Is Barbie finally for everyone? Dr Fatumina Said Abukar on her 'empowering experience' on set as the first hijabi Barbie
4 min read
The Barbie film, which reportedly became the second-highest-grossing film in Warner Bros. history, has made waves for its diverse cast, including Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Simu Liu, and Will Ferrell.
Greta Gerwig’s fantasy comedy movie has been applauded for celebrating diversity by showing Barbies of different races, cultures and body types.
One of the most exciting castings was that of Dr Fatumina Said Abukar, who played a hijab-wearing Barbie in the film.
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Fatumina, a London-based engineering scientist, actor and model of Somali-Yemeni heritage, has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion.
In an interview with The New Arab, she shares her experience of being part of the cast of Barbie, how the film addressed past criticisms of the Barbie brand's portrayal of women and the lack of diversity as well as the impact it had in breaking down barriers in the entertainment industry.
"Dr Fatumina, a London-based engineering scientist, actor and model of Somali-Yemeni heritage, has been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion"
"[When] my agent [told me] 'They want you on Barbie', and I assumed it was for a Barbie [advertisement], then they clarified 'The new BARBIE film potentially want you'. I didn’t believe it until I was called on set a few days later and started filming with Margot and the rest of the team," Fatumina shared excitedly.
In the film, a stereotypical Barbie and fellow dolls live in Barbieland; a utopian matriarchal society where everyone is perfect. However, Barbie begins to question her own perfection and her place in the world.
"As a child, I used to have fun playing with Barbie and creating my own storylines but as I grew up, I’ve realised that children need to be presented with a more inclusive range reflective of the world that we live in"
"Being part of this iconic movie as someone who doesn’t fit the stereotypical image of Barbie has been an empowering experience," she said.
"As a child, I used to have fun playing with Barbie and creating my own storylines but as I grew up, I’ve realised that children need to be presented with a more inclusive range reflective of the world that we live in."
The film features a diverse cast of Barbies, including different races, ethnicities, body types, and abilities, sending a message that Barbie is for everyone, regardless of how they look.
"I love how the Barbieland created by Greta Gerwig presents more than one Barbie image and disrupts the stereotypical beauty standards associated with it," Fatumina told The New Arab.
"When I first came on set, I noticed that there was a Barbie for everyone, and I thought it would have been great for me to portray a Barbie that represented Muslim women – at that moment I recognised that the impact of having a Barbie in a hijab would be massive and comes down to women having autonomy over their bodies," she said.
Fatumina, who enjoys a notable online presence, said the response to her role had been incredibly positive.
"Hijabi Barbie sitting right next to the main lead tells us that Muslim women are part of the bigger conversation on body autonomy and women empowerment"
"I’ve received a lot of messages from hijab-wearing women thanking me because they felt represented and included," she said, adding that the film addressed "common experiences shared by women around the world".
"Hijabi Barbie sitting right next to the main lead tells us that Muslim women are part of the bigger conversation on body autonomy and women empowerment," she said, highlighting the role's symbolic importance in promoting diverse narratives.
Looking ahead, Fatumina expressed her hopes for the industry.
"I hope to see more inclusive castings with interesting storylines and relatable characters reflective of the world that we live in as well as inclusiveness within the crew and the decision makers behind the scenes," she said.
"For storylines to stand out we need characters that can bring something original and exciting to the screen."
