9 Influential Latinas with Their Very Own Barbie Doll
Mattel has created Barbies that represent different cultures and started campaigns that aim to inspire young girls all over the world to live their dreams
Photo: Mattel/Amazon
Mattel has created Barbies that represent different cultures and started campaigns that aim to inspire young girls all over the world to live their dreams. Over the past decade, Barbie has honored so many amazing women and highlighted Latin culture with their Dia de Los Muertos barbie. From athletes like Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez to entrepreneurs like Mariana Costa Checa, who created educational programs for Latinas in low-income communities, the following dolls are in honor of the amazing work these Latinas have done. Young girls everywhere are now able to have dolls to relate to and the stories behind the dolls should inspire them to dream big. Read on to learn about the 9 empowering Latinas that have their own Barbie dolls.wp_*posts
Laurie Hernandez
Laurie Hernandez is an Olympic gold medalist and is known for being part of the “Final Five” at the 2016 summer Olympics. She was honored as a Barbie, “Shero,” because of her inspiration to young girls and her ability to break boundaries. Her Puerto Rican heritage also inspired girls of color to imagine that they can be anything they want to be. In an interview with HuffPost, Hernandez said “I am so excited that kids are going to be able to grow up with people that I looked up to as well, and hopefully they can see me as an inspiration too.”
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Frida Kahlo
Iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo created an estimated 200 paintings, 55 of which were self-portraits which have become her signature and most famous pieces. Barbie recognized her as a female role model and added her to their “Inspiring Women” series, a fitting tribute to a Latina whose talents are recognized all around the world. Kahlo died in 1954 but her legacy lives on and “Fridamania” is showing no signs of stopping.
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Camila Cabello
Photo: Amazon.com
Camila Cabello is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter who was originally part of the pop group Fifth Harmony before going solo in 2016. In 2014, Barbie partnered with the girl group for the “Anything Is Possible” campaign. Fifth Harmony created a lyric music video that sent a positive message and empowered women around the world. Barbie created a doll in honor of each member of the group and showed everyone that Barbie is not just blonde hair and blue-eyed; she is dynamic and universal. While making the video, Cabello said that she was proud to be part of something that spread such a positive message.
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Shakira
Colombian singer Shakira is undoubtedly one of the most talented and famous Latina singers with international fame thanks to her crossover English albums. She has sold millions of records worldwide and her hit single “Whenever, Wherever” became one of the leading crossover songs of the decade. Shaki remains one of the best-selling female Latin artists of all time with 11 studio albums under her belt. In 2020 she shared the stage with Jennifer Lopez during their Super Bowl half-time performance showcasing major Latina power. In 2002, Mattel released the Shakira doll and we’ll tell you right now, those plastic hips don’t lie.
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Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez is a multi-hyphenate artist who has established herself as an actress, singer, dancer, and entrepreneur, and now young girls can aspire to achieve anything with help from the JLo Barbie. The 50-year-old megastar shows no signs of slowing down and due to her various talents Barbie has made not one, but two dolls of the superstar: “Red Carpet” and “World Tour.” In a press release for the dolls, Lopez said that “limitless possibilities are the very essence of Barbie“.
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Lauren Jauregui
Lauren Jauregui is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter who is part of the girl group Fifth Harmony. Although she is still a member of the group, she has recently released solo music that is full of Latin flavor. In 2014, the “Harmonizers” teamed up with Barbie and released a “With Barbie, Anything is Possible” lyric music video. When asked about how it felt to have her very own doll, Jauregui said “growing up, I considered Barbie my best friend so this is like a dream come true.”
wp_*postsAimee Carrero
Photo: Amazon.com
Aimee Carrero is a Dominican-born actress who plays the voice of Disney’s first princess Elena in the animated series Elena of Avalor. Princess Elena is portrayed as a confident and compassionate teenager and we’re so happy that a Latina is behind this history-making character. Carrero told NBC News that she never had a Disney princess to identify with but now she finally found the princess who looks like her.
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Mariana Costa Checa
Mariana Costa Checa is a Peruvian CEO and Co-Founder of Laboratoria, a company that gives young women in Latin America guidance and support for careers in technology. Checa was named one of the world’s most influential women by the BBC in 2016 and in 2019. In an interview, she said she was never really interested in Barbies and her mother never bought her one as a child. She decided to be a part of the project with Barbie because she wanted girls to have real-life references to truly give them a sense of empowerment.
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Maya Gabeira
Maya Gabeira is a Brazilian professional surfer who made the Guinness Book of World Records in 2020 for surfing a 73.5 ft. wave in Portugal, the biggest wave ever surfed by a woman. She was the winner of the ESPYS Best Female Action Sports Athlete Award but in 2013 she was in a serious surf accident. She did not give up on her dream and as soon as she recovered, she was back in the water. She is such an inspiration that Barbie included her in their Dream Gap Project, which shows girls that they can do anything they set their minds to.
