When Barbie told 19-year-old Yara Shahidi that the company wanted to gift her a one-of-a-kind "shero" doll made in her likeness, the Grown-ish actress was stunned. "It's really surreal just because this was never within my realm of possibility. I never thought, 'Oh yeah, one day I'll have my own doll' or anything like that," says Shahidi, who went from starring on the hit series Black-ish to its spin-off Grown-ish. Shahidi is one of 20 role models from 18 countries being honored by Barbie as it marks both its 60th anniversary and International Women's Day. The sheroes, as Barbie calls them, include German track cyclist Kristina Vogel, French director Lisa Azuelos, and Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka. "It really amplifies and reaffirms this idea that we can excel in whatever field," says Shahidi. Barbie is touting this year's group of sheroes as the "most diverse lineup" honored by the brand since the program launched in 2015. While customers can't buy the role model dolls, they can choose from the Barbie Career 60th Anniversary doll collection , which includes an astronaut, firefighter, and pilot. With over 200 careers and counting, from astronaut to news anchor, Barbie has always inspired girls to be anything. #Barbie60 👩‍🚀📽 pic.twitter.com/p1DF2jcnfm — Barbie (@Barbie) March 3, 2019 For every Barbie sold through March 11 in certain U.S. states, Mattel will donate $1 (up to $250,000) to the Barbie Dream Gap Project Fund, a new initiative that supports organizations "leveling the playing field for girls." Shahidi believes it's important to see dolls that represent a wide range of female professionals because it shows kids what girls and women can achieve. SEE ALSO: Barbie gets more inclusive with wheelchair and prosthetic limb She says her parents intentionally introduced her to dolls, books, and TV characters that both reaffirmed her black female experience and demonstrated that anything is possible. Eventually, Shahidi learned other children didn't get the opportunity to see role models that looked like them. "When I realized that not everyone got the same privileges of seeing themselves reflected in the most tangible and the most metaphoric senses, it became really important to me to see what I could do in sharing the resources I've had, that have made such an impact," says Shahidi. Barbie and Shahidi worked together to design the doll, which included finding the right hair texture and skin tone. "It was a really cool process of figuring out what makes this Barbie look like me," says Shahidi. "What do I feel makes Yara Yara?" One of the most recognizable features of Shahidi's Barbie is its colorful "Vote" t-shirt. Proceeds from sales of the life-size, limited-edition tee go to Eighteen x 18, her voting initiative. Shahidi wears the shirt so often she jokes she's become one with it. As part of our ongoing commitment to #CloseTheDreamGap, we are honoring #MoreRoleModels from around the world than ever before. These women are breaking boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls. 🌍 Learn more: https://t.co/dDN166naY4. #YouCanBeAnything #Barbie60 pic.twitter.com/giiaPkvSS5 — Barbie (@Barbie) March 6, 2019 On Friday morning, Shahidi helped Barbie turn the lights on the Empire State building in New York pink as a way to mark International Women's Day. The brand also debuted new Facebook and Snapchat filters that let a user choose from several firsts, like being the first woman to run a four-minute mile, the first female lunar explorer, or the first female United Nations secretary general. To girls who are dreaming about being the first in something, Shahidi says, "We're particularly lucky to be born now because there's generations of people who are waiting on us to accomplish all the amazing things we want to do."<doc-sep>March 2019 marks Barbie’s 60th anniversary, and the iconic toy brand Mattel is celebrating by honoring several women it views as role models and “sheros.” Honorees include grown-ish star Yara Shahidi, tennis champ Naomi Osaka, gymnast Dipa Karmakar and several other women who lead the way in art, tech, sports, media and business. Naomi Osaka’s official Barbie/ NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 8, 2018: 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan poses with US Open trophy in New York. One dollar from every doll sold will go toward the Dream Gap Project, an initiative put forth by Mattel to “level the playing field for girls,” according to a press release. “Research has shown that starting at age five, girls start doubting their potential, this is the Dream Gap.” Lisa McKnight, general manager and senior vice president of Barbie, shared, “With more than 200 careers, six runs for president and a trip to the moon before Neil Armstrong, Barbie continues to evolve to be a modern, relevant role model for all ages. The Barbie brand believes girls should never know a world, job, or dream women haven’t conquered. Through our global platform, we are igniting a movement to help close the Dream Gap and further establish Barbie as the ultimate girl empowerment brand.”<doc-sep>In addition to Osaka and Shahidi, the 2019 Sheroes line will include dolls in the likeness of Brazilian surfer Maya Gabiera, German cycling champion Kristina Vogel, Canadian ice skater Tessa Virtue, UK activist and model Adwoa Aboah, artistic gymnast Dipa Karmakar, of India, Chinese photographer Chen Man, and Australian journalist Ita Buttrose. Considered "the highest honor from the Barbie brand," each woman will receive one of the dolls made in her likeness. They join the ranks of director Ava Duvernay, ballet dancer Misty Copeland, NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, model Ashley Graham, Olympians Ibtihaj Muhammad and Gabby Douglas and artist Frida Kahlo, among others.