Barbie is celebrating her 59th birthday in a legendary Shero way

Barbie's Newest Dolls Showcase Inspiring Historical Women

Barbie dolls have long inspired young girls with their beauty and fashion sense. Now they're inspiring them with their brains and bravado, too.

On Tuesday, just ahead of International Women's Day, Barbie introduced a batch of new dolls based on real-life figures.

The new dolls came after Mattel, maker of Barbie, conducted a survey of 8,000 mothers around the globe and found that 86% are worried about the kind of role models their daughters are exposed to.

"Girls have always been able to play out different roles and careers with Barbie and we are thrilled to shine a light on real life role models to remind them that they can be anything," wrote Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and general manager of Barbie, in a news release.

This week Mattel introduced dolls in two separate series of Barbies: "Inspiring Women," based on historical figures, and new additions to its "Shero" line of dolls named for inspirational contemporary women.

Both lines reflect the Barbie brand's highest honor: a one-of-a-kind doll made in a real woman's likeness.

The "Inspiring Women" dolls come with educational information about the contributions each woman made to society.

One is Amelia Earhart, the first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic Ocean. Frida Kahlo, the renowned Mexican artist, and activist, will be another.

Barbie will also honor Katherine Johnson, a pioneer in mathematics who broke barriers of race and gender. One of the characters in the hit movie "Hidden Figures," Johnson was among a pool of women hired by NASA to work as human "computers" for the first US-manned flight into space.

Although the "Inspiring Women" series only has three dolls so far, it will grow with the release of new dolls, said Marissa Beck, spokeswoman for Mattel.

"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," 

Barbie is committed to shining a light on empowering role models past and present in an effort to inspire more girls.

Sheroes

Barbie's "Shero" program began in 2015 to highlight real women who have broken boundaries in their field.

This week, Barbie released 14 new Shero dolls, including ones based on "Wonder Woman" director Patty Jenkins and US snowboarder Chloe Kim, who just won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang. Other Shero dolls honor fashion designers, journalists, actresses and entrepreneurs.

These Sheroes include honorees from the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, Turkey, France, China, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Italy and Spain, Beck said.

The dolls will start to roll out to stores nationwide soon but are currently for pre-sale now on the Barbie website.

BINDI IRWIN

Conservationist, Australia

2018 Barbie Shero

Eighteen-year-old Bindi Irwin is an international award-winning wildlife conservationist and celebrity who inherited her father's passion for wildlife and wild places. Born to Wildlife Warriors Steve and Terri Irwin, Bindi was literally born on television. By the age of nine, Bindi had appeared on numerous American talk shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Oprah, and Larry King Live.

Bindi has launched a clothing line, co-created a series of books, and has acted in television shows and movies. She has received many prestigious awards for her acting and conservation efforts, including an Emmy, Logie, Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Award for Biggest Greenie, and the Australian Geographic Society's Young Conservationist of the Year.

Bindi has dedicated her life to wildlife conservation and inspiring the next generation to make a difference in the world. She is a strong believer in empowering kids and looks forward to spreading this message through her international filming work.

MISTY COPELAND

Principal Ballerina, USA

2016 Barbie Shero

Misty Copeland is an acclaimed American ballet dancer and the first African-American to be appointed to principal dancer. She was considered a prodigy who rose to stardom despite not starting ballet until the age of 13. She was dancing en pointe three months after taking her first dance class and performing professionally in just over a year, a feat unheard of for any classical dancer.

Misty's passion is giving back. She has worked with many charitable organizations and is dedicated to giving of her time to mentor young girls and boys. In 2014, President Obama appointed Misty to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. She has written two autobiographical books and in 2015, was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the world.

IBTIHAJ MUHAMMAD

Fencing Champion, USA

2017 Barbie Shero

Ibtihaj Muhammad was born on December 4, 1985, in Maplewood, New Jersey. She is an American sabre fencer and a member of the United States fencing team.

She discovered fencing when she was 13 years old and has gone on to earn numerous medals and accolades for her achievements in the sport. She won a bronze medal in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games, becoming the first female Muslim-American athlete to earn a medal. And was the first Muslim-American woman to wear a hijab while competing.

