sports

A Malaysian Model Is One Of The Faces Of Nike's New Hijabi Swimwear Line

Malaysia represent!

By Sadho Ram — 12 Dec 2019, 05:04 PM

Cover image via Nike

Recently, Nike introduced its first range of modest swimwear

According to Nike, the newly introduced full coverage swimwear for female athletes is lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, full range of motion, and UPF 40+ protection.

The collection will allow Muslim and body-conscious women to choose from a full-body swimsuit or individual pieces including a swimming hijab, a tunic top, and leggings.

"Too often, athletes said, swimwear presented a barrier, rather than a conduit, to enjoying the water," the company said in a statement on 10 December.

"The more we listened, the more possibility we saw to serve female athletes in new dimensions," Nike VP creative director Martha Moore said in a public statement.

"As we continue broadening our vision for innovation, we're excited to inspire more women to see themselves in sport by thinking creatively and designing inclusively. To us, the Nike Victory Swim Collection shows the power of innovation to invite all women to discover the joy of sport."

Image from Nike
Image via Nike

And Nike chose a Malaysian as one of the models for the collection

She is Arinna Erin Wira, an inclusive-fashion advocate who enjoys swimming for pleasure.

According to Mashable Southeast Asia, Arinna is a Malaysian model who is signed with BAME Models and stays in the United Kingdom (UK).

Speaking about the modest swimwear, the Malaysian model said, "What I first noticed when I went swimming in this outfit was that my hijab stayed on. It was intact and did not come up at all."

Arinna Erin Wira.

Arinna Erin Wira.

Image via Nike

Arinna recently graduated from Brunel University in London with a Master of Science in Business Intelligence and Social Media

View this post on Instagram

Bismillah... In 2013, my dad told me I didn’t need to go for my diploma graduation ceremony because I’d be going for my undergrad and Masters graduation ceremony in the future. I thought he was crazy and was dreaming way too big especially when I literally just finished my diploma, the fact that he was already thinking about Masters was too much for me to comprehend. One thing about me is that I have the biggest self doubt anyone could ever possess. I look down on myself more than anyone else could. My parents are the reason I am who I am today, the constant lectures, repetitive arguments, pressuring me to do things I didn’t want to do only because I had no self confidence, telling me I could do so much more if I just push myself and go beyond my insecurities. Ngl, it took me 6 years to believe them. I thought I knew myself more than they knew what I was capable of doing. I thought I was a failure even without trying. They didn’t see that obviously, they saw something in me that wasn’t even there yet. My dearest sweetest mummy has always been there from my lowest lows to my highest highs. She’s the main reason why I became a model, she’s the person who encouraged me to try new things and just ‘go for it.’ I had the best of both worlds, striving in my studies and experimenting with the creative/ artistic side. I had THE WORST year in London, hated my parents for sending me here to suffer. Stayed in my dorm for an entire year, refused to live life. Was thinking way too much about not spending money so I won’t be a burden, everything became an issue because I was just miserable. But they knew it would change if I just put the effort to change the direction of my view. Long story short, they were right about everything. It’s 2019, I am now a degree holder of Master of Science In Business Intelligence and Social Media and I am happy and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way. This is for my parents, I am forever indebted to them. Daddy’s back home in Malaysia but he made sure I knew I made him proud. I love you both so much

A post shared by Arinna Erin Wira (@arinna.erin) on

A tweet celebrating the Malaysian representation in the new swimwear collection also went viral yesterday, 11 December

Meanwhile, another Muslim woman who was featured by Nike said that she felt "super light and confident" in the new range

"It doesn't weigh you down, and it helped me swim better. It's so different than any of the swimsuits I've ever seen, and I know I can wear this confidently," said Zahra Lari, the first figure skater to don the hijab in competition and a regular swimmer, who tried out the new range.

Zahra Lari (second from left) with Arinna Erin Wira.

Zahra Lari (second from left) with Arinna Erin Wira.

Image via Zahra Lari

The Nike Victory Swim Collection will be available beginning February

It will be available for sale on Nike stores online and at some retailers in California, New York City, London, and Dubai, the company announced on 10 December.

While Muslim women in sports have been persistent in the face of discrimination, they continue to face judgment for how they dress.

Recently, Muslim student athlete, Noor Alexandria Abukaram, was disqualified from her race in Ohio because of her hijab:

Muslim Student Athlete Disqualified From Cross-Country Race For Running In Her Hijab

She previously ran in a hijab without any objection.

Read the full story

Close to home, it was reported last month that the Terengganu state government will prohibit women from competing in gymnastics as they "display indecent movements" and "expose their bodies":

Terengganu To Bar Women From Competing In Gymnastics Because They "Expose Their Bodies"

Sports Minister Syed Saddiq has said that he "will never tolerate this".

Read the full story

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