Noor Tagouri Makes History As Playboy's First Hijab-Clad Model Ever

Feminist attitudes may be at an all time high but there are plenty of boundaries women are still to conquer. Whether in business, fashion or politics there are still arenas where women aren’t given the freedom they deserve. Of course a lot of these restrictions come down the mind frame of the community and the predominant religion it upholds. This October, journalist Noor Tagouri is set to demolish yet another stereotype by becoming the first Muslim woman to pose in Playboy Magazine wearing a hijab.
The 22-year old Libyan-American journalist wanted to challenge the representation of Muslim women in popular media and for her shoot she appears fully clothed in a leather jacket and converse sneakers. This decision to uphold her modesty took some people by surprise as Playboy is famed for its scantily clothed models but that’s exactly the message she wanted to send “I will have succeeded in effecting change when all girls realize they can do anything they want without having to sacrifice who they are as a person,” Noor tells Playboy.

Among the feminist community opinions are still split. Many question Noor’s choice of magazine, Playboy built its empire on the objectification and sexualisation of women and many wonder whether Noor’s attempt to reclaim the platform for a feminist agenda will be successful or merely a drop in the ocean of the magazine’s profits. Others however support her wholeheartedly and agree that her shoot is empowering not only to Muslim women but to every member of her gender. The mere fact that a hijab-clad model is being featured so prominently at all increases their visibility in western media.
Whichever way your opinion falls there is no denying the Noor has made history with her choice. Her positive message of acceptance and tolerance is one that is sorely lacking in America and indeed the world. She has vowed not to heed the critics and stay strong, as she says “I just do the best I can to not worry about people who get upset because they don’t like something that I wear or say.” For the millions of women who choose to wear the hijab, Noor has just proved that nothing in the world, least of all a piece of cloth can stop you from conquering the world.

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