Zeina Nassar – How a Berlin Boxer Changed Women’s Sports
Zeina Nassar is not just a boxer. She is a woman who fought not only in the ring – but also in front of associations, in conversations with officials and within a system that had not made space for her. Today, women around the world are allowed to box with hijab because Zeina never stopped fighting.
Zeina is Caramella’s Brand Ambassador for the Fitjab. Not because it sounds like a good story, but because it comes from a shared belief: women who cover should not have to compromise in sport.
Who is Zeina Nassar?
Zeina Nassar was born in 1998 in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Her parents are from Lebanon. She grew up in a neighborhood that shaped her: colorful, loud and diverse. At 13, she accidentally saw a YouTube video of women boxing.
"By chance, I watched videos of women boxing online with a friend. And it inspired me so much because I simply had not known it before. And I thought: Okay, if they can do it, then I can do it too." – Zeina Nassar
Right in Kreuzberg, she found Boxgirls Berlin – a boxing club that allowed her to train with hijab, long sleeves and leggings from day one. No one questioned it.
The first fight – and the first obstacle
Before her first public competition, the first shock came. Her coach confronted her with the issue: competition rules in Germany did not provide clothing options for hijab. In theory, Zeina could not compete.
Zeina’s answer was clear: with headscarf, absolutely. Her coach made sure she could compete in Berlin with hijab – a local exception that laid the foundation for everything that followed.
Zeina became a multiple-time Berlin boxing champion. In 2018, she won the German Championship in the weight class up to 57 kg. The next step was the national team and the European Championship – and the next setback.
The international rule change: how Zeina changed boxing
In 2018, Zeina was nominated for the European Championship. Then came the news: the international dress codes of AIBA (International Boxing Association) banned the hijab in international competition. No exceptions, no discussion.
What followed was not retreat. Zeina fought – with words, with endurance, with her team. In February 2019, the International Boxing Association changed its competition rules worldwide: since then, women have officially been allowed to compete internationally with hijab and appropriate body-covering clothing.
That means: every woman who stands in a boxing ring with hijab today – nationally or internationally – stands on ground that Zeina fought for.
Dream Big – the book
In 2020, Zeina’s book "Dream Big: Wie ich mich als Boxerin gegen alle Regeln durchsetzte" was published by Carl Hanser Verlag. It is not a classic sports biography, but an honest, sometimes unfiltered portrait of a young woman who wants to go her own way – in a system that does not always make it easy.
The book is Zeina’s own voice: direct, reflective, sometimes philosophical. She writes about her family, setbacks, moments of doubt – and about what kept her going anyway. A reading recommendation that goes far beyond sport.
Zeina’s life motto is summed up in it perfectly: "Fighting is not about winning or losing, it's about learning."
Zeina today: professional boxer, academic, role model
Zeina Nassar studies Educational Sciences and Sociology at the University of Potsdam as a scholarship holder of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation. She appears as a presenter, campaign ambassador and actress. She advocates for better educational opportunities and equality.
In November 2025, Zeina made her professional debut – in Lahore, Pakistan. The next step in a career that is far from over.
Zeina Nassar and Fitjab: why they belong together
Zeina’s story is the story of every Muslim woman who does sport and refuses to compromise. Fitjab was developed from exactly this belief: pin-free, functional, made in Germany, sustainable.
Zeina wears Fitjab during training because it delivers what it promises. No slipping, no pressure, no risk. Exactly what you need when you want to focus on what matters most: the fight.
What makes Fitjab technically special is explained in the article Fitjab – The Sport Hijab Without Pins for Maximum Freedom of Movement. And why material and production matter: Made in Germany - Why Quality and Sustainability Are Essential in a Sport Hijab (19.05.2025)
What we can learn from Zeina Nassar
Zeina’s story is not a fairy tale about an exceptional athlete who somehow made it. It is a concrete example of what happens when you stop adapting – and start changing the system.
• System rules can be changed – if you are persistent enough.
• Identity and performance are not opposites. Together, they are stronger.
• Role models are not created through perfect careers, but through real stories.
As a Muslim athlete, as a hijabi, as a woman with ambition: Zeina Nassar has shown that a place in the ring is not given, but fought for. The same applies to a place in the gym, on the running track and in the yoga studio.
More information here: Sport Hijab for Yoga, Cardio and Strength Training - What You Need for Every Sport.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Zeina Nassar?
Zeina Nassar is a German professional boxer, born in 1998 in Berlin-Kreuzberg as the daughter of Lebanese parents. She is a multiple-time Berlin champion and German boxing champion. In 2019, she helped bring about the change in international boxing rules, allowing women worldwide to compete with hijab.
What has Zeina Nassar achieved?
Among other things: multiple-time Berlin champion, German champion 2018 (57 kg), AIBA rule change in 2019 (hijab allowed in international boxing), author of the book "Dream Big" (2020), Nike campaign ambassador, actress and professional debut in November 2025.
What is the book "Dream Big" by Zeina Nassar?
"Dream Big: Wie ich mich als Boxerin gegen alle Regeln durchsetzte" is Zeina’s autobiography, published in 2020 by Carl Hanser Verlag. In it, she tells her journey from her first boxing training to the international rule change – honest, direct and inspiring.
Why is Zeina Nassar Brand Ambassador at Caramella?
Because Zeina’s story and Caramella’s product share the same belief: Muslim women should not have to choose between faith and performance in sport. Fitjab is pin-free, functional and made in Germany – exactly what you need when you train seriously.
You can find the full sport hijab guide here: Sport Hijab – The Complete Guide for Active Muslim Women
Discover Fitjab – Zeina’s choice for intense training – now on bycaramella.com.
Caramella – Made in Germany
Fitjab™ – Sport Hijab Without Pins
Sustainable materials · Pin-free · For every sport
