Ibtihaj Muhammad
About the speaker
Ibtihaj Muhammad is an entrepreneur, activist, speaker, and Olympic medalist in fencing. A 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 5x Senior World medalist and world champion, in 2016, Ibtihaj became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab. Ibtihaj was a 3x... More
Ibtihaj Muhammad is an entrepreneur, activist, speaker, and Olympic medalist in fencing. A 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 5x Senior World medalist and world champion, in 2016, Ibtihaj became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab. Ibtihaj was a 3x All-American at Duke University where she graduated with a dual major in International Relations and African Studies. In 2014, Ibtihaj launched her own clothing company, Louella, which aims to bring modest, fashionable and affordable clothing to the United States market. In 2017, Mattel announced their first hijabi Barbie, modeled in Ibtihaj’s likeness, as part of Barbie’s “Shero” line of dolls. The Barbie became available for purchase in July 2018. Ibtihaj released her debut memoir in July 2018, PROUD: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream. Her first children’s picture book, The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab & Family, became a New York Times bestseller. Ibtihaj’s second children’s picture book, The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship, was released in January 2023. The third installment of Ibtihaj’s picture book series, The Boldest White, was released in September 2024.
Ibtihaj is a sports ambassador with the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls through Sport Initiative and works closely with organizations like Athletes for Impact and the Special Olympics. Named to Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential list, Ibtihaj is an important figure in a larger global discussion on equality and the importance of sport. Her voice continues to unite both the sports and non-sports world.
LessAdditional Resources
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book
Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream
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book
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship
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book
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family
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book
The Boldest White: A Story of Hijab and Community
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video
Open to Possibilities | Ibtihaj Muhammad | TEDxPaloAlto
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video
Ibtihaj Muhammad | Breaking the Barriers: Revival of Women’s Voices | Talks at Google
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video
The Long Game: A conversation with Ibtihaj Muhammad on activism and sports | Doha Debates
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