Days after American toy manufacturer Mattel announced that its popular doll Barbie will be available in different skin tones and body types, fans have become more creative in giving the iconic doll a makeover.
One such fan, 24-year-old Nigerian Muslim woman Haneefah Adam, gave Barbie a religious twist: she made the doll wear a hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women to cover their head and chest.
Adam said she thought of giving the doll, now called "Hijarbie" by some netizens, a Muslim makeover in the spirit of diversity.
"It's about having a doll that looks like her, that represents her own cultural and religious background," the Muslim woman said, as quoted by WND.com.
She said she has long thought of dressing up Barbie dolls like Muslim women.
"It got me thinking about how I'd actually like to see a doll dressed up like I would have – covered up," Adam said. "I was mulling about the idea for about three months while I was still studying for my master's degree in the U.K. When I got back to Nigeria, I went to the mall, purchased a doll, dressed it up, and here we are."
The Muslim woman, who is developing her own lifestyle brand, further said she hopes the new look she gave Barbie will boost the self-esteem of some Muslim girls.
"I want them to be inspired — this is about having an alternative and creating an awareness of having toys that adopt your religion and culture and in your own likeness, which at the end of the day, leads to an improvement in self-esteem," Adam said.
Some netizens, however, were unimpressed by what Adam did to Barbie. Twitter user Matthew Johnson, for instance, called the idea of "Hijarbie" as "ridiculous."
"The hijab is a sign of oppression. What next, Ken has 4 Barbie wives? Just piss off!" Johnson said, as quoted by WND.com.
User @ArRuple meanwhile commented: "Barbie would never wear a hijab/garbage bag. ... but since she's been corrupted, will Ken have on a suicide vest?"
