Helen Mirren & Kylie Minogue Among Those Honoured With Barbie Likeness

Dame Helen Mirren and Kylie Minogue are among a list of women to be honoured with their own Barbie likeness ahead of International Women's Day.

These women were selected as a UK Barbie role model by Mattel, the toy's maker.  

Previous Barbie role model dolls have included likenesses of COVID vaccine developer Professor Sarah Gilbert, British Olympic skateboard medallist Sky Brown, tennis player Naomi Osaka, sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, boxer Nicola Adams, and Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti.

In Mirren's case, the one of a kind doll recreates the dress that she wore at the film festival in Cannes last year. On that occasion Dame Helen Mirren wore a cornflower blue gown by Del Core, donning blue hair, with Bulgari jewellery and a fan.

Reacting to this, the actress said that she was "absolutely blown away" by the news. 

She said, "It's a very special thing and something I can add to my list of my favourite achievements - becoming a Dame of the British Empire, having an Oscar, having a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and having my own Barbie". 

"I love that the Barbie doll is wearing one of my favourite-ever red carpet looks", Dame Helen Mirren added. "It was the first time I'd ever had blue hair and it felt so exciting".

"I like to embrace theatrical fashion and the joy that having fun with fashion can bring, and I think that this joy should be ageless". 

The Dame was selected among eight women, who were recognised for shaping the future through their inspiring stories, with each woman honoured with doll made in their likeness, marking Barbie's 65th anniversary.

Alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Kylie Minogue, other household names honoured in such a special way include Mexican director, producer and screenwriter Lila Aviles Canadian singer Shania Twain; German comedian and activist Enissa Amani; American artist, activist, Japanese model Nicole Fujita; author and producer Viola Davis;  and content creator from the Tatuyo Amazonas indigenous community, Maira Gomez.

"Barbie's story has never been just about her", senior vice president and global head of Barbie, Krista Berger added. "It's about the countless young girls she's inspired, and the millions of stories she helped them imagine along the way".