Let’s give it up for Barbie! The creator is adding to her line of diverse role models just in time for Our Heritage Month. Barbie is unveiling dolls in the likeness of the “Queen of Salsa,” Celia Cruz, and author and activist Julia Alvarez.
Celia Cruz is a legendary stage performer, actress, and recording artist. She is known as the “Latin Triple Threat.” Cruz has recorded over 50 albums in her more than five decades of entertaining. Her Barbie is wearing a red lace dress and a giant diamond necklace.
The Julia Alvarez doll is wearing a black dress with a butterfly-covered jacket. And like Cruz’s doll that is holding a microphone, Julia’s is holding a copy of her book “In the Time of Butterflies.” Alvarez has written several novels and has received the National Medal of Arts from former President Obama.
Barbie has long represented different cultures and honored holidays that are important to different cultures. In fact, Barbie honors Dia de Los Muertos. There are also Barbie dolls for Latin American countries including Chilean Barbie, Purvean Barbie, and the Mexican Barbie. Since launching in the late 1950s Barbie has come a long way from being the blonde-haired play toy. Over the past seven decades, she has added more than 35 skin tones and nine different body types.
The Celia Cruz and Julia Alvarez dolls are available now.