After a six-year hiatus, the photo of a doll wearing a pink dress and hijab (or headscarf, as we commonly refer to it) was posted on the @hijarbie Instagram account.

The caption happily announces the return of #Hijarbie, and the comments from followers show the excitement for this return.

Check out this Instagram post.

This post was shared by Mini Hijab Fashion! (@hijarbie)

Haneefah Adam, an artist from Nigeria, first created Muslim-looking dolls in 2015 after realizing the lack of such representations on the social media she followed. In her own words, “I didn’t see on any of the Instagram accounts any dolls that mirrored my own appearance.”

Check out this Instagram post.

This post was shared by Mini Hijab Fashion! (@hijarbie)

So, she decided to create her own doll and immediately set to work. She made a navy maxi skirt, paired with a blue blouse and a black headscarf, and shared a photo of her creation in December 2015. The positive response she received encouraged her to continue, and so in the following months, she developed more clothes.

During this time, she was inspired by a robe worn by British lifestyle and fashion influencer Habiba da Silva. Based on this inspiration, she designed an outfit and shared the result. The response from the media was enthusiastic, including Teen Vogue magazine.

Since then, Adam has shared over 200 photos on her @hijarbie Instagram account and created around 70 different outfits that showcase Muslim culture and fashion. These clothes include a wide variety of styles and designs, and Adam has been inspired by prominent Muslim figures.

Over the past month, Adam decided to bring back the @hijarbie account after a long hiatus as she devoted time to her family. Her return coincided with the announcement of the movie Barbie and the message of feminism it brings with it. Adam states, “Barbie created a new reality that celebrates femininity, independence and the power of women.”

In 2017, Mattel introduced the first headscarf-wearing Barbie doll, inspired by American fencing champion Ibtihaj Muhammad. Adam had created her own version of the athlete a year before Mattel officially released the doll. Adam was also excited to spot another headscarf-wearing Barbie in the movie released this year.

Although she had shown a talent for fine art from an early age, Adam did not initially intend to pursue a career as an artist. Initially, he wished to become a doctor. However, he decided to study physiology and then pursue postgraduate studies in pharmacology in the UK.

When she returned to Nigeria, Adam rediscovered her passion for art and began sharing her creations online. Her victory in a food-themed art competition in 2016 was the impetus she needed to launch her artistic career. After that, she started receiving commissions and her creations were exhibited in both Nigeria and New York.

Adam, now 32 and based in Lagos, is looking to expand her work through the @hijarbie account by featuring more models with a Muslim flair. This month, she will launch a website to promote the handmade clothes she designs for dolls. Despite her statement that she does not consider herself an entrepreneur, the support of her friends encouraged her to go ahead. She says, “All my friends wanted clothes for their baby girl dolls.”