Laverne Cox will be the first transgender Barbie — if fans get their way
What would Laverne Cox look like as a Barbie? Some fans of the transgender activist and Orange Is the New Black actress want to find out.
Fan Jason Preston has started a Change.org petition, which as of Wednesday morning had garnered more than 150 signatures, calling for Barbie maker Mattel to create such a doll.
“Laverne Cox is the definition of the ‘inspiring woman,’” Preston wrote in the petition. “To many young women and men around the world Laverne Cox is a symbol of what you can achieve if you are true to who you are. She epitomizes not only the messages of the Inspiring Women and Sheroes Barbie doll lines but that of Barbie herself. But brings its message of being who and what you want to be into our ever changing world; from inspiring the limitless potential in every girl to inspiring the limitless potential in every person.”
Preston cites the Glam Masters host’s many firsts, including being the first transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy and the first transgender person to land the cover of mainstream magazines, such as Time and Cosmopolitan, in making his argument.
The time has come for the first transgender Barbie doll. Sign the petition to include @Lavernecox in Mattel’s new ‘Inspiring Women’ BARBIE doll line. Sign the Petition https://t.co/y7IszNAOtM via @Change @Mattel
— Jason Preston (@OneEyedAndy) March 7, 2018
Cox embraced the idea over Twitter, as did her followers.
Ah that’s sweet. I would love to be a Barbie doll https://t.co/nAXX4w4gPL
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) March 7, 2018
The conversation is happening just as Mattel releases 17 new dolls based on boundary-breaking modern-day women and women who have inspired in the past, ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. The new Barbies are based on women such as Chloe Kim, the 17-year-old American snowboarder who won a gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics last month; Katherine Johnson, the real-life NASA mathematician played by Taraji P. Henson in the 2016 movie Hidden Figures; and director Patty Jenkins, who helmed the box-office behemoth Wonder Woman. Other recognizable women such as Bindi Irwin, Frida Kahlo, and Amelia Earhart are also represented.
And it would be an understatement to say that the women being honored are excited.
Ahh! Im so happy to be honored as a @Barbie Shero alongside these incredible women! #InternationalWomensDay #Barbie pic.twitter.com/U0J7ajM0Sd
— Chloe Kim (@chloekimsnow) March 6, 2018
A post shared by taraji p henson (@tarajiphenson) on Mar 7, 2018 at 7:49am PST
Can’t express how totally mind blowing and delightful it is to have your childhood favorite resemble you!! Thank you @Barbie for this incredible honor, and for celebrating all kinds of women, everywhere. What a great way to inspire the girls of tomorrow! Wonderful. pic.twitter.com/bUptVP9Car
— Patty Jenkins (@PattyJenks) March 6, 2018
Much of social media was delighted too.
My niece will be getting a few of these. —>‘Hidden Figures’ no more: New Barbie dolls honor NASA’s Katherine Johnson and 16 other women https://t.co/C2VvoxHcri via @GeekWire
— LaToya Morgan (@MorganicInk) March 7, 2018
Omg I want all these Barbie’s and I’m grown. https://t.co/VSsmC8PHVD
— Ella Mielniczenko (@heyyyella) March 7, 2018
Although, there was some backlash over the way Kahlo’s doll looked.
Considering you can buy Frida Kahlo branded cosmetics and Frida Kahlo shirts from like, Forever 21, I’m disgusted but completely unsurprised there’s a Frida Kahlo Barbie.
— pav ☭ (@MissPavIichenko) March 7, 2018
Barbie (verb): To strip away a woman’s eyebrows and cigarette. pic.twitter.com/HphgCYF5GV
— Anand Giridharadas (@AnandWrites) March 7, 2018
Who else would you like to see as a Barbie?
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