Blog: How the Sweaty Betty Foundation sports hijab is empowering Muslim girls

When Nouhaila Benzina proudly wore the hijab on the world’s biggest sporting stage in 2023, it wasn’t just a historic moment – it ignited a spark of hope in Muslim girls worldwide. It showed them that their dreams of sporting glory weren’t just dreams, they were achievable.

But despite this inspiration, the reality is that Muslim girls still face significant hurdles in participating in sports.A recent study revealed that while 97% of British Muslim women want to be more active, a staggering 37% remain completely uninvolved. This gap is further highlighted by the Sport England Active Lives Survey, where girls from minority backgrounds consistently lag behind their white counterparts in participation rates.

One of the key barriers these girls face is the lack of culturally appropriate clothing. The hijab, a symbol of faith and identity for many, can unintentionally become a hurdle when conventional options are ill-suited for physical activity. Issues like breathability, slippage, and affordability can prevent girls from embracing sports with confidence.

The Sweaty Betty Foundation is committed to creating systemic change for girls who are least active, and we believe clothing can be a powerful tool in breaking down barriers.

We didn’t just design a sports hijab; we co-created it with the girls themselves. Through workshops and open discussions with Muslim girls across the UK, we listened to their experiences and understood their needs. Safety, breathability, affordability, and most importantly, their unique design preferences, became the cornerstones of our project.

Our design experts at Sweaty Betty collaborated with This Girl Can Leeds and sports activist Lipa Nessa to recraft the sports hijab. Who better to shape a solution than those who intimately understand the challenges?

Our co-designed hijabs, tested and refined by the girls themselves, are a testament to empowerment. They are not just garments; they are a symbol of their voice, their identity, and their right to participate.

And as a testament to our commitment to inclusivity, the Foundation, through our unique partnership with Sweaty Betty, is thrilled to announce the donation of a set number of hijabs to girls across the U.K.This initiative ensures that every girl has the opportunity to discover the joy, confidence, and strength that come with physical activity.

This International Women’s Day, as we launch the co-designed sports hijab, we celebrate the progress we’ve made, but we also acknowledge the journey ahead. By working together, listening to girls, and empowering them to be the architects of change, we can dream of a world where every girl, regardless of background or belief, can experience the joy of movement and achieve their sporting aspirations.

Join us in making this dream a reality. Get in touch to learn more and support our mission.

The dream continues.

Afsana Lachaux

Director, Sweaty Betty Foundation

Sweaty Betty Foundation; https://www.sweatybettyfoundation.org/

The Sweaty Betty Foundation is an independent registered charity working across the UK to empower women and girls from every background to get active, and stay active, for life. 

Leeds Girls Can; https://active.leeds.gov.uk/womenandgirls.

Leeds Girls Can was established in 2015 as an offshoot of the national This Girl Can initiative by Sport England and is now under the management of Active Leeds.  For more information, see here: https://active.leeds.gov.uk/womenandgirls.