Just when you thought you've seen it all, Playboy magazine features a fully covered, hijab-wearing woman. Modesty and Playboy might not be at odds after all.
This isn't the first time Libyan journalist Noor Tagouri causes a stir. She stole the spotlight earlier this year when she became the first hijab-wearing news anchor on commercial US television.
The first-generation Libyan American was included in Playboy's Renegades of 2016 October issue, which features stereotypes-crushing men and women. "They’ve risked it all - even their lives - to do what they love, showing us what can be accomplished if we break the rules," explains Playboy.
This came soon after the men's lifestyle magazine announced that it is going "non-nude".
Tagouri told Playboy being a Muslim hijabi has helped her gain people's trust and encourage them to open up in interviews. "I know what it’s like to have the narrative of our community be skewed and exploited in the media," she said.
"I was like, 'Hey, I know what it’s like to be misrepresented in the media. I won’t do that to you. I want to tell your story because it’s important and deserves justice'."
Tagouri's #LetNoorShine campaign garnered lots of attention back in 2012, when she kick-started her pursuit to become USA's first hijab-wearing anchor. Her dream came to life this June when she started reporting - or what she calls "storytelling" - for Newsy, an online video news platform.
The feature brought up polarizing views, especially within the Muslim community:
Some supported Tagouri, praising her for blazing a trail for women
Noting that she is not the first practicing Muslim to appear on Playboy
Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali and Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens) have been interviewed by the magazine.
And that the magazine is no longer doing what it's notorious for
Predictably, others chastized her for "insulting" Islamic principles
Some Muslims think she panders to Western notions of liberty, chalking her up as "darling of the Leftist media establishment that loves Sharia conformity as a manifestation of diversity and multiculturalism", according to Jihad Watch .
Tagouri told Playboy she's ignoring the backlash: "It’s just negative energy and unhealthy... 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."