Barbie unveils Celia Cruz, Julia Alvarez dolls in honor Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month
Mattel is celebrating Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month with two new one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls.
The toy company unveiled dolls inspired by Celia Cruz, also known as the Cuban "Queen of Salsa," and Dominican American author and activist Julia Alvarez.
Both dolls are a part of the brand's Role Model series, which highlights empowering women of the past and present in order to inspire young girls.
The Celia Cruz doll is seen wearing a red, lace-textured dress, sparkling jewels and a honey blonde updo along with full bangs.
"As a stage performer, on-screen actor, and recording artist who succeeded in a male-dominated music scene, Celia Cruz is also known as the 'Latin Triple Threat,'" Barbie wrote in an Instagram post.
The post went on to spotlight how Cruz's long and storied career serves as endless inspiration for aspiring musicians. Her legacy continues to provide scholarships for young Latino students through the Celia Cruz Foundation.
The Julia Alvarez doll is holding a book while also wearing an updo and is dressed in a robe-style jacket with butterflies and a black dress.
"Julia Alvarez is an award-winning Dominican-American writer, educator, and activist, whose vast body of work explores multicultural themes as they relate to children and adults alike," Barbie captioned a photo of the Alvarez-inspired doll.
The brand also pointed out that Alvarez worked to promote literacy as a tool to overcome generational poverty, and remained an outspoken advocate for peace between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Unfortunately, Mattel confirmed the one-of-a-kind dolls are not available for purchase.
The Celia Cruz and Julia Alvarez dolls fall in line with Barbie's efforts to celebrate other cultures, such as its Mexican Día De Muertos series that's been a part of the company's collection for the past three years.
