In honor of Black History Month, Mattel released a powerful new line of Barbie dolls, meant to inspire girls of color to be and love themselves as they are. The dolls come in varying shades, shapes, heights, and hair textures, making the Barbie universe better represent the women of African descent in this world. The Barbie company collaborated with costume designer Shiona Turini, who is well known for her work on productions like HBO’s Insecure and Queen & Slim.
“I grew up obsessed with Barbie, and while she was one of my first fashion icons, I clearly remember searching shelves for a doll that looked like me and coming up empty handed. The first black Barbie was introduced in 1980 – in a sparkly red dress with an Afro pick in her hair… I hope other young children, and adult Barbie lovers, are as excited to see themselves reflected in these dolls as I am. Thank you @barbiestyle – for collaborating with me to create barbies with braids, finger waves and everything in between. Chicks by the layers, all different flavors. And even a curvy doll, in a crop top, with waist length twists. Baby Shiona is PROUD. Representation matters and I’m so grateful to be a part of this moment.
– Shiona Turini
Barbie has been producing black dolls since the 1960s, but this is the largest collection they’ve ever released. I think they’re just magnificent!
You can follow Barbie on the Mattel website and on Instagram, and you can learn more about Shiona Turini on her website and on Instagram.
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My OBT 
February 1, 2021 at 9:33 am
I’m really surprised I’m not a Barbe hoarder, given that as a child I wasn’t allowed to have them as my parents thought they were sexist and, I suspect, too sexual. As such, I was full on *obsessed* with them. If I went to a friend’s to play, “do you have Barbies” was the first thing out of my mouth. It’s lovely to see the Barbie ‘verse getting more and more diverse and representative.
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February 2, 2021 at 11:27 pm
Barbie hoarder is a show I’d watch! I’m always glad to see toys expand their representation. Mattel is pretty good at it, these days.
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February 1, 2021 at 9:39 am
I never had a Barbie (or Cindy) doll but then I wasn’t much into dolls.
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February 2, 2021 at 11:28 pm
I had Barbies, but I didn’t play with them. I designed and made clothes for them.
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February 3, 2021 at 6:20 am
Why am I not surprised Donna?
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February 4, 2021 at 10:59 pm
LOL.
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February 1, 2021 at 10:33 am
My daughter had long grown out of playing with Barbie’s so I guess that is why I don’t remember any of the dolls from the 2000’s.
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February 2, 2021 at 11:29 pm
Makes sense. I actually know a few grown (straight) men who are collectors, so I had heard of them.
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February 1, 2021 at 11:06 am
Never had a Barbie. The only dolls I wanted to play in my teen years were alive. Hal
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February 2, 2021 at 11:29 pm
Oh, Hal. You’re incorrigible!
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