Barbie honors first female self-made millionaire, Madam C.J. Walker, with new doll

By Claretta Bellamy, NBC News

The Madam C.J. Walker doll joins Mattel’s Barbie Inspiring Women Series, a collection that pays tribute to inspiring and courageous women.

Mattel is honoring Madam C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire, with her own Barbie doll. 

Walker, a hair care magnate from the early 1900s, is the latest influential figure to join Mattel’s Inspiring Women Series, which celebrates courageous and innovative women. She joins other prominent women like Maya Angelou, Ida B. Wells and Ella Fitzgerald, who also have had Barbies made in their likenesses. Barbie’s Carlyle Nuera, who designed Walker’s doll, says he was familiar with the hair care pioneer’s work as an entrepreneur, activist and philanthropist.  

“She’s been on my dream list of icons to add to our Inspiring Women series,” Nuera said in a statement on the Mattel Creations website. “She created opportunities for herself, and uplifted other Black women, making her truly an inspiring woman.”

Nuera said he made sure to capture Walker’s essence with his design by incorporating her favorite colors into the doll’s clothes, along with incorporating Walker’s hair care products. Walker’s Barbie wears a ruffled purple blouse paired with a blue full-length skirt and holds a miniature Wonderful Hair Grower accessory in her hands. Nuera said he also collaborated with members of Walker’s family during the design process. 

“We worked directly with A’Lelia Bundles, the great-great granddaughter and official biographer of Madam C.J. Walker, and an author and journalist,” he said. “My research into what Walker wore, as well as what was typical of the early 1900s, was supplemented by access to the Walker family archives. A’Lelia sent us rare photos, as well as cultural insight for what was ideal for Black women at the time and insight to what Walker herself loved.”

The original article details more of Walker’s life.

Earlier this year, woman’s rights advocate Ida B. Wells was also immortalized as a Barbie.

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