Ibtihaj Muhammad is an Olympic medalist and the first woman in a hijab ever to join the U.S. Olympic team. She is also a New York Times bestselling author, having written two books: a memoir and a children’s book. As a young adult, she and her sisters founded their clothing line Louella, with the goal of giving women in America affordable and fashionable options to dress modestly.

On This Episode of When Women Win:
I talked to Ibtihaj about persevering through life’s most challenging moments. Ibtihaj opened up about her evolution as an athlete – why she picked the sport of fencing and what it was like competing and medaling at the 2016 Rio Olympics. We discussed the physical, mental and emotional adversity she’s had to overcome as a Black and Muslim and female athlete – and Ibtihaj talked about how her faith and her support network helped her through it all.

Notable Quotes:
• “Choose to be proud in the face of adversity.”
• “Use every moment as an opportunity for growth.”

Book Recommendations:
I highly recommend reading Ibtihaj’s inspiring memoir Proud: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream as well as her children’s book The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family.

Talking points in this episode:
• Wearing hijab in sports
• The challenges of being an entrepreneur
• Honest experiences on the Olympic team
• Ibtihaj as a barbie doll
• Louella by Ibtihaj

If you’d like to know more about Ibtihaj, you can check out her website at ibtihajmuhammad.com and find her all over social media @ibtihajmuhammad.

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