Okay gayes, time to put down your toys and pick up your Barbie dolls, because Mattel has custom made it’s first transgender Barbie doll in honor of pride month for Laverne Cox. Cox is now the first openly trans person to have a Barbie made in her image.
The award-winning Orange is The New Black actress who later became the first trans person to be nominated for an Emmy shared on the Today show that this exclusive edition will be shared with the community to increase inclusion across the country.
"I can't believe it. I love her outfit," Cox told People.
"What excites me most about her being out in the world is that trans young people can see her and maybe get to purchase her and play with her, and know that there's a Barbie made by Mattel, for the first time, in the likeness of a trans person."
Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls at Mattel, says the brand "couldn't be more excited" to work with Cox, according to a statement given to People.
"We are proud to highlight the importance of inclusion and acceptance at every age and to recognize Laverne's significant impact on culture with a Tribute Collection Barbie," McKnight says.
The $40 blonde hair brown eyed beauty comes equipped with three outfits and is a tribute to Cox for her 50th birthday (May 29). Laverne expressed she was denied a Barbie doll growing up and now pays tribute to her estranged childhood by being the epitome Doll herself.
"I begged my mother for a Barbie doll and she said no because I was assigned male at birth," Cox explained to People.
Cox later told Marie Claire, "When I was in my thirties, I was in therapy and my therapist reminded me that it's never too late to have a childhood, and that I should go out and buy myself Barbies and play with them as a way to heal my inner child, and heal my childhood trauma. So I did."
"I played with my Barbie, and I told my mom what my therapist had said. And that first Christmas after that, my mom sent me a Barbie doll," she reveals. "And she's been sending me Barbies for Christmas and for my birthday."
Certainly a full circle moment for Laverne! The Laverne Cox Barbie is available now at major retailers and MattelCreations.com, retailing for $39.99.
