But I was never as creative with role play as 24-year-old Nigerian medical scientist, Haneefa Adam. Haneefa, who was unable to find a black doll in Nigeria to dress up, took matters into her own hands – giving Barbie a fashion makeover.
On her recently launched Instagram account, @hijarbie, Haneefa shows Barbie modelling a range of self-styled hijabs in black, cheery yellows, pastels, floral prints and winter shades of taupe and maroon.
Haneefa, who recently completed a Masters in Pharmacology in the UK, told CNN, “I thought I had not seen Barbie dressed in a hijab before so I decided to open an Instagram account and dressed Barbie up in the clothes that I made. I thought it was really important for a doll to be dressed like how I would be. I want to use the Instagram page to create an identity for her similar to Barbie.”
Haneefa told CNN hijarbie has roots in her religion and cultural identity. “The way Barbie dresses is very skimpy and different and there’s nothing wrong with it,” she said. “I just wanted to give another option for Muslim girls like me.”
The response to Haneefa’s Barbie makeover has been positive overall.
“Thank you for creating this,” wrote @tomeohideyoshi. “I’m not Muslim (don’t know if I’m talking correctly) but found this such a positive cultural statement for young girls. It’s simply amazing keep the good work! It’s beautiful. And I would totally love to have a Barbie like this it’s such a amazing idea. Congratulations. Kisses from Portugal.”
Haneefa features her Barbie posing in different outfits and different positions, to showcase her own hijab fashion designs.
Followers of @hijarbie were quick to reinforce the lack of culturally diverse dolls available on the market. Bcrouch501 wrote: “I think this is a beautiful idea. It’s about time someone thinks outside the box. Modesty should be for all young girls and women.”
But the hit doll wearing a hijab could be available sooner than we think, with Haneefa suggesting plans to sell dolls “as soon as possible.”
“We are in the process of building a website and working towards production and making hijarbie available for purchase soon,” she wrote on @hijarbie.
The official makers of Barbie, Mattel, have recently made her available in a range of shapes, sizes and ethnicities, but are not affiliated with @hijarbie.
Check out Barbie’s radical makeover from her makers, Mattel.
