Habiba Abdul-Jabbar, born Janice Brown, is an American fashion designer and former wife of NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, known for converting to Islam before their 1971 marriage.
She has largely stayed out of public life since their divorce in 1978, raising three children and building a quiet career in fashion design.
Who is Habiba Abdul-Jabbar?
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar is an American fashion designer best known as the first wife of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.
Born Janice Brown, she converted from Christianity to Islam before marrying Kareem in a Washington, D.C. ceremony in 1971.
The couple stayed married until 1978 and had three children together. Since the divorce, Habiba has chosen a deeply private life, with little public presence.
She is the founder and designer behind Tutu Glam, a clothing line known for its colorful tutu skirts and glamorous aesthetic.
Her fashion work represents the creative path she built independently in the years following her marriage.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Ex-Wife Habiba Abdul-Jabbar
Habiba married Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on May 28, 1971, in a ceremony at the Hanafi Madh-hab Center in Washington, D.C.
The service followed Islamic customs and was led by Hamaas Abdul-Khaalis, the leader of the Hanafi Muslim movement, who had also guided Kareem’s own conversion to Islam.
Before the wedding, Habiba converted from her Catholic faith to Islam, taking the name Habiba, which means “beloved” in Arabic.
Her birth name, Janice Brown, no longer appeared in public life after that point. The wedding ceremony created an early and lasting source of pain for both families.
Habiba’s parents traveled from New York to attend, but they were not permitted to enter the mosque because of their Catholic faith.
Kareem later said he had not known this would happen until after the ceremony, and the rift between him and her parents took nearly a decade to repair.
He made a point afterward of greeting them on national television whenever possible. The couple separated in December 1973, though they continued to have children together.
Kareem later acknowledged that adjusting to married life was difficult for him during that period. Their divorce was finalized in 1978, seven years after the wedding.
Early Life of Habiba Abdul-Jabbar
Habiba was born Janice Brown in October 1950 in New York. She grew up in a Catholic household with parents who held strong ties to their Christian faith.
Her upbringing in New York provided the backdrop for her first encounter with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
She first met Kareem while she was in high school. At the time, Kareem was still known as Lew Alcindor and was completing his senior year at UCLA.
A basketball player named Cliff Anderson, who was Habiba’s boyfriend at the time, introduced the two. Kareem invited Habiba to watch him play at UCLA, and their relationship began from there.
After dating for some time, the two decided to marry. Habiba converted to Islam ahead of the ceremony and took her new name before the wedding took place.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Age / Birthday
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar was born in October 1950, making her 75 years old as of 2026.
Her zodiac sign is either Libra or Scorpio depending on her exact birth date, with both signs known for their loyalty and strong sense of identity.
Her exact date of birth has not been made public.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Ethnicity and Nationality
Habiba is American by nationality, born and raised in New York. Her family background is rooted in the Catholic faith and American Christian tradition.
Multiple sources describe her as white, and she grew up in a close-knit family that had no prior connection to Islam.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Height and Weight
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar stands at approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, or about 165 centimeters. Her weight has not been publicly confirmed.
She is known to be an active woman who has described herself as an avid runner, with a Facebook presence under the name RunHabibaRun that reflects her enthusiasm for athletics.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Career
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar built a career in fashion design after her marriage to Kareem ended.
Though her professional life during the marriage largely centered on raising their children, she returned to creative work in the years that followed.
Fashion Design and Tutu Glam
Habiba founded a clothing brand called Tutu Glam, which became her primary professional identity after the divorce.
The brand is known for its colorful and flamboyant tutu skirts as well as glamorous, expressive designs.
She has also been linked to further study in creative writing. One source identifies her as an alumna of Oberlin College, where she reportedly earned a degree in Creative Writing.
Tutu Glam reflects a personal and artistic approach to fashion rather than a corporate or mass-market one.
Her daughter Sultana Abdul-Jabbar has lived in Los Angeles and has worked in administrative roles with the Los Angeles Lakers, while her daughter Habiba Alcindor, the eldest of the three children, works as a dramatist and medical social worker.
The family has maintained a relatively tight-knit bond despite the difficulties of the parents’ separation.
Life After the Divorce
After the divorce in 1978, Habiba raised the three children primarily on her own. She did not remarry publicly, and no subsequent marriage or long-term partner has been confirmed.
Kareem went on to have a relationship with Cheryl Pistono, with whom he had a son, Amir. He also later had another son, Adam, with another partner.
Habiba has stayed almost entirely absent from media and has no verified social media presence under her name. Her Facebook page focused on running is the only known digital footprint.
She resides in the Los Angeles area, with some sources pointing to the View Park neighborhood.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Children
Habiba and Kareem had three children together during and after their period of separation.
Their first child, a daughter also named Habiba and later known as Habiba Alcindor, was born on May 15, 1972. She has worked as a dramatist and a medical social worker.
Their son, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jr., was born on August 23, 1976. He has worked as an actor.
Their youngest child, Sultana Abdul-Jabbar, was born in April 1979, after her parents had already separated.
Sultana holds a degree in literature and has worked in administrative roles, including a position with the Los Angeles Lakers organization.
Kareem went on to father two more children with other partners: Amir, with Cheryl Pistono, and Adam.
Habiba’s three children have maintained a relationship with their father despite the circumstances of their parents’ split.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar’s Marriage to Kareem
Habiba and Kareem met in the late 1960s when she was still in high school and he was finishing his time at UCLA.
After dating, they chose to marry in 1971 in a ceremony that required Habiba to convert to Islam.
Kareem had converted under the guidance of Hamaas Abdul-Khaalis, and he requested that Habiba also embrace the faith before their wedding.
The two married on May 28, 1971, in Washington, D.C., at the Hanafi Center where Khaalis was based.
Kareem had donated funds to help establish that center, deepening his connection to the Hanafi movement. The marriage faced serious strains from early on.
Kareem has written in his memoirs that he struggled to settle into domestic life and that his commitment to basketball and to his Islamic community often came at the expense of his family.
The couple formally separated in December 1973, though they continued having children for several more years.
Kareem’s close relationship with Cheryl Pistono, whom he met in 1977, ultimately led to the end of the marriage.
Pistono reportedly encouraged him to formalize the divorce, which Habiba had not been aware was coming. The divorce was finalized in 1978.
Despite the breakdown of the marriage, Kareem has spoken about maintaining a bond with their children.
Habiba made no further public statements about her ex-husband following the split.
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar Net Worth
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. She has lived a private life and has not spoken publicly about her finances.
Her income comes from her work as a fashion designer and founder of the Tutu Glam clothing brand.
Her ex-husband Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, by contrast, has an estimated net worth of $25 million, built from his 20-season NBA career, coaching roles, acting, and a prolific writing career.
Habiba did not receive public financial settlements, and she has not linked herself to Kareem’s wealth in any public way since the divorce.
Conclusion
Habiba Abdul-Jabbar transformed her identity, name, and faith in the early 1970s to build a life alongside one of basketball’s greatest players, and then quietly rebuilt it again on her own terms after the marriage ended.
Her story as a private individual, fashion designer, and mother of three stands largely separate from the fame of her former husband.