Fans launch petition for Laverne Cox Barbie doll
Actress, model and transgender activist Laverne Cox (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty)
Fans of Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox have launched a petition for the star to be immortalised as a Barbie doll in Mattel’s range of “Inspiring Women” Barbies.
A Change.org petition said that the transgender actor is the “definition” of an inspiring woman and so she should be enshrined alongside other prominent figures in the series including Frida Kahlo, Amelia Earhart and bisexual boxer Nicola Adams.
(Mattel)
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The petition stated: “To many young women and men around the world Laverne Cox is a symbol of what you can achieve if you are true to who you are.
“She epitomizes not only the messages of the Inspiring Women and Sheroes Barbie doll lines but that of Barbie herself. But brings its message of being who and what you want to be into our ever changing world; from inspiring the limitless potential in every girl to inspiring the limitless potential in every person.”
The petition, which was started by Cox fan Jason Preston, now has over 700 signatures at the time of writing.
Cox has picked up on the petition and said it was “sweet”.
“I would love to be a Barbie doll,” she added.
If the petition gets Mattel’s attention, then Cox would be the first transgender Barbie doll.
Jazz Jennings was made into the first ever transgender doll last year.
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She found media attention after racking up millions of views on her coming out story on YouTube she landed a reality TV series, All That Jazz.
Tonner Doll made the 17-year-old into an 18-inch doll that was revealed in New York last year.
Tonner said they had chosen Jazz for their next doll to continue their history of representing “socially transformational heroes”.
CEO Robert Tonner added: “Jazz stands for everything I respect from a human nature point of view – she’s incredibly brave, intelligent, warm-hearted and creative.”
Nicola Adams Barbie doll
Mattel’s “Inspiring Women” Barbies were released in conjunction with International Women’s Day (March 8).
The Olympic boxer Nicola Adams, who has two Olympic gold medals, is the first Brit to join the ‘Shero’ series designed to honour inspiring women.
The new doll depicts the boxer and LGBT rights advocate in a gold and white boxing outfit, complete with her trademark partially shaved head.
“My hope is that everything I do helps more people realise they can do anything they put their mind to,” Nicola said.
“Without my own role models, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
“Growing up, my biggest role models were my mum and Muhammad Ali – there were no female boxers in media when I was a kid, and I might have discovered my passion sooner if I’d seen other women boxing.
“That’s why empowering the next generation of kids is something I’m passionate about and it’s great to work with Barbie to share my story now,” she added.
