Barbie to release Katherine Johnson ‘Hidden Figures’ doll for International Women’s Day

A new collection of Barbie dolls celebrating diversity is set to roll out

Mar 6, 2018

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In celebration of International Women’s Day March 8, a diverse series of Barbie dolls will roll out.

The Barbies will be an eclectic group of dolls from various backgrounds and ethnicities; including a doll of the famous painter Frida Kahlo and one of actress and philanthropist Xiaotong Guan, Mashable reports.

“As a brand that inspires the limitless potential in girls, Barbie will be honoring its largest lineup of role models timed to International Women’s Day because we know that you can’t be what you can’t see,” Lisa McKnight, Barbie’s senior vice president and general manager, said in a press release.

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“Girls have always been able to play out different roles and careers with Barbie, and we are thrilled to shine a light on real-life role models to remind them that they can be anything,” McKnight said.

According to CNN, Barbie will also honor Katherine Johnson, the pioneering mathematician portrayed in the movie Hidden Figures. Johnson was among a group of dedicated women hired by NASA to work as human “computers” for the first US-manned flight into space.

Although the “Inspiring Women” series only has three dolls so far, it will grow with the release of new dolls, said Marissa Beck, spokeswoman for Mattel.

Right now the three dolls in the historical Inspiring Women line are currently available for pre-order, and will be available for purchase in the coming months. The 14 modern-day role model dolls are not currently available for sale just yet.

Princess Shuri doll

Creating dolls focused on helping little girls, especially girls of color, see themselves in a positive light is what inspired a mom and daughter duo to create a Princess Shuri doll, from the Black Panther made from a Princess Tiana doll.

Princess Shuri, played by the breakout star Letitia Wright, has received plenty of praise for being a role model for young Black girls to look up to on the big screen.

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So My Froggy Stuff, a mother/daughter duo who work together to create their own custom dolls, have given fans an early Christmas present. In a new DIY video on their YouTube channel, the two designers create a Shuri doll complete with beautiful braids, face paint, and a gorgeous outfit.

See the video below: