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Ibtihaj Muhammad transitioned from an Olympic medalist to an author, entrepreneur, and advocate for diverse representation.
Muhammad joined Nike's “Move to Zero” panel, advocating on behalf of the brand and discussing broader impacts.
Ibtihaj co-founded Louella by Ibtihaj with her sisters in 2014, an American-rooted clothing company delivering fresh, vibrant, and affordable modest fashion. Louella aims to allow women to look and feel their best and has been recognized on Sports Illustrated's 2017 Top 50 Most Fashionable Athletes list for its vision.
Ibtihaj partnered with Visa, expressing excitement for their embrace of diversity and stance for acceptance globally.
Mattel honored Muhammad by creating a Barbie "Shero" doll in her likeness, making it the first Barbie to wear a hijab. This was announced at Glamour's Women of the Year summit, fulfilling a childhood dream for Muhammad.
Ibtihaj Muhammad was recognized as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador in 2019, joining the organization to advocate for inclusion through sports.
Muhammad serves as a sports ambassador for the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative, traveling internationally to discuss the importance of sports and education.
Ibtihaj Muhammad is an ambassador for Laureus, an organization that uses the power of sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage.
Ibtihaj Muhammad was born on December 4, 1985, in New Jersey and grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey. She began fencing at the age of 13 at Columbia High School. In 2002, she joined the Peter Westbrook Foundation in New York City, a program designed to introduce fencing to underserved communities. After graduating from Columbia High School in 2003, Muhammad attended Duke University, where she earned a double major in International Relations and African & African-American Studies in 2007. At Duke, she was a three-time All-American in fencing.
Muhammad’s career progressed significantly when she qualified for her first United States National Fencing Team in 2010, becoming the first woman of color on the women’s sabre team. She remained a member of the national team from 2010 to 2017. Her achievements include being a two-time National Champion (2009, 2017) and a 19-time World Cup medalist. A significant milestone occurred at the 2016 Summer Olympics, where she became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab and the first Muslim-American woman to win an Olympic medal, securing a bronze in the women’s saber team event. She was also the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in the sabre event. Beyond sports, Muhammad is an entrepreneur, activist, and author. In 2014, she co-founded Louella, a modest fashion brand, with her sisters. She released her debut memoir, “Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream,” in 2018, and has authored several children’s books, including the New York Times’ Best-seller “The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab & Family” in 2019.
Her influence extends beyond sports and business. Muhammad was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2016. In 2017, Mattel honored her by creating the first Barbie doll with a hijab in her likeness as part of their “Shero” collection. She serves as a sports ambassador for the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative and became a Special Olympics Global Ambassador in 2019. Her advocacy focuses on challenging misconceptions and promoting equality, leading by example both on and off the fencing strip.
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