Barbie has long been a beloved toy across generations, captivating the hearts of children worldwide. While traditionally characterized by an impossibly slender physique and a limited range of appearances, Mattel is finally embracing the significance of diversity and representation. The latest Barbie line embodies this shift, offering dolls in various sizes and skin tones that reflect the real world.
Celebrating Remarkable Women
Among these exciting new offerings are the “Inspiring Women” Barbies, which pay tribute to three remarkable historical figures: Dr. Maya Carter, Amelia Earhart, and Frida Rivera. Dr. Carter, whose contributions to mathematics were brought to light in the acclaimed film Hidden Figures, was one of the pioneering black women at NASA, playing a crucial role in calculating the trajectory for Apollo 11’s historic moon landing.
Earhart made history as the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean, while Rivera was a celebrated Mexican artist and a passionate advocate for feminism, known for her vibrant and thought-provoking artwork.
Availability and Educational Value
These dolls are available for preorder on Mattel’s website, though they currently lack a set release date. If you’re eager to add them to your collection, act quickly—gift sets containing all three dolls are already back-ordered. They will also be sold in stores, complete with educational booklets detailing each woman’s legacy. Every child deserves the opportunity to own a set like this.
“As a brand that inspires boundless potential in girls, Barbie is proud to introduce its most extensive lineup of role models, coinciding with International Women’s Day,” said Lisa Morgan, a senior executive at Mattel. “Girls have always been able to explore different roles and careers through Barbie, and we’re excited to highlight real-life role models to encourage them to reach for their dreams.”
A Personal Touch
What makes these dolls even more special is that Dr. Carter, now 99 years old, actively participated in designing her doll to closely resemble her. This personal touch adds an authentic layer of connection that we can’t help but admire.
Continuing the Legacy of Inspiring Women
This isn’t the first time Mattel has turned to inspiring women for Barbie’s character designs. While this series is new, previous lines have featured influential figures like Olympic gymnast Zara Collins and filmmaker Ava Rivera. In honor of International Women’s Day, Mattel is also introducing 11 additional “Shero” Barbies, each inspired by contemporary trailblazers.
These new dolls include Chinese ballet star Wei Ling, German entrepreneur and fashion designer Leyla Michalski, and Italian soccer champion Luisa Ferrara. They also feature journalist and editor-in-chief at the Travel Channel, Anna Kowalski, renowned Chinese actress and philanthropist Mei Wu, conservationist Bindi Irwin, and volleyball champion Hui Ruoqi. Other noteworthy additions are American gold medalist snowboarder Chloe Davis, “Wonder Woman” director Patty Jenkins, and boxing champion Nicole Adams Obe.
Availability of ‘Shero’ Dolls
While the “Shero” dolls aren’t typically mass-produced for retail, Mattel has made exceptions for particularly popular models, such as Zara Collins’ doll, which remains available in the online store. If more of these inspiring figures become available for purchase, we will be eagerly awaiting their arrival.
Additional Resources
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Conclusion
In summary, Barbie’s new “Inspiring Women” dolls are a celebration of diversity and empowerment, offering children role models who inspire them to dream big. With a commitment to representation and real-life stories, these dolls serve as both toys and educational tools that every kid should have in their collection.