Showing posts with label Mattel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mattel. Show all posts

Monday, July 12, 2021

Barbie® Releases Naomi Osaka Role Models Doll

In 2019, she was a Barbie® Shero, honored with a doll in her likeness. Now, in 2021, we're thrilled to honor tennis player Naomi Osaka with a Barbie® Role Models Doll that's available for collectors and tennis fans around the world!

Osaka represents Japan as a professional tennis player. She became the first Japanese player in history to win a Grand Slam (one of the four major annual tennis tournaments) at the U.S. Open in 2018. The following year, she won another Grand Slam tournament (the Australian Open) and reached #1 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. She already won her fourth career Grand Slam title earlier in 2021, and she's using her platform to speak out about issues surrounding human rights and racial injustice. Naomi is a force, on and off the court!

To make the Naomi Osaka Doll a reality, Barbie® Signature turned to designer Carlyle Nuera. He's well-known for the research he puts into his subjects, and when asked for his thoughts about her, he says, "Obviously Naomi’s athletic skill is unmatched, that's a fact. But what I personally admire the most about Naomi Osaka is how she uses her platform, the spotlight on her and her voice, to raise awareness about social justice."

The Naomi Osaka Barbie® Doll wears a Nike tennis dress with brushstroke print, inspired by a look she sported at a major match in 2020. With a white Nike visor, light blue athletic shoes, and a replica of her Yonex tennis racket, she’s ready to hit the court.

The doll body Carlyle chose for the Naomi Osaka doll is the Made to Move™ original doll body, which features 22 total points of articulation, for endless posing possibilities. The included display stand will help you set up some great action shots for your social posts, too.

The Barbie® Role Models Naomi Osaka Barbie® Doll is part of our Black Label® series of dolls, available for $29.99 in the online shop. When she debuts, there will be a limit of two (2) dolls per person, so as many Naomi Osaka and Barbie® fans as possible can add her to their collections. (This limit is subject to change at a later date.)

This doll also represents the Roles Models who play a part in our ongoing Barbie Dream Gap Project. It's a global initiative designed to introduce girls to women’s stories from all walks of life, because imagining they can be anything is just the beginning. Actually seeing that they can makes all the difference!

With displayable packaging and so many true-to-life details, this collectible doll makes a great gift for tennis fans of any age. Get your Naomi Osaka Barbie® Doll in the shop today!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE THE NAOMI OSAKA ROLE MODELS DOLL

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Barbie introduces Rosa Parks doll

Barbie® recognizes all female role models. The Inspiring Women™ Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time; courageous women who took risks, changed rules and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before.

Rosa Louise Parks led an ordinary life as a seamstress until an extraordinary moment on December 1, 1955. When she refused an order to give up her seat to a white passenger and move to the back of the bus, Mrs. Parks’ act of defiance became the catalyst for the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Rosa Parks’ quiet strength played a notable role in the civil rights movement, but it would still take another nine years and more struggles before the 1964 Civil Rights Act overruled existing segregations laws. Hailed as “the Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement,” Rosa Parks earned worldwide recognition and numerous awards including the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal of Honor.

Celebrate Rosa Parks and her impact on the civil rights movement with this Inspiring Women™ Series Rosa Parks Barbie® doll. Includes doll stand, Certificate of Authenticity and doll wearing fashion and accessories. Colors and decorations may vary.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Olympic hero Ibtihaj Muhammad now has a Barbie doll

Mattel , which makes Barbie, announced Monday that the latest doll in its "Shero" collection will be modeled after Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad. In 2016, Muhammad became the first American to compete in the games while wearing a hijab.

"I'm proud to know that little girls everywhere can now play with a Barbie who chooses to wear hijab! This is a childhood dream come true," Muhammad said in a tweet. The news was announced at Glamour's Women of the Year summit. The doll will go on sale in 2018.

"Ibtihaj is an inspiration to countless girls who never saw themselves represented, and by honoring her story, we hope this doll reminds them that they can be and do anything," Sejal Shah Miller, Barbie's vice president of global marketing, said in a statement.

[SOURCE: CNN]

Friday, July 22, 2016

Barbie® Unveils One-of-a-Kind Doll Honoring Gabby Douglas


(Black PR Wire) EL SEGUNDO, Calif., - Barbie® honors Gabby Douglas, U.S. Women’s Artistic and Olympic Gold Gymnast (2012 London), by unveiling a one-of-a-kind doll in her likeness to remind girls they can be anything.

The 20-year-old athlete is a force to be reckoned with as she heads to Rio to defend her title. At just 16, Douglas was the first woman of color to win the individual all-around competition for gymnastics. Her confidence, work ethic and belief in herself make her an extraordinary role model to girls.

