Barbie gets a lot of attention. Last week’s news that Mattel is dropping a whole range of new Barbies with different builds and different skin tones heard a hallelujah and shukran from the global chorus of Barbie fans. But one enterprising young Nigerian woman is making Barbie her own — and pushing past what the official brand has to offer. Haneefah Adam has created an Instagram account where she posts incredible photos of Barbie in “Mini Hijab Fashion!” as she enthusiastically writes. Adam creates the fashion for Hijab Barbie, based on what a Muslim girl might wear — if she were incredibly fashionable one. (Adams’ mini fashions are beautiful.)
Hijab Barbie rips a page from the fan fiction handbook, rewriting a well-known character into a different, more personal world. The chic pics of Hijab Barbie — also known as Hijarbie — are transformative for the world’s imagination, as they re-imagine an icon with new cultural priorities and style.
