Barbie loves to honor successful women as a way to show young girls and women everywhere that they can follow their dreams. Whatever a girl wants her future to be, that possibility should never be out of reach for her. To continue that trend, Barbie is honoring Aaliyah, known as the "Princess of R&B," to once again show girls that they can be recognized for their amazing achievements.
Due to her influence on music in the 1990s, Aaliyah is being recognized for how her music helped impact the music industry and other artists and gained an exciting following of fans.
The Barbie doll will be portrayed with Aaliyah's likeness. The doll, dressed in black clothing and sunglasses, is ready to take on the music scene in her epic outfit. To ensure that the doll matched the iconic performer, Mattel worked with Aaliyah's brother, Rashad Haughton. Aaliyah's influence on music began in 1994 with her hit single, "Back and Forth," which gained her recognition. Afterward, Aaliyah went on to receive American Music Awards and MTV Video Music Awards. She also earned five Grammy nominations.
"I can vividly remember my sister playing with her favorite Barbie dolls for hours when we were kids. She would make them sing, dance and perform little concerts. It's clear to me now that she was imagining dreams that would eventually become reality when she embarked on a career in entertainment at just fifteen years old. Inspiring confidence, belief in yourself and embracing who you truly are is the essence of Barbie. My sister would be ecstatic to see her legacy celebrated this way, empowering fans to dream big and believe they can be anything that their hearts desire," Rashad Haughton shared via a press release announcing the new collaboration.
Although Aaliyah's journey began with growing up in Detroit, Michigan, she went on to help raise a generation all around the world. To be given a Barbie in one's honor for their integral impact on music is a special recognition of everything they have achieved.
Aaliyah is an iconic staple of 90s R&B and someone whose achievements are being celebrated and discussed with the public who loved her music, as well as those who may be interested in hearing it for the first time upon seeing the doll. The Barbie Doll honoring Aaliyah is available for purchase on Mattel's website.