Misty Copeland, the first black principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre, now has her own Barbie doll. Mattel, headquartered in El Segundo, is now selling a Misty Copeland doll as part of their Barbie Sheroes series, which features female icons who inspire young girls, according to the Daily Breeze.
Other sheroes include actresses Kristin Chenoweth, Zendaya and Emmy Rossum, child fashion designer Sydney "Mayhem" Keiser, former Lucky editor-in-chief and businesswoman Eva Chen, country singer Trisha Yearwood, and Selma director Ava DuVernay.
Copeland, 33, told Mashable, "It's just so exciting for this generation of kids to be able to see a Barbie that has muscles and brown skin and a bust and thighs, and for her to be a ballerina."
The doll comes dressed in a ballet outfit inspired by Copeland's Firebird costume, which she wore in her first principal role with the company.
Copeland was part of the design process throughout and said via a statement, "I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on. It's an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll."Copeland will be performing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the L.A. Music Center in July.
