Ballerina Phenom Misty Copeland Gets Her Own Barbie Doll
Ballet superstar Misty Copeland joins a prestigious group of women, including Marilyn Monroe and Barbra Streisand, to have their very own Barbie dolls, stepping into the footsteps of remarkable females.
Coping garnered widespread recognition as the first African American solo dancer for the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) last summer. Her stellar performances have attracted throngs to ABT shows throughout her career.
"Misty Copeland serves as the focus of the cultural dialogue surrounding how women continue to break barriers," Lisa McKnight, Senior Vice President of Barbie, commented. "We know that cosplay often fuels the 'play' of real life, and we're thrilled to celebrate Misty with her very own doll."
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According to a company statement, Copeland was involved in the doll's design and collaborated closely with the Barbie design team on details.
The Misty Barbies don vibrant red outfits inspired by the costume Copeland wore in her first major ABT role, "'Firebird.'"
Speaking of her new doll, Copeland shared, "I feel honored to have my very own Barbie doll. I've always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina, and thanks to Barbie, I was able to fulfill that dream early on."
Copeland began her career with the ABT in April 2001, and she was promoted to soloist in August 2007. Currently, she plays the role of Juliet in ABT's "Romeo and Juliet."
The new doll will hit shelves on Monday and is available online for $29.95.
Enrichment Insights:
- Misty Copeland's career in ballet has significantly impacted the toy industry with the release of her Barbie doll, particularly in terms of representation and diversity.
- The doll has broken the mold of traditional Barbie representations, showcasing a professional ballet dancer, specifically an African American one.
- Mattel's release of Misty Copeland's Barbie doll is part of a broader effort to increase diversity and inclusion in their product line, reflecting the diversity of the world and providing more role models for children from different backgrounds.
- The doll has generated significant media attention, public interest, and sales.
- Copeland's Barbie doll has become a cultural icon, symbolizing the achievements and aspirations of young girls from diverse backgrounds, inspiring countless young girls to pursue ballet and other male-dominated fields.
