Celebrity Barbie Dolls That Look Just Like The People They Are Modeled After

Growing up, Ava DuVernay loved playing with Barbies. Never in her wildest imagination could the history-making director have thought that one day, she would have a Barbie modeled after her adult self — complete with a director's chair. In 2015, a year after DuVernay's pioneering Oscar nomination for "Selma," Mattel honored the filmmaker by creating an exclusive doll in her likeness. As DuVernay said in Vanity Fair, "She's a flat-footed Barbie in jeans, sitting in her chair, waiting to call action." The figurine was manufactured as part of Mattel's "Sheroes" range, though the doll's online acclaim pushed the brand to release the doll for the masses. The popularity of the collectible was such that it reportedly sold out within minutes of being listed. 

"I love this because maybe some little girls or boys will be playing with a Black woman director," DuVernay told Vanity Fair, emphasizing on the importance of diversity. "Being able to hold the representation of another person in your hands and tell stories through their eyes is a big part of the conversation." In fact, for DuVernay, Barbie dolls weren't simply playthings during her childhood. They presented an early outlet for her creative interest in storytelling, she told USA Today. The award-winning director recalled how she personalized her Barbies, experimenting with their hair and makeup. It was nothing short of a full circle moment then, with DuVernay getting a personalized Barbie that has braided hair, a set-ready outfit, and über-cool sneakers.