wearing a hijab, but from the looks of it, she even rocks a full set of badass team USA fencing gear, which is not something you see every day on your average Barbie doll — and proves to girls that they can be whatever they want to be.
“The Barbie Shero Program recognizes women who break boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls and I am so excited to join this incredible group of women,” Muhammad wrote in an Instagram caption announcing the new doll. “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.”
While companies like Hijarbie have previously taken it upon themselves to create Barbie-esque dolls that wear hijabs, this is the first time hijab-wearing Muslim girls will be able to play with a Barbie that looks like them — and it’s about time. Muhammad’s Barbie will be available for purchase in early 2018.