Millions of women are celebrating the seventh World Hijab day in solidarity with Muslim women around the world.
This year’s World Hijab Day is all about “Breaking Stereotypes, Shattering Boundaries,” and we have gathered up our favorite hijabis who have done just that.
10 – Becoming a Real Ballerina, Stephanie Kurlow
https://www.facebook.com/stephaniekurlow/photos/a.646536655486424/1305154622957954/?type=3&theater
Kurlow is currently in professional training to be a ballerina.
9 – Bringing Peace to Wimbledon, Aseel Shaheen
Shaheen is the first Muslim line judge on the court in Wimbledon.
8 – Having a Documentary Made About Her Being Excluded from Basketball for Hijab, Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir
Abduk-Qaadir was banned from staring on the court because of her hijab. The documentary “Life Without Basketball” was made about her struggle and now she’s back to scoring!
7 – Continuously Representing in Advertising Campaigns, Halima Aden
https://www.facebook.com/KingLimaa/photos/a.384925388530077/516707415351873/?type=3&theater
Aden was controversial as the first hijabi covergirl in the west, but she stayed the course and now repeatedly shows up on magazine covers and in high-profile campaigns.
6 – Winning Millions of Dollars for Making Positive Community Impacts, Hanan al-Hroub and Roshni Ride
https://www.facebook.com/HananAlHroub01/photos/a.977872745615583/977872308948960/?type=3&theater
Al-Hroub is a teacher in Palestine and won the million dollar Global Teacher Prize in recognition of her work supporting children traumatized by violence.
https://www.facebook.com/roshnirides/photos/a.269497360128449/324966781248173/?type=3&theater
Roshini Rides won the prestigious Hult Prize for their campaign that uses rickshaws to bring dignity (and transportation) to the lives of refugees.
5 – Being the Face of a Leading Multinational Sport Brand, Zahra Lari
https://www.facebook.com/ZahraSkate/photos/a.1534827380177855/2009967785997143/?type=3&theater
Multi-award winning figure skater Lari was chosen to be the face of Nike’s first sport hijab.
4 – Being Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Tawakkul Karman and Malala Yousafzai
Karman is a journalist and the founder of “Women Journalists Without Chains.” In 2011 she was a co-recipient for the Nobel Peace Prize “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.”
Yousafzai is a human rights activist, especially known for her work advocating for the rights of girls’ education in Northwest Pakistan and being shot by the Taliban for doing so. In 2014 Yousafzai was the youngest person to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize.
3 – Conquering “The Great British Bake Off,” Nadiya Hussain
After winning the 2015 “Great British Bake-Off,” Hussain has continued a career in television and written three books.
2 – Winning an Olympic Medal, Ibtihaj Muhammad
In 2016 Muhammad won an Olympic Bronze Medal for sabre fencing. Muhammad has also written two books, launched a clothing line, had a Barbie made in her likeness and is a sports ambassador, serving on the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative.
1 – Being Voted into US Congress – Ilhan Omar
https://www.facebook.com/TimeforIlhan/photos/a.650276778486936/1168188146695794/?type=3&theater
Omar relocated to the US as a refugee when she was a teenager. After a career as a community nutrition educator, Omar began her career in politics first as a campaign manager and then serving as a Senior Policy Aide. In 2018 she won the election to serve as a US Congresswoman from Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. After her election, a proposal was made and successful to remove the ban on head covering in the US House.