Playboy features first Muslim Woman in Hijab; receives both praise and criticism

Famous for bunnies and soft porn, Playboy magazine for the first time ever has featured a Muslim woman wearing hijab. This has drawn widespread attention inviting both praises and criticisms.

American journalist Noor Tagouri appears in the magazine's October "Renegades" edition, a series that focuses on men and women "who risked it all -- even their lives -- to do what they love," reports an international news agency.

The 22-year-old journalist works as a reporter for Newsy, a video news network. She is featured wearing a black leather jacket, jeans, sneakers and a hijab, or headscarf, in the publication describing her as "a badass activist."

Tagouri, is a Libyan descent and her goal is to become the first "hijabi" anchor on commercial US television, according to the news agency. He says that her struggles as a Muslim woman growing up in the United States have helped her move ahead in her career.

"I know what it's like to have the narrative of our community be skewed and exploited in the media," she told Playboy, which did away with nudity earlier this year as it sought to appeal to a wider audience, says the report.

"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 first gained attention after launch of the the viral #LetNoorShine campaign in 2012. She now has a social media following of more than 100,000 fans.

After the news about Tagouri being featured in Playboy magazine came out other than praises she also received a lot of criticism.

"Playboy is synonymous with pornography," read an article in The Muslim Vibe, an online magazine.

"It has been at the forefront of the objectification, sexualisation and commodification of women for decades and just because they've softened their image, it doesn't mean we can begin to engage with the platform and jump on board."

Blogger Nishaat Ismail also questioned the move of Tagouri associating with an institution "based on the objectification of women."

"Are the voices of women -- and in particular Muslim women -- buried so deep under the cries of those who claim to speak on our behalf that our only available response is (to) involve ourselves with Playboy, a magazine that has solely existed for the past 63 years for men to gawp at the bodies of half-naked women?" wrote Nishaat according to the report.