Laverne Cox just hit a major milestone: becoming a Barbie doll. Mattel, which has previously released dolls based on other inspiring women—there’s an Ashley Graham Barbie, a Zendaya Barbie, etc—included Cox in its Tribute Collection, marking the first time a Barbie doll has been based on a transgender woman.
“It’s been a dream for years to work with Barbie to create my own doll,” Cox said in a statement. “I can’t wait for fans to find my doll on shelves and have the opportunity to add a Barbie doll modeled after a transgender person to their collection. I hope that people can look at this Barbie and dream big like I have in my career. The space of dreaming and manifesting is such a powerful source and leads you to achieve more than what you originally thought was possible.”
The design of the doll is credited to Carlyle Nuera and features Cox in a red gown over a sparkly catsuit. The doll is currently available for $40.
“What excites me most about her being out in the world is that trans young people can see her and maybe get to purchase her and play with her, and know that there’s a Barbie made by Mattel, for the first time, in the likeness of a trans person,” Cox told People. Referencing the recent spate of legislative and cultural attacks on trans and LGBTQ+ kids, Cox added, “In this environment where trans kids are being attacked…this can also be a celebration of transness, and also a space for them to dream, understand, and be reminded that trans is beautiful.”
The Orange Is the New Black star explained that she was involved creatively with the design and execution of the doll. “I was like, ’Can we make her look more like me? And more African American?’” she said of the feedback she gave the team, adding, “And we had a conversation about highlights and lowlights because I’m blonde most of the time now, but I’m a Black girl, so I need a dark root. And we had a whole conversation about how they can’t do that, but they could do dark low lights.”
“We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate award-winning actress, producer, writer, and LGBTQ+ rights trailblazer Laverne Cox with a doll,” Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie and dolls at Mattel, said in a statement. “We are proud to highlight the importance of inclusion and acceptance at every age and to recognize Laverne’s significant impact on culture with a Tribute Collection Barbie.”
In 2018 a fan launched a petition to get Mattel to make a Laverne Cox Barbie. “Ah that’s sweet. I would love to be a Barbie doll,” Cox tweeted at the time. Four years later, that dream has been fulfilled.
In an interview with Today, Cox shared the touching story of how Barbie, specifically, became a vital part of her journey to self-acceptance. “I was telling my therapist how I was really shamed by my mother when I was a kid when I wanted to play with a Barbie doll but I was denied. And I had a lot of shame and trauma about that,” she said. “And my therapist said to me, ‘It is never too late to have a happy childhood.’ She said, ‘Go out and buy yourself a Barbie and play with her. There’s a little kid that lives inside of you. Give her space to play.’ And I did.”
Cox said she relayed her therapist’s message to her mother and received a special gift that Christmas. “My mother bought me a Barbie doll. And on my birthday, my mother bought me another Barbie doll,” she said. “For the next several years, she would always give me Barbies.”
I will never buy a toy make by Mattel, and will not allow any of my children or grandchildren to have a Mattel toy in my house or their possession. Len Tippett
Why are they pricing the trans-Barbie at $40? Is it to reflect that being a transgendered person means it is going to cost you a lot of money to have the reassignment surgery, so get used to spending a lot now? If a child is trans and identifies as such at the start of their life, why would Mattel charge so much for a Barbie? I find the price to be exorbitant and unfair.
That should be a really big seller
People who cater to and buy this doll needs to have their heads examined.
May they repent or the soul of every child who was swayed be accountable on the Millstone that needs to be put around their necks for stumbling these little ones and thrown into the sea. May they all be dealt with and may lightening come down and before it strikes them, give them a chance to repent. If not: STRIKE AWAY and pay for the stumbling and corrupting of these children
I would like to have a list of all stories that dare to place these EVIL, DEMONIC dolls on their shelves for sale because I will boycote any store that sell them, whether they place in their store or sell on line.
At first I thought this was another Babylon Bee article. But once again truth proves stranger and more perverse than fiction.
So, is this a Barbie with a penis?
For it to be a true transgender Barbie, shouldn’t it be a Ken doll dressed as Barbie? With long hair and boob implants and wearing a dress? Then cut Barbie’s hair, give her a beard and dress her like a dude? Most transgenders don’t look like Barbie dolls, no matter how much they wish they did.