Emmy award-winning actress Laverne Cox has earned her own Barbie, Today reports. This marks the first Mattel doll made in honor of a transgender person.
Cox's Barbie will debut in the "Tribute Collection" in honor of the LGBTQ activist's 50th birthday on May 29. Her doll will sport a red ball gown and a silver bodysuit complete with high-heel boots and silver earrings to finish off the look.
Cox said in a statement, “It’s been a dream for years to work with Barbie to create my own doll." She continued, “I can’t wait for fans to find my doll on shelves and have the opportunity to add a Barbie doll modeled after a transgender person to their collection.”
The actress revealed that her therapist helped her see Barbies in a new light.
“I was telling my therapist how I was really shamed by my mother when I was a kid when I wanted to play with a Barbie doll but I was denied. And I had a lot of shame and trauma about that,” Cox said. “And my therapist said to me, ‘It is never too late to have a happy childhood.’ She said, ‘Go out and buy yourself a Barbie and play with her. There’s a little kid that lives inside of you. Give her space to play.’ And I did.”
After Cox disclosed her adult Barbie purchase, the 49-year-old said her mother began to gift her the dolls for special occasions.
“Barbie has been a really healing experience for me as an adult and I hope Barbie fans of all ages can find healing and inspiration in this doll,” Cox said.
Cox has starred in Netflix hits Orange Is the New Black and Inventing Anna. Her "Tribute collection" doll hit stores on Wednesday (May 25) along with Barbies honoring dress designer Vera Wang, comedic icon Lucille Ball, and Queen Elizabeth ll.
“I hope that people can look at this Barbie and dream big like I have in my career," Cox said. "The space of dreaming and manifesting is such a powerful source and leads you to achieve more than what you originally thought was possible.”
According to Today, Mattel will be making a donation to the nonprofit TransFamilySOS in Cox's honor.
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