As of 2016, Ibtihaj ranks No. 2 in the United States and No. 8 in the world. In 2014, Ibtihaj launched a clothing company to bring modest fashionable clothing to the U.S. market. She is also a sports ambassador, serving on the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls T

MARTYNA WOJCIECHOWSKA

Journalist, Poland

2018 Barbie Shero

Martyna Wojciechowska is a journalist, explorer, traveler, writer, producer, movie director, and fighter for women’s empowerment around the world. From an early age, she dared to dream about things “not meant for girls” and pursued those dreams against all odds. She started auto racing when she was 17 and became the first woman in Central-Eastern Europe to complete the toughest rally in the world. She also fell in love with mountain climbing and decided to conquer the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on all continents. Since her earliest days, she has been proving that “impossible doesn’t exist,” which has become her personal motto.

Martyna, who currently works as editor-in-chief for the Travel Channel, is on a continuous mission to travel to the most remote parts of the world and inspire women to change their lives and to find their inner strength. She is the author of 14 bestselling travel and adventure books, which have yielded multiple awards. The protagonists of her programs, movies, and books show that no matter their birthplace, culture, or religion, it is always worth consistently pursuing their dreams to be role models for others.

PATTY JENKINS

Filmmaker, USA

2018 Barbie Shero

Patty Jenkins is a writer and director best known for directing the Warner Bros. film, Wonder Woman, her debut Oscar-winning feature, Monster, and helming the pilot and finale episode of AMC’s The Killing. She began her career in painting after studying at Cooper Union. While there, she crossed over to filmmaking and went on to work as a camera person on commercials and music videos for nine years before attending the AFI in Los Angeles.

After graduating, she wrote and directed Monster, for which Patty garnered numerous awards and nominations. She received multiple Emmy nominations and won the DGA award for best dramatic directing for her work in television. In 2017, Patty's Wonder Woman was the highest grossing film of the summer, third highest of the year, broke the record for Biggest Grossing Live-Action Film Directed by a Woman - domestic and worldwide. The film simultaneously smashed box office records and received critical acclaim and is currently ranked at the highest rated superhero movie of all time on Rotten Tomatoes. Coming off the success of the first installment, she signed on to direct the Wonder Woman sequel. Additionally, she recently wrapped production on her TNT, six-episode, limited drama, One Day She’ll Darken, for which she directs and serves as executive producer.

XIAOTONG GUAN

Actress and Philanthropist, China

2018 Barbie Shero

Xiaotong Guan is a Chinese actress. She is known for her roles in the films Nuan, The Promise, and The Left Ear as well as the television series, To Be a Better Man. Known in China as the “Nation’s Daughter,” Guan is regarded as one of the “Four Dan actresses of the post-‘90s Generation.” She was born into a family of actors in Beijing. From an early age, her family encouraged a passion for the arts, and she first starred in Nuan at the age of four.

In 2016, Guan was admitted into the Beijing Film Academy after placing first in both the practical and written sections of the Chinese College Entrance Examinations. In 2017, she became the ambassador for "World Life Day," a joint campaign by the United Nations Environment Programme, International Fund for Animal Welfare, and The Nature Conservancy.

YUAN YUAN TAN

Prima Ballerina, China

2018 Barbie Shero

Yuan Yuan Tan is a Chinese ballet dancer. She is the prima ballerina of the San Francisco Ballet where she holds the rank of principal dancer. She also holds the title of guest principal dancer at the Hong Kong Ballet.

Tan’s father wanted her to pursue a medical or law degree. Her mother, who once had ambitions of becoming a dancer herself, was supportive of her desire to enroll in ballet school instead. The parents’ impasse was resolved by flipping a coin. Tan’s mother won the toss.

At the age of 10, she was scouted by the Shanghai Ballet School and invited to join their training program. She was one of 24 candidates chosen from thousands of potentials in her age group from across China. As one of the most accomplished and critically acclaimed dancers of her generation, Tan is widely regarded as "the greatest Chinese ballerina of all time" and was called a "national treasure" by China Daily. In 2004, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine as a "Hero of Asia."

NICOLA ADAMS OBE

Boxing Champion, U.K.

