Women’s running magazine features woman in hijab on cover for the first time

Rahaf Khatib is the first woman to make the cover of Women’s Running magazine wearing a hijab.

The six-time marathoner and mother of three made the cover of the October issue of the American magazine.

She said she hopes to inspire other Muslim women to run.

Women’s Running has previously featured plus-size women, a young woman with autism, and a transgender woman, leading people to praise the magazine for its inclusiveness.

In an interview, Khatib told Women’s Running magazine that she started running outdoors after getting bored of her gym classes.

Needing a new challenge, she signed up for her first 10k race – and it all happened from there.

Since then, she has participated in six marathons and two triathlons.

The 32-year-old, from Michigan, USA, said of her cover appearance: “This is something that I can show my children in the future, my community and most importantly. my parents.

“It means my sweat, tears, and training are worth it.”

Khatib is just one of the many diverse women who have made the cover of the magazine over the past year.

In December 2015, the magazine featured Kiley Lyall of Chicago who has autism and mild cerebral palsy. Then, in March 2016, blogger and plus-size model Nadia Aboulhosn appeared on the cover.

More recently, they introduced transgender runner Amelia Gapin who said of her cover debut, “Being a transgender woman on the cover of a women’s magazine shows that I am seen for who I am.

“It’s a feeling of acceptance, inclusion and welcome. “