Hijab-wearing women breaking barriers in Singapore’s pro wrestling scene

‘Not doing anything wrong’, say women thriving in physical, male-dominated sport

SINGAPORE (MNTV) – In a country where professional wrestling is already a niche pursuit, two young Muslim women are challenging even deeper boundaries. Nadirah and Nadiah Hirwandy, twin sisters from Singapore, are the first hijabi tag-team wrestlers in the nation — and they’re using the sport’s physical theatre to rewrite what empowerment looks like within their community, reports CNA. 

Nadirah and Nadiah pride themselves on being Singapore’s first tag-team twin professional wrestlers — in hijabs.

For them, it’s about breaking the mold of what a professional female wrestler is supposed to look like – and showing that “hijabis can do anything”.

Nadirah and Nadiah have been training and competing at the Grapplemax Pro Wrestling academy and promotion since July 2024.

They’ve gathered quite the fan base, but also encountered the occasional raised eyebrow, including from older relatives.

“They’ll say ‘you’re a girl, you’re a Muslim, you shouldn’t be doing this’,” said Nadiah. “They have very traditional mindsets.”

Her sister added: “I know I’m not doing anything wrong, so it doesn’t really matter what they have to say.

“As long as I’m having fun and my parents are on board, that’s the most important thing for me.”

Watching pro wrestling on the television with their father, and later reenacting the moves on their bed, were what sparked their early interest in the sport.

“Our father is also a fan of wrestling so he’s proud of us. He assures us that we’re not doing anything bad with our body, but it’s a form of physical activity. And there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Nadiah.

Persuading their mother, who was more concerned with the physical dangers, took much longer.

“We had to come up with benefits to convince her that this was our passion and what we want to do,” said Nadiah. “But now she tells her colleagues that we’re in wrestling and she seems proud to show it off.”

Changing mindsets 

Asked what it was about wrestling that spoke to them over other pursuits, Nadirah pointed to it being a “form of self-expression that you can put into your character work and interacting with the fans”.

Nadiah said simply it was “a chance for me to be who I want to be”.

Pro wrestling personas often ooze theatrical swagger, but the sisters admitted to struggles with confidence and doubts over whether they’re “good enough” for the ring.

Still, they have each other to lean on as well as the belief that things will get better as they continue putting in the work at training.

And perhaps more powerfully, they are driven by the sense that each practice session and match carries meaning for them and what they represent.

“One thing I hope to achieve is changing the mindsets that people have of Muslim females. So to be able to hopefully reach out to people and have an impact on their views on hijabis,” said Nadirah.

“It makes me feel like I’m using my passion to do something for the Muslim community.”