2018 Barbie Shero

Nicola Adams OBE was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire on October 26, 1982. She is Great Britain's most successful female boxer of all time and the first female ever to win a gold medal in boxing. The two-time gold medalist is the only female boxer in the history of the sport to have held all four amateur titles.

She fought and won her first bout at the age of 13, the same year the ban on women’s boxing was lifted in the UK. In 2003, she became the English amateur champion for the first time, and she retained the title at the next three championships. Nicola struggled to continue her boxing career due to lack of funds. She worked as an acting extra on soap operas and was a builder before women’s boxing received funding in 2009.

ASHLEY GRAHAM

Model and Body Activist, U.S.

2016 Barbie Shero

Ashley Graham is an American model who has become one of the most popular faces in the modeling industry. She is hailed for breaking stereotypes for being a curvy model (the term Ashley prefers over "plus-sized").

Known for her accessibility and body confidence, Ashley has been described as an ambassador of the "real beauty" movement, which celebrates what real women's bodies look like rather than the impossible standards set by the fashion industry. With her increasing popularity, she has graced the covers of the world's largest fashion magazines and has walked the runway for major fashion brands and designers.

HUI RUOQI

Volleyball Champion, China

2018 Barbie Shero

Hui Ruoqi is a female Chinese volleyball player. She is the fifteenth captain of the Chinese women’s national volleyball team and won gold at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro games. Ruoqi has also won several world medals including a silver medal at the World Cup and a silver medal at the World Championships, in addition to several individual awards during her career.

In April 2017, she established the Hui Ruoqi Women's Volleyball Development Fund, which helps the outstanding athletes and coaches who have made great contributions to the development of volleyball.

Ruoqi is popularizing volleyball sports in her own way and continues to chase the "faster, higher, stronger" spirit in other arenas. She formed a huge volunteer support team to visit the remote mountainous areas of Qinghai to assist with educational activities. In the future, she wants to continue using sports to solve social problems.

HÉLÈNE DARROZE

World-Renowned Chef, France

2018 Barbie Shero

Hélène Darroze is an inspirational fourth-generation French chef with two Michelin stars and three restaurants. After graduating from university, she joined Alain Ducasse's team at the prestigious Le Louis XV restaurant in Monaco. In 1995, she received the keys to her father’s kitchen and spent the next four years refining her culinary style. At 32, she opened her first restaurant in Paris which was awarded one Michelin star. She then caught the attention of one of London’s landmark hotels, leading to the opening of Hélène Darroze at the Connaught in 2008, which was awarded two Michelin stars.

When creating new dishes, Hélène finds inspiration in everything from her overseas travels to her daughters. The smallest detail in a dish represents who she is and evokes a feeling, memory, fragrance or journey. Each day brings the desire to create something new and constantly evolve. Along with winning other prestigious awards, she has also been a judge on the French version of the popular TV show, Top Chef, since 2015 (Seasons 6-9).

CHLOE KIM

Snowboarding 

Champion, USA

2018 Barbie Shero

Chloe Kim is a first generation Asian-American snowboarding champion and the new face of the sport. At 17 years old, she became the youngest woman to win a gold medal in snowboarding at the 2018 PyeongChang games.

Along with her halfpipe win, Chloe is also a four-time X Games gold medalist and the first woman to win two gold medals in snowboarding at the youth winter games. In 2016, she became the first female to land back-to-back 1080s and score a perfect 100 at the U.S. Grand Prix.

As a southern California native, Chloe began snowboarding at age 4 at Mountain High, a local mountain just an hour away from her home. By age 10, she was training regularly at Mammoth Mountain and well on her way to conquering the sport. Chloe is constantly pushing the sport of snowboarding to new levels, showing girls everywhere the impressive hey can reach.  

FRIDA KAHLO

Fine Artist, Mexico

Barbie Inspiring Women Series

Artist, activist, and feminist icon, Frida Kahlo continues to be a symbol of strength, originality, and unwavering passion. Overcoming a number of obstacles to follow her dream of becoming a fine artist, Frida persevered and gained recognition for her unique style and perspective. With her vibrant palette and mix of realism and fantasy, she addressed important topics like identity, class, and race, making her voice-and the voices of girls and women alike-heard. Her extraordinary life and art continue to influence and inspire others to follow their dreams and paint their own realities.