The legendary Madam C.J. Walker has recently been inducted into Mattel’s Barbie Signature Inspiring Women collection.
via: Revolt
The doll, part of the Barbie Inspiring Women Series, has already sold out on the company’s website. Walker was born to former slaves on a Delta, Louisiana cotton plantation in 1867 and went on to become the first female self-made millionaire in America.
Walker gained notoriety for making hair care products for Black women. The doll comes with a “Madam C.J. Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower” accessory. Carlyle Nuera designed the figurine and said, “I wanted to capture Walker in a time in her life where she was selling her Wonderful Hair Grower, at public meetings and private home demonstrations – the true spirit of self-made.” Carlyle explained that she wanted to capture Walker’s true essence in her design. “Some of Walker’s favorite colors included rich purples and turquoises, so that’s what I put her in,” she added.
Yesterday, the official Barbie Twitter account shared their excitement for the doll’s release. “#Barbie is proud to introduce Madam C.J. Walker as the newest doll in the Inspiring Women line. With unflinching determination, Madam Walker was the nation’s first self-made female millionaire, creating a business that pioneered modern Black haircare,” they wrote.
Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles was sure to lend her approval. “Thrilled to have @MadamCJWalker join the other role models of #BarbielnspiringWomen! An absolute joy to work with the Barbie team who took such care in creating this doll [and] who were super collaborative w/messaging and design,” she said in a retweet. Bundles also described the significance of Black children having Black dolls by sharing her experiences as a child.
“When I was 3 years old, my mother made sure I had a Black doll because she knew the power of images [and] role models. Having this @MadamCJWalker @Barbie is an incredibly lovely gift not just for me but for little girls who can see themselves,” she said. Bundles added that “the @MadamCJWalker @Barbie [doll] is a happy full circle moment” for her.
Thrilled to have @MadamCJWalker join the other role models of #BarbieInspiringWomen! An absolute joy to work with the Barbie team who took such care in creating this doll & who were super collaborative w/ messaging and design. ???????? #madamcjwalker #madamwalkerbarbie https://t.co/jTGgr5dUA1
— A'Lelia Bundles (@aleliabundles) August 25, 2022
When I was 3 years old, my mother made sure I had a Black doll because she knew the power of images & role models. Having this @MadamCJWalker @Barbie is an incredibly lovely gift not just for me but for little girls who can see themselves #MadamWalkerBarbie pic.twitter.com/nhz9BXKqfa
— A'Lelia Bundles (@aleliabundles) August 25, 2022
With role models like Madam CJ Walker, girls can see that their imaginations are only the beginning to what they can achieve. #YouCanBeAnything https://t.co/TlcCeZew7L pic.twitter.com/L1LjjR5szR
— Barbie (@Barbie) August 24, 2022
