Female runner emoji gets the green light on Apple devices this fall
Apple announced this week that the newest operating system update will feature a diverse set of characters including a female runner emoji.
A female runner emoji is coming to an Apple device near you this fall. The upcoming operating system, Apple’s iOS 10, will feature a diverse set of female characters for messaging purposes, the company announced on Monday.
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Molly Huddle, an American distance runner who will compete at the Olympics, has been pushing for the addition of a female runner emoji to Apple since early October. Currently, only a male runner emoji is available on the iOS operating system. Iphones and iPads, for example, operate with iOS.
@HastyHastings just trying to leave the world better than I found it, ya know? ??
— Molly Huddle (@MollyHuddle) August 2, 2016
RELATED: Facebook Messenger launches the long-awaited female runner emoji.
The software update is expected to be released this fall. The emojis needed approval by Unicode Consortium, a non-profit organization that maintains software standards in the cellular space.
Google, as reported by Mashable, recently announced that Android will introduce a similar set of female characters for its bank of available emojis. Characters are available in different skin tones as well.
When can we get a girl runner emoji? It’s hampering my communication?? #putaponytailonit #itstime #ispeakinemoji
— Molly Huddle (@MollyHuddle) October 18, 2015
In June, Facebook introduced a female runner emoji on its Messenger platform. The emoji was isolated to that messaging service and not available for Apple’s iMessage or texting capabilities. Apple’s new female runner emoji differs from what Huddle initially pitched for a design (see below).
argument: that a female athtlete emoji is as important as a taco or unicorn ??thx @BelieveIAm and @mylesdumas! ???? pic.twitter.com/797FHF1eVP
— Molly Huddle (@MollyHuddle) October 26, 2015
Other newly-introduced emojis in the iOS update will include female version of a swimmer, surfer, mountain biker, weight lifter, baseball player and construction worker.