Barbie got a groundbreaking makeover last month when it introduced curvy, petite and tall body types after years of criticism over the doll’s unrealistic shape -- and now thousands of people are asking for something else.
A Change.org petition began just days after Mattel’s big reveal and is asking for a Barbie to be created in the likeness of the slain “Queen of Tejano Music” Selena Quintanilla. The petition received over 2,700 signature in less than five days.
Remy Ocampo, who created the petition, points to the company's headline-grabbing new focus on producing dolls with different skin tones, hair textures and body types as one reason to usher in a Selena Barbie doll.
“As a huge Selena fan and Barbie collector, we want Mattel to create an official Selena doll in her likeness,” Ocampo wrote on the page. “Selena was truly a person to be admired and I think young girls and boys would appreciate having a Selena doll in their collection.”
In the past Mattel has created special edition Barbies of Beyoncé, Zendaya, Ava Duvernay, Jennifer Lopez and more. Dolls of Quintanilla, however, are few and far between and could prove to be lucrative move for Mattel. Last February a custom-made doll of the legendary sold on eBay for $1,025.
Lori Scarmardo, of Austin, signed the petition and summarized the general sentiment left by supporters of the petition in one comment:
"An official Selena Barbie would be a wonderful tribute to an amazing woman who still continues to touch lives in a positive way, long after her death. Please make this happen."
Selena fans have come together to immortalize the Texas star before. In the past, petitions have asked for a wax figure in her honor from Madame Tussauds and a make-up collection from MAC cosmetics.
The MAC petition received so much support the company announced last summer that the cosmetic line would become a reality in late 2016. The company is developing the line with the help of the late singer’s sister.
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