Mattel’s “Inspiring Women” series unveils the Bessie Coleman Barbie Doll
The first Black and Native American female pilot is being honored on her birthday in a fashionable and fun way.
On her Jan. 26 birthday and with Black History Month right around the corner, Mattel unveiled a Bessie Coleman Barbie Doll.
The doll is part of the “Inspiring Women” series joining other notable women including Tina Turner, Jane Goodall and Madam C.J. Walker.
Barbie is also partnering with the Bessie Coleman Aviation All-Stars, a non-profit founded by her great-niece Gigi Coleman.
It introduces girls to careers in aviation as well as the non-profit “Girls Write Now.”
Coleman attended flight school in Paris since the US schools would not admit her, becoming the first Black woman to earn a pilot’s license.
She died at the age of 34 in a tragic airplane accident during a flight that was operated by her mechanic.
Her great-niece Gigi hopes more people will discover Bessie’s story and be inspired through the doll.
