Mattel is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month and the upcoming Olympics with a new Kristi Yamaguchi Inspiring Women doll.
The Olympic gold medalist figure skater is being honored for her work both on and off the ice both as an athlete and a mentor to other Asian American female athletes.
“For 65 years, Barbie has been breaking down barriers and inspiring generations through storytelling,” said Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, Mattel. “We are honored to continue this legacy by recognizing an extraordinary athlete and advocate in Kristi Yamaguchi through the Inspiring Women series.”
Yamaguchi joins Ida B. Wells, Eleanor Roosevelt and Billie Jean King among others in the collection.
“As the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating, a best-selling author, and children’s literacy advocate, Yamaguchi stands as a beacon of inspiration for young girls across the globe, empowering them to dream big,” Berger continued.
The Inspiring Women series is focused on honoring historical and present-day female role models to inspire future generations of girls through doll play.
“This doll invites young girls to immerse themselves in the renowned figure skater’s inspirational story,” said Berger. “In doing so, Barbie aims to foster an inclusive world that provides young girls the opportunity to see themselves in the dolls they play with, as well as have Barbie mirror the world around them.”
The doll draws inspiration from the figure skater’s costume from the 1992 Olympic Games when she won the gold medal.
