Nike Hijab and Everest The Manal Rostom Story
When Manal Rostom stood atop Mount Everest on May 16, 2022, she wasn’t just standing on the world’s highest peak she was standing on the shoulders of millions of women who dared to dream beyond society’s expectations.
Nike Hijab and Everest The Manal Rostom Story
As the first Egyptian woman to reach Everest’s summit, Rostom’s journey represents more than a mountaineering feat; it embodies a powerful story of breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and creating lasting social change.
“I became my own hero,” Rostom reflects, a statement that encapsulates her transformation from a girl who was once told she “wasn’t a boy” to do such things, to a woman who would redefine what was possible for hijabi athletes worldwide.
From Dream to Reality
Rostom’s mountaineering journey began in 2007 when she watched the first Egyptian man summit Everest on television. When she expressed her desire to follow in his footsteps, her father’s response was swift and definitive: “You’re not a boy to do that.” Instead of deterring her, these words became the catalyst for a 15-year journey that would prove gender has no bearing on one’s ability to reach the top of the world.
It took five years of persistent advocacy sharing articles, interviews, and success stories – before she could convince her father to support her mountaineering aspirations. In 2012, at age 32, Rostom made her first significant climb, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. This achievement marked a important moment, transforming her father from a skeptic to her proudest supporter.
Building the Resume
Rostom’s path to Everest was methodical and determined. She steadily built her mountaineering credentials, summiting Mount Elbrus in Russia, attempting Aconcagua in Argentina (though weather forced a retreat), and becoming the first Egyptian woman to climb Mont Blanc in 2018. Each achievement was a step toward her ultimate goal, proving that success comes not from sporadic bursts of ambition but from sustained dedication.
The Everest Challenge
The reality of climbing Everest proved far more challenging than any previous experience. For two months, Rostom faced not just physical challenges but profound isolation and cultural barriers. She encountered prejudice from fellow climbers who questioned her capabilities and background, facing seemingly simple yet loaded questions like “What language do they speak in Egypt?”
Perhaps most notably, Rostom chose to be transparent about the real struggles of the climb, breaking from the sanitized social media narratives that often dominate mountaineering stories. “There’s a lot of bullshit on social media,” she states frankly. “People don’t show you the true side of every story.”
Her raw, emotional video posted during a particularly challenging moment on the mountain went viral, showing the true face of what it means to push beyond one’s limits. This vulnerability, she believes, was as important as the summit itself
I was brave not just because I was climbing Everest. No, I was brave to say that I’m struggling to climb Everest.
The Summit Experience
The final push to the summit tested every ounce of Rostom’s resolve. At 8,600 meters, facing a critical moment of doubt, she had to reset her mindset completely. “You have not brought me this far to kill me,” she remembers telling God in that moment. The summit experience itself was surreal not the triumphant moment many might imagine, but a sobering encounter with the ultimate price some pay for their dreams, as she passed the bodies of those who never made it down.
Beyond the Mountain
Rostom’s impact extends far beyond her mountaineering achievements. In 2014, she took another bold step by challenging Nike Middle East with a simple question
Why isn’t Nike Middle East catering for Muslim hijabi women?” This query led to her becoming the first hijabi woman to be featured in a Nike Middle East campaign and, eventually, a model for the groundbreaking Nike Pro Hijab.
Her Facebook group, “Surviving Hijab,” has grown to over a million members, creating a platform for women to share their struggles and stories. “For every hijabi girl who was told that she shouldn’t or wouldn’t or couldn’t. Humiliated, banned, discriminated against, this was our moment,” she says of taking her community’s flag to Everest’s summit.
Legacy and Looking Forward
Today, Rostom continues to push boundaries and inspire others. Her philosophy is simple but powerful “Don’t get too attached to the chocolate, as good as it tastes, nothing lasts forever. Put your plan B in place to be ready.” She advocates for preparedness while maintaining the courage to dream big.
Her message to young women, especially those who wear the hijab, is clear
Don’t ever let anyone label us based on a piece of cloth or the way that we practice faith.” Her achievements have helped change perceptions and open doors for others to follow.
Looking ahead, Rostom aims to complete the Seven Summits before turning 45, and remarkably, she’s even considering another Everest attempt – this time to truly enjoy the journey rather than just survive it. Her story proves that the greatest mountains we climb aren’t always physical, but rather the mountains of prejudice, doubt, and societal expectations that stand in our way.
As she puts it, “You have to keep showing up; you make your own luck. It is hard work and a lot of hustle. You can cocoon yourself and feel sorry for yourself, or you can get out of your bed, hustle, and just do it.” In Manal Rostom’s world, every summit reached is just the beginning of another climb, another chance to prove that with determination and courage, no peak is too high to reach.
