Rita Moreno is getting her very own Barbie doll ahead of her 93rd birthday in December. The tribute toy will drop on November 20, and fans can grab theirs at the Mattel Shop. Rita noted in her statement for Barbie that she hopes her doll inspires girls to be courageous and resilient.
She recalled how she fought through past challenges to hit star status, which includes being one of the few 21 people with at least an Emmy, a Grammy, an Academy Award and a Tony. She thanked Mattel for the tribute, adding that it was a pleasure to create the doll with them.
Meet Rita Moreno’s Barbie
Rita’s Barbie is a replication of her red carpet appearance at the 34th Oscar ceremony in 1962. She wore a black and gold dress featuring a sweetheart neckline and no sleeves. She accessorized with black evening gloves, black heels and a chic pair of earrings to complement her hairstyle.
The senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, Krista Berger, highlighted the cultural significance of Rita’s success to the Latino community, adding that it was a delight creating the Tribute Collection doll with her. Other celebrities with their miniatures in the collection include Lucille Ball, Vera Wang, Laverne Cox and Stevie Nicks.
Fans anticipate Rita Moreno’s Barbie doll
Rita announced her doll on Instagram, and fans could not conceal their excitement ahead of its debut. “I love all things Rita Moreno and all I want for Christmas is this doll,” a follower stated, while another hailed the star for Puerto Rican excellence.
Some penned an emotional reply about how they have never owned a Barbie or any doll at all but are willing to get Rita’s due to its Latina representation. “This made me cry. My first thought was ‘That’s us!’ … Guess who’s her first Barbie doll ever, THANK YOU SO MUCH,” they gushed.