Named the next Barbie “Shero” honoree, a female hero inspiring girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere, Douglas joins an esteemed group of women including Misty Copeland, Ava DuVernay, Emmy Rossum, Eva Chen, Trisha Yearwood and Zendaya, all who have also received the highest honor from the Barbie brand – being immortalized in plastic.

“I love a challenge. I love to push limits and I love that my very own Barbie celebrates me for being a role model to girls,” said Douglas. “Being honored as a Barbie Shero further motivates me to inspire girls by being the best I can be.”

The fashions for the doll were inspired by Douglas’ own signature GK leotard line that she wears while training hard in the gym. Dressed in a red, white and blue Gabby GK Elite leotard, the doll comes complete with a Nike warm-up suit. The doll is fully articulated, allowing her to do almost all of the moves Gabby performs.

“Playing with Barbie allows girls to imagine everything they can become," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "While imagining you can be anything is the first step, seeing that you can is what makes all the difference. Role models like Gabby Douglas show girls that with determination and perseverance their potential is limitless.”

Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Barbie® Launches Misty Copeland Doll



EL SEGUNDO, Calif.May 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Barbie® is honoring Misty Copeland by unveiling a doll in her likeness to continue to show girls they can be anything.  Copeland, the first African-American female principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre (ABT), has been a role model to girls throughout her career. 
The doll is part of the Barbie Sheroes program, honoring female heroes who inspire girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere. Copeland joins an esteemed group of diverse Barbie Sheroes, including Ava DuVernay,Emmy RossumEva ChenKristin Chenoweth, Sydney "Mayhem" Keiser, Trisha Yearwood and Zendaya.
The fashions for the doll were inspired by Copeland's Firebird costume from her first American Ballet Theatre principal role, which she is performing again on May 18 (matinee) and 19 as part of ABT's annual spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. Copeland was intimately involved in the doll's design and partnered with the Barbie design team on all the details. 
"I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on," said Copeland. "It's an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll."
Copeland shows girls how to break boundaries both on and off the stage. She began dancing on a Boys & Girls Club basketball court and continues to be very active in local Clubs in various cities. She also works with Project PliĆ©, ABT's comprehensive initiative to increase racial and ethnic representation in ballet and diversify America's ballet companies.  
"Misty Copeland is at the center of a cultural conversation around how women continue to break boundaries," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "As a brand, we want to honor women, like Misty, who are inspiring the next generation of girls to live out their dreams. We know role play often leads to real "play" in life and we're thrilled to celebrate Misty with her very own doll."
This initiative furthers the Barbie "You Can Be Anything" campaign message echoing that when a girl plays with Barbie, she imagines anything she can become. Earlier this year, Barbie expanded their Fashionistas® line by introducing even more diversity with three new body types – tall, curvy and petite – seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles and countless on-trend fashions and accessories.
For more information and images, please visit www.barbiemedia.com. The doll is available today for $29.95on www.thebarbiecollection.com and rolling out to retailers nationwide.  
About Mattel
The Mattel family of companies is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, Fisher-Price® brands and MEGA® Brands, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2015, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ approximately 31,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. Visit us at www.mattel.comwww.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.
© Misty Copeland Enterprises, Inc. 2016

Monday, December 07, 2015

Ava DuVernay Barbie Doll Sells Out

The Ava DuVernay Barbie doll has sold out on Mattel's website minutes after it first went on sale.

The Selma director's doll was met with particular excitement, with her twitter followers clamoring for Mattel to make the doll — which comes with a director's chair with her name on it — available to the public.

Mattel heard them, and DuVernay announced the sale of the Ava Barbie Sunday, tweeting, "Tomorrow this Ava Barbie goes on sale for Christmas because enough folks asked Mattel to do so." She added in another Tweet that all proceeds will be donated to Witness and Color of Change charities.

Mattel confirmed in a Dec. 6 Tweet that the dolls would be available for purchase Dec. 7 and that they would be providing further information about where to purchase them. At 10 a.m. PT, Mattel announced Monday, the dolls will go on sale at TheBarbieCollection.com

But they didn't last long, with DuVernay tweeting at 10:26 a.m. PT: "Sold out on Barbie collection, I'm told. More available at Amazon. What the hell is going on? #bananas #nuts #whoa"

Ava Barbie was indeed (briefly) available at Amazon — for pre-order. Selling for $65, the online retailer announced the doll would be released Jan. 1.

But even pre-order availability was short-lived, with Amazon selling out almost as quickly as Mattel had.

[SOURCE]