Muslim Voice,

Hello Kitty, McDonald’s, Michael Jackson; these are all pop culture icons of our time. As unseeming as it may sound, the hijab, head cover, is popping up everywhere in the mainstream and is on its way to becoming a pop culture icon as well. For example, the hip-hop scene has adopted the Spanish-style hijab into many of their videos. Jennifer Lopez famously wore her hijab-style head wrap to the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards. The idea of the hijab is becoming glamorized and is influencing young girls to take action as well. Driving over to the craft store to fetch some beads and crystals to sew and glue onto the hijab is becoming a prevalent trend with some teenagers. Purchasing embroidered templates to iron onto the hijab is also fueling the "Do-It-Yourself" viewpoint of the movement.

The aspect of convenience is also exercised by some young women with wearing the hijab. Some use the hijab as a means of a hands-free cell phone as they go about their daily tasks. Another reappearing trend is "hijab styling", which is where women get their hijabs styled for special occasions instead of their hair. Hijab styling is ideal for big events like one’s wedding day where hijab-stylists effortlessly create fantastic twists and whimsical flowers with the cloth of the hijab for a unique look.

Books have also been written on the pop culture hijab, like Faegheh Shirazi’s novel The Veil Unveiled: The Hijab in Modern Culture. The book explores the uses and misuses of the veil in modern culture, both Eastern and Western and in Muslim and non-Muslim societies. The symbolism of hijab is investigated through political, historical and cultural domains through media, literature and more. So who knows? Hello Kitty, McDonald’s, Michael Jackson… the hijab could definitely be added to a list of infinite pop culture icons.