Barbie dolls are one of the most popular toys for kids, particularly girls. Established in 1959, the Barbie collection has since evolved into a more inclusive and diverse collection.
From physically diverse dolls to those with different skin color and ethnicity as well as profession, kids now have the opportunity to choose the dolls they can best identify themselves with.
For instance, the wheelchair Barbie, which is a huge confidence booster, best fits kids with disabilities.
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Every now and then also, the company releases commemorative dolls to honor prominent people who have made history or are making a mark in their respective careers or championing a cause.
It is with this initiative that some of our favorite black celebrities have been honored with their own dolls.
Check out these five below:
Adwoa Aboah — Photo via @adwoaaboah on Instagram
Adwoa Aboah
The British-Ghanaian model is part of Barbie’s “Shero” collection that was released to mark their 60th anniversary and International Women’s Day this year.
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According to Vogue, one of the reasons behind Aboah’s selection is her Gurls Talk online community which she founded in 2015. The community talks about issues pertaining to mental health, education, and relationships.
“I’m passionate about encouraging girls to be anything they want to be, and I’m honored to be a Barbie Shero,” she said.
Rosa Parks
The iconic civil rights activist was honored with a doll to commemorate Women’s Equality Day this year. Known as the “first lady of civil rights”, Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white passenger in Alabama in 1955.
Her subsequent arrest sparked the Montgomery bus boycott and eventually paved the way for the Supreme Court to declare the bus segregation laws in Montgomery and Alabama to be unconstitutional.
Lerato “Lira” Molapo — Photo via @miss_lira on Instagram
Lerato “Lira” Molapo
The South African singer made history when she became the first African woman to be honored with a Barbie doll. She is also part of the “Shero”’ collection.
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“I’m deeply honored to be Barbie’s first African role model and am excited to align with brand that is on a mission to show girls more diverse role models,” she shared on her Instagram about the honor. “I have always been someone who endeavors the celebration of my skin tone and natural hair, and it is amazing to see this reflected in my doll which I hope will inspire girls across the African continent.”
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka
The tennis star is also part of the commemorative “Shero” collection. Born to a Haitian father and Japanese mother, Osaka made history last year when she became the first Japanese player to win a Grand Slam singles tournament after defeating Serena Williams in the US Open finals.
She is also the first Asian to hold the number one spot in rankings.
Yara Shahidi — Photo via @yarashahidi on Instagram
Yara Shahidi
The Grown-ish actress, who revealed she was left in awe when she got to know she was going to be honored with her own Barbie doll, is also part of the “Shero” collection.
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“It’s really surreal just because this was never within my realm of possibility. I never thought, ‘Oh yeah, one day I’ll have my own doll’ or anything like that,” she told Mashable.
