Blåhaj
Small and large variants of Blåhaj, displayed from the bottom (above) and side (below) | |
| Type | Toy shark |
|---|---|
| Invented by | IKEA of Sweden |
| Company | IKEA |
| Country | Sweden |
| Materials | Polyester |
| Features | Soft toy |
| Official website | |
Blåhaj (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈblôːhaj] ⓘ; lit. 'blue shark'; colloquially anglicized as /ˈblɑːhɑːʒ/, /ˈblɑːhɑː/ or /ˈbloʊhaɪ/) is a plush toy manufactured and sold by the Swedish company IKEA. Modeled after the blue shark and made of recycled polyester, the toy has become a globally popular internet meme since the late 2010s. For example, it has become a cultural icon in countries like Russia and China, played a symbolic role in Switzerland's same-sex marriage referendum, and found special significance within the transgender community. It has also been used as a mascot by IKEA in some regions.