#61: Barbie’s First Transgender Doll
For decades, Barbie represented a very narrow picture of beauty — thin, white, and impossibly proportioned. Many of us grew up with rows of nearly identical dolls lined up on bedroom shelves.
That’s why Mattel’s recent steps toward inclusion hit differently. One major moment: the release of a Barbie doll modeled after Laverne Cox, the Emmy-nominated transgender actress known for Orange Is the New Black. She’s not just a celebrity; she’s a powerful voice for the LGBTQ+ community. Seeing her honored in doll form marks a symbolic shift in what “Barbie” can represent for future generations.
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