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By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Olympic medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad became the first woman to wear a hijab on Team USA when she competed at the 2016 Olympics in Rio.

The 31-year-old fencer, who grew up in Maplewood and fenced at Columbia High School, also became the first Muslim American woman to win an Olympic medal when the U.S. won bronze in the team sabre event.

Now, Muhammad has scored another first — her own hijab-wearing Barbie.

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Ilya S. Savenok | Getty Images

Mattel announced the debut of a Barbie doll modeled after Muhammad on Monday, celebrating the fencer as the latest Barbie "Shero" at the Glamour Women of the Year Summit. The Barbie, outfitted in fencing gear, is the first to wear a hijab.

The Barbie Sheros are recognized as "women who break boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls," Mattel said in a statement.

"Through playing with Barbie, I was able to imagine and dream about who I could become," Muhammad said in a statement. "I love that my relationship with Barbie has come full circle, and now I have my own doll wearing a hijab that the next generation of girls can use to play out their own dreams."

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Breaking boundaries

"Barbie is celebrating Ibtihaj not only for her accolades as an Olympian, but for embracing what makes her stand out," said Sejal Shah Miller, vice president of global marketing for Barbie, in the Mattel statement. "Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented, and by honoring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be and do anything."

The doll is due out in 2018.

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Thank you @Mattel for announcing me as the newest member of the @Barbie #Shero family! I'm proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab! This is a childhood dream come true [?] [?] #shero pic.twitter.com/py7nbtb2KD -- Ibtihaj Muhammad (@IbtihajMuhammad) November 13, 2017

'This is a childhood dream come true'

Muhammad, who ranked among Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2016 and has gone on to start a line of clothing, Louella, for the modest fashion industry, said the new doll means the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

"I'm really excited to have this moment happen in my life and also for all these little girls now who can shop for Barbie doll that may look them, may wear a hijab like they do, or like their mom does, or like a friend does," Muhammad told People. "But also have kids who aren't Muslim, who don't wear a hijab, to also have the opportunity to play with a doll that wears a hijab."

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LOVE this! @Barbie's first doll with a hijab is modeled after @IbtihajMuhammad. Representation matters. Black. Muslim. Magic. pic.twitter.com/W6ATi9xqTZ -- Britni Danielle (@BritniDWrites) November 13, 2017

Twitter reacts

Many cheered the new Barbie on social media, saying the doll exemplified a spirit of representation, diversity and inclusion.

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GQ: Let's name Colin Kaepernick our Citizen of the Year

Mattel: Let's make a Barbie doll who is black, Muslim woman like Ibtihaj Muhammad.

Us: Let's elect diverse minorities to help lead this country.



Let's do this America. The future is ours. [?][?] [?][?] [?][?] [?] pic.twitter.com/YR7T0bJNwV -- Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) November 13, 2017

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This actually made me get emotional!!! Imagine all the little girls that look like you(or want to look like you) @IbtihajMuhammad and now they have this to idolize. This is amazing and really really special. Congrats!! https://t.co/m8EIEycjHO -- Abby Wambach (@AbbyWambach) November 13, 2017

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Maplewood REPRESENT!!! I'm very happy for you and for all the young people out there that get to see their culture represented! -- Mizmaimee (@mizmaimee) November 13, 2017

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Omg omg omg... This is the first doll I've ever actually wanted!!!! @IbtihajMuhammad just smashed apart about a billion #Barbie coloured ceilings [?] https://t.co/18YhEllCX6 -- onjali rauf (@OnjaliRauf) November 13, 2017

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.