To help mark Barbie’s own significant birthday, Mattel has created eight one-of-a-kind Barbies to honour eight remarkable women around the world. They include Viola Davis, Shania Twain, Kylie Minogue, Maira Gomez, Lila Avilés, Nicole Fujita, and Enissa Amani.
The famous doll turns 65 on March 9, and its creator Mattel says it was the right time to also acknowledge ‘eight global storytellers using their platform for good.’
Dame Helen Mirren, who narrated the Barbie film, has been chosen as a UK Barbie role model by the iconic toy’s maker Mattel. The 78-year-old star’s doll is dressed in a look is based on Helen’s iconic outfit from the 2023 Cannes red carpet, where she debuted blue hair while wearing a cornflower blue gown by Del Core, and jewellery by Bulgari. The doll is even holding a tiny replica Academy Award, just as the star herself took home for her 2007 Best Actress win for her performance in The Queen.
“I am absolutely blown away by my Barbie,” said Dame Helen. “To be chosen by Barbie as a Role Model is a huge compliment, and something I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams happening to me at this stage in my life.
Fellow singer Canadian Shania Twain, 58, shared her delight.
“All I’ve wanted to do my whole life is tell stories of empowerment, independence and self-expression through my songwriting, getting to do that and inspire women and girls along the way is the dream… everything else is a beautiful bonus! It means a lot to expand my responsibility as a role model into the Barbie world, thank you Barbie and Mattel for creating this reflection of me. I love her.”
- The global lineup as released by Mattel includes:
- Viola Davis (United States): Critically Revered Artist, Activist, Producer, Philanthropist, and Best-Selling Author – Viola Davis is an Oscar, Emmy, Tony, and Grammy winning actor. Her production company, JuVee Productions, focuses on giving a voice to the voiceless through impactful narratives defined by inclusion. Davis has partnered with multiple programs to eradicate childhood hunger in the United States.
- Shania Twain (Canada): Global Superstar, Celebrated Songwriter, and Style Icon – As one of music and fashion’s most renowned trailblazers breaking down barriers for women in country music, Shania Twain is the top-selling female country pop artist of all time.
- Dame Helen Mirren (United Kingdom): Acclaimed Actress and Advocate for Women’s Stories – Helen Mirren is one of the world’s best known and most respected actresses, along with being an advocate for embracing and celebrating self-expression, aging and fashion.
- Kylie Minogue (Australia): Artist – As a superstar artist, Kylie Minogue’s glittering career has kept her firmly rooted in the present whilst defining and celebrating much of our collective past.
- Maira Gomez (Brazil): Content Creator – Hailing from the indigenous community of the Tatuyo ethnic group in Amazonas, Maira Gomez aims to present the culture and traditions of her people to her nearly 7 million followers on social media.
- Lila Avilés (Mexico): Director, Producer, and Screenwriter – Lila Avilés is an award-winning film producer, having won more than thirty international festivals and whose movies have a strong reception from international critics.
- Nicole Fujita (Japan): Model – Nicole Fujita is a model and TV personality whose apparel brand will be opening its first retail store in March.
- Enissa Amani (Germany): Comedian – Enissa Amani is a stand-up comedian and political activist using her voice to create and produce viral shows addressing racism issues in Germany.
“For many years, we realized we had an opportunity not only to position Barbie as a role model, but to use the brand to create likeness dolls of real women to give girls exposure to real people breaking through glass ceilings and achieving amazing things,” says Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and chief brand officer for Mattel told People.
“This year we’re honoring an amazing group of women most notably known as storytellers, songwriters and actors because we believe that storytelling is such a critical way to inspire and communicate and help people appreciate the journeys that these amazing women have been through.”
