‘Barbie’ World Premiere: Margot Robbie and America Ferrera Fangirl Over Nicki Minaj and More Perfectly Pink Moments

Angelique Jackson
·8 min read
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The pink carpet at the “Barbie” premiere in Los Angeles on Sunday night was riddled with self-proclaimed Barbie Girls, but there was only one run-in that could be described as “When Barbie Met Barbie.”

Just minutes before the Greta Gerwig-directed movie debuted before a packed house in the Shrine Auditorium, “Barbie” lead Margot Robbie met the OG Barbie, rapper Nicki Minaj.

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It’s the latest in a line of meta moments in and around the WB film, with Robbie posing — in a custom Schiaparelli gown that paid homage to 1960’s “Solo in the Spotlight Barbie” — alongside Minaj, who has proclaimed herself a Barbie since the early days of her career. Minaj’s latest track “Barbie World” — a collab with Ice Spice that remixes Aqua’s 1997 hit “Barbie Girl” — serves as the film’s end title song.

And much to the delight of fans gathered outside the Shrine Auditorium, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Barbie magic, the two superstars made their dreams come true, with the pretty pair serving blond beauty for photographers. At one point in the photo shoot, Robbie bent down to ensure Minaj’s ultra-long locks laid perfectly.

“Oh, my God, that was iconic. I’m dying,” Robbie, who also produced the film, told Variety as she practically floated back to the line of reporters waiting to interview her. “I’m gonna have to take a minute later to be like, ‘Wow, I actually just got a picture with Nicki Minaj.’”

On Monday afternoon, Minaj sent some love right back, tweeting that Robbie is “strikingly gorgeous in person.”

She also shared her preliminary review of the film, which hits theaters on the July 21. “Btw, the entire cast of this movie nailed it. The film is so visually stimulating. The actors can actually act, & the comedic timing is actually on time. Bravo,” the musician wrote. She promised to see the movie again to give her final analysis and signed off with, “Will Ferrell, I💖U.”

Minaj was the last star to hit the pink carpet, arriving in the middle of Variety’s interview with America Ferrera, who plays Gloria, one of the film’s few human characters. The Emmy winner was just beginning to explain which Barbie inspired her powder pink St. John two-piece ensemble when the crowd erupted in screams for someone just out of Ferrera’s sightline.

“It’s Nicki Minaj,” her publicist confirmed. Ferrera’s inner fangirl was unleashed, as she squealed with excitement. Laughing as she came back to reality, Ferrera said, “I can’t believe I just did that on camera. That was so embarrassing.” (The internet’s embrace of the meme-able clip proves that there was nothing to be embarrassed about — she’s just one of the Barbz!)

So, why does Ferrera love Minaj so much?

“Her track on this album is unbelievable,” Ferrera explained. “Like, how could you take a track [Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’] that already was so ingrained in people’s mind as one thing, and just make it the most amazing thing that we need for this movie, for this moment?”

She continued, “Also, she’s just a badass. I bow and am grateful for and say nightly prayers to every woman who is out there being who they are unapologetically. It gives the rest of us courage. And I feel like she’s one of them and like, you gotta love Nicki.”

While Robbie and Ferrera freaked out over meeting another real-life Barbie, Issa Rae — who stunned in a hot pink velvet Marc Bouwer gown that gave a hint of the “soft girl summer” she declared in her Ebony cover shoot — gave a shout out to the original Black Barbie doll, Christie, who debuted in 1968.

“Christie walked so President Barbie could run for president,” Rae shared. “My mom and my aunt, I think about them and how important it was for them for me to play with with Black Barbie, so to actually be able to play one and represent one just means the world to me and I’m sure means the world to them.”

Keeping up with the Barbiecore fashion trend, Ryan Gosling channeled his “Ken-ergy” into a salmon Gucci suit and shirt unbuttoned to reveal a 3D-pendant of an “E” written in Barbie’s signature font to honor of his doll, Eva Mendes.

Following suit, Michael Cera sported a pink look that matched Gosling’s, seemingly alluding to his doll Allan’s shared history with Ken. The character was introduced in 1964 as Ken’s “buddy” and the doll’s box noted that “All of Ken’s clothes fit him.” (Allan was discontinued.)

Also suited in pink were Kate McKinnon and Scott Evans, as well as Billie Eilish and Finneas, who contributed the emotional tune “What Was I Made For?” to the soundtrack and both rocked looks inspired by Ken. Simu Liu was outfitted in a light blue suit courtesy of “Mermaid Barbie” and “Dance the Night” songstress Dua Lipa’s Versace collection, and rounding out the cast of glamorous Barbies and Kens were Hari Nef, Alexandra Shipp and Kingsley Ben-Adir, as well as Ariana Greenblatt.

The film’s director Gerwig looked every inch a Barbie herself in hot pink Valentino — her first time wearing the doll’s signature color on the press tour — and geeked out over the fact that she’d been made into her own doll in honor of the film.

“When I got the Barbie Mattel made for me, I was very overwhelmed. It was a very beautiful moment and they made me look very nice,” she shared.

The whole experience of bringing “Barbie” to the big screen has been a childhood dream come true for Gerwig, who played with the dolls growing up. And the Los Angeles premiere — which marked the first time the world would see the full scope of Gerwig and Robbie’s take on the iconic IP — was like taking Barbie out of the plastic.

“It’s really incredible and I’m really just trying to take it in and not miss it. So much as led up to this moment, so it’s very emotional,” Gerwig said.

Gerwig also shared her main takeaway from this process: “How much people wanted to go for the sparkle and go for the bigness. When we were making the movie, all the men on the crew loved wearing pink on Wednesdays; they got so into it and I was like everybody wants to be joyful and have a joyful, exuberant, like unashamed dance party.”

Later, while introducing the film before a packed auditorium, Gerwig explained why she’s been promoting the film without one very special member of that crew – her partner and “Barbie” co-writer, filmmaker Noah Baumbach, who she confirmed is a “Barbie girl.”

“He is passionately supporting the fight of the Writers Guild of America,” Gerwig said, explaining that she’s on the circuit fulfilling her duties as the film’s director. “Nothing in ‘Barbie’ happened without him, and nothing in Hollywood happens without writers.”

With the writers strike still ongoing and a potential SAG-AFTRA strike looming, the “Barbie” premiere could be one of the last outings for the stars of Hollywood’s slate of summer blockbusters, including Universal’s “Oppenheimer” and following Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.”

Of course, “Barbie” is seemingly everywhere thanks to countless collaborations with brands like Airbnb (where fans can rent Barbie’s Malibu dream house), HGTV (which launches the reality show “Barbie’s Dreamhouse Challenge” on July 16), OPI, Progressive and countless other brands. Plus, the film enjoyed overwhelmingly positive early reactions from its world premiere and early press screenings — including calls for Ryan Gosling to receive his third Oscar nomination for his performance as Ken. But there’s quite a lot riding on its success. LuckyChap Entertainment producer (and Robbie’s husband) Tom Ackerley put a fine point on that perspective.

“It’s an amazing extension of everything we’ve done and it’s also the biggest thing we’ve ever done,” Ackerley said of “Barbie’s” significance to the production company. “At the start of making this movie we said to Ynon [Kriez, CEO of Mattel], ‘This is like climbing Everest for us.’ And it’s with one of the biggest studios. It’s theatrical. It’s a big piece of IP. It’s an A-plus director. It’s massive movie stars. It’s a great soundtrack. And it’s playing in the biggest leagues and it’s the most exciting [thing]. I think we’ve delivered — I hope we delivered — and we want to do it again.”

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