Laverne Cox is Barbie as Mattel release a collectible doll celebrating the trailblazing trans icon. (Mattel)
Laverne Cox is once again making history as Mattel release a Barbie doll celebrating the trailblazing trans icon.
The brand new collectible is the first of its kind for Barbie, giving trans girls a doll that represents them.
She says that “so many trans girls grow up wishing we had dolls to play with” and “now there’s one made especially for us”.
The doll which has been released in celebration of Cox’s 50th birthday and in time for Pride season is available from Amazon, Target and Walmart.
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It’s part of Mattel’s Tribute Collection, which also celebrates Maya Angelou, Ella Fitzgerald, and Vera Wang.
In a statement the actor says: “I can’t wait for fans to find my doll on shelves and have the opportunity to add a Barbie doll modeled after a transgender person to their collection.
“I hope that people can look at this Barbie and dream big like I have in my career. The space of dreaming and manifesting is such a powerful source and leads you to achieve more than what you originally thought was possible.”
Laverne Cox worked closely on the “dream” collaboration with Mattel and Barbie for more than a year and a half.
Together they designed the doll, with Cox approving sketches, skin tone samples and shoes, while the outfit is based on one of her iconic red carpet looks.
The doll wears her favourite colour, oxblood red, in a tulle gown draped over a silver metallic bodysuit, while her hair is swept into glamourous Hollywood waves.
Plus to mark Cox’s Barbie doll, the company will make a donation in her name to the nonprofit TransFamilySOS.
In an interview with Refinery29, Cox spoke about the anti-trans legislation that’s being introduced in states like Arkansas, Texas and her home state of Alabama.
She said: “Not only the denial of equal access, [but] the denial of medically necessary health care is incredibly detrimental to these young people.”
“For them to be able to see this Barbie doll in the likeness of a trans person in this moment, I hope [it] gives them hope,” she adds. “When I was a kid, I didn’t have access to gender-affirming care.”
“We lived in a world that deeply stigmatized trans people. I didn’t even really understand that it was possible for me to be my authentic self. I grew up in that world, and now I have a Barbie doll. So anything is possible.”
Fans petitioned for Laverne Cox to become a Barbie doll
Back in 2018 one fan, Jason Preston, launched an online petition to make Laverne Cox the first trans woman Barbie doll.
In the petition description he said that she’s “the definition of the ‘inspiring woman’” and she’s a “symbol of what you can achieve if you are true to who you are”.
Cox herself responded to the petition on Twitter at the time, writing: “Ah that’s sweet. I would love to be a Barbie doll”.
Well, now fans can officially buy a Laverne Cox Barbie doll, which is available from Amazon, Target and Walmart.