Mattel doll line Barbie is honoring some of the women who are on the front lines leading the battle against the coronavirus pandemic.
Sarah Gilbert is the proud owner of a one-of-a-kind Barbie that looks just like her, Reuters reported.
Gilbert is a professor at Oxford University and is one of the developers of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.
She is now one of six women honored by the iconic doll company as part of its “role model” line, Reuters reported.
Barbie is proud to honor 6 frontline workers from around the world with #OneOfAKind dolls in their likeness. From an ER nurse to a biomedical researcher and more, these heroes continue to serve their communities, and inspire generations to follow their lead. #ThankYouHeroes pic.twitter.com/x6pdOlJNDZ
— Barbie (@Barbie) August 4, 2021
Gilbert’s doll has long auburn hair, black glasses and a navy blue pantsuit.
“It’s a very strange concept having a Barbie doll created in my likeness,” she said.
“I hope it will be part of making it more normal for girls to think about careers in science,” Gilbert added.
“My wish is that my doll will show children careers they may not be aware of, like a vaccinologist,” Gilbert said, according to The Washington Post and The Guardian.
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Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) will be getting a financial donation from Mattel. The group, which inspires girls to go into a STEM field, was chosen as the beneficiary by Gilbert.
Also in the Barbie doll line:
- Amy O’Sullivan, a nurse who treated the first COVID-19 patient at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn.
- Dr. Audrey Cruz, a Las Vegas doctor who battled discrimination.
- Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a Canadian psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto who fought against systemic racism in health care.
- Dr. Jaqueline Goes de Jesus, a Brazilian biomedical researcher who led the sequencing of a COVID-19 variant.
- Dr. Kirby White, a doctor from Australia who created a surgical gown that can be washed and reused during the pandemic.
The company said the dolls are one of a kind and will not be sold in stores.
Mattel has also released other items in its “Thank You Heroes” program to honor those fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. It has released special edition items from Fisher-Price, Matchbox, MEGA, UNO and American Girl, the company said in a news release.
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