You might have noticed something different about the October issue of Women’s Running magazine. Well, for the first time in the history of fitness and health magazines in the US, the cover star is wearing a hijab. Who is, you say? She’s Rahaf Khatib, a 32-year-old Syrian-American who is a hijabi marathoner that lives in Michigan with her loving husband and three adorable kids.
Khatib is a six-time marathoner who has competed in two triathlons and countless half marathons. One day she sent Women’s Running an e-mail bashing them about never ever publishing a photo of hijabi athletes, and challenged them to change this stereotype if they could. And that was the turning point, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Jessie Sebor, told BuzzFeed in an e-mail that they couldn’t help but feature Khatib and put her on the cover!
Khatib was so surprised, she couldn’t believe they’d actually respond! “I hope that my cover sends the message that everyone can be an athlete no matter how you dress and how you’re covered,” Khatib told BuzzFeed.
WE SAID THIS: You tell’em, Khatib!