Mattel releases Misty Copeland Barbie doll

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Monday, May 2, 2016
Mattel releases Misty Copeland Barbie doll(Mattel, Inc.)
Mattel, Inc.

Misty Copeland, the first black female principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, now has her very own Barbie doll.



She appeared on Good Morning America on Monday to unveil the doll.





The fashions for the doll were inspired by her Firebird costume from her first ABT principal role, which she'll reprise on May 18 and 19 as part of ABT's annual spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. Copeland was intimately involved in the doll's design and partnered with Barbie on all the details, according to Mattel, Inc., the maker of Barbie.



"I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on," Copeland said in a press release. "It's an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll."



The doll is a part of the Barbie "Sheroes" program, which creates dolls in the likeness of women "who inspire girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere," according to Barbie manufacturer Mattel. Previous Sheroes include movie director Ava DuVernay, actresses Emmy Rossum and Zendaya, and singer Trisha Yearwood.



Lisa McKnight, general manager and senior vice president of Barbie, said in the release that Copeland was "at the center of a cultural conversation around how women continue to break boundaries," adding: "As a brand, we want to honor women, like Misty, who are inspiring the next generation of girls to live out their dreams. We know role play often leads to real 'play' in life and we're thrilled to celebrate Misty with her very own doll."



The Misty Copeland doll is now available for purchase online and will roll out to retailers nationwide, according to Mattel.

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