<doc-sep>It was for my high school homecoming dance when mom took me to get my makeup done professionally for the first time and I discovered Bobbi Brown. I didn’t feel uncomfortable, I didn’t have to blend two shades together to make one, I didn’t have to keep searching for another brand, I found my perfect shade at the Bobbi Brown makeup counter. Even before brands like Fenty Beauty changed the makeup game with an extensive foundation shade range, Bobbi Brown was championing inclusivity with their range of shades, especially for darker skin tones. Now the brand is continuing to practice what they have always preached and expanding their range even more, adding 10 more shades (there are currently 42) to their SKIN Long Wear Weightless Foundation. The expansion is more about adding more options for undertones, than adding lighter or darker shades as the brand has always had that range. It’s no surprise that actress and advocate Yara Shahidi, who has always been outspoken about representation and inclusion, is joining the Bobbi Brown brand and helping to launch the new expansion. She will serve as the new face of the brand, with a campaign shot by Tyler Mitchell. Courtesy of Bobbi Brown Teen Vogue chatted with Shahidi about learning to do makeup, her routine, and growing up in a household full of amazing black women. Teen Vogue: When did you first learn to do makeup? Yara Shahidi: I think on set, that's where I had my formal education. Other than the fact that I was on set getting my makeup done, I was learning how I introduce makeup into my life and establish a positive relationship with it. Being young and having to be on TV with HD cameras, I had to make sure that my relationship with makeup was on my own terms. TV: What is your makeup routine like now? YS: It depends on the day. On a regular day, I wake up, I wash my face, moisturize my face, [then I use] Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick which is also moisturizing. I'm very big on brushing up my eyebrows, and then a lip gloss. If we're talking about an event or red carpet, then it gets a bit more complicated. I use Bobbi Brown foundation because it goes so nicely on the skin and it doesn't feel like you have a layer on. Then some blush. We love to have fun with the eyes. I feel like the past couple carpets we've been doing some really cool eye looks. Then sometimes the lips.<doc-sep>
Barbie is turning the big 6-0 this year, and she’s celebrating in a big way. In addition to new books, initiatives and events surrounding the milestone anniversary, the brand is expanding its collection of “Sheroes” dolls with 20 new inspiring faces from around the world. To coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, Mattel unveiled a new crop of role models from 20 different countries — in doll form. The brand chose women from ages 19 to 85 with a diverse array of careers for the new release, and representing the U.S. is Grown-ish actress Yara Shahidi. Shahidi’s doll wears a sharp gray suit with a Tory Burch “vote” graphic tee underneath (a shirt she actually wore to the We Vote Next Summit in September 2018). Shahidi was chosen for her achievements in acting and activism and for her creation of Yara’s Club in partnership with The Young Women’s Leadership Schools in NYC, a digital meet-up for high school students to discuss societal issues, self-improvement, and higher education. Yara-Shahidi Credit: Getty; Mattel “I’m honored to be repping all the young ones as a Barbie Role Model,” Shahidi wrote on Instagram. “Let’s continue to inspire the next generation and each other. We need your voices and are watching you all Blossom and shine!” barbie Naomi Osaka’s Barbie (second from left), Yara Shahidi (center), Adwoa Aboah (fourth from left) and the other new Sheroes dolls | Credit: Mattel From the U.K., model Adwoa Aboah is recreated in Barbie form wearing a sequin colorful Halpern dress with a Stephen Jones head scarf. Aboah, who graces every top magazine cover and high-fashion runway, is also the founder of Gurls Talk, an online community where young women are free to discuss issues such as mental health, education, self-care, and relationships. LOVE x The Store X Celebrate LOVE Issue 21 Another famous Shero is the no. 1 female tennis player in the world, Naomi Osaka, who’s the first Japanese tennis player to win a Grand Slam and the first Asian to ever hold the top spot in either men’s or women’s tennis. Osaka is the latest athlete to join some other inspiring sports stars with their own Shero, including gymnast Laurie Hernandez and Olympian Ibtihaj Muhammad, who was also the first-ever hijab-wearing doll. 2019 Australian Open - Day 11 Naomi Osaka | Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty “It’s a really big honor,” Osaka told PEOPLE. “I’ve played with Barbies when I was a kid, and I think it’s a bit of a surreal experience to have the opportunity to have a Barbie that looks like me.” Role-models_lineup_Final Among others rounding out the group are inspiring women like the NASA scientist from Greece, Eleni Antoniadou, the Canadian Olympic gold medal-winning ice skater Tessa Virtue, a boundary-breaking truck driver from Poland, Iwona Blecharczyk, and many others including a chef, journalist, director, alpinist and sports commentator. “For 60 years, Barbie has championed girls, inspired generations to believe through make believe and showed them that they have choices. With more than 200 careers, six runs for president and a trip to the moon before Neil Armstrong, Barbie continues to evolve to be a modern, relevant role model for all ages,” said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. “The Barbie brand believes girls should never know a world, job, or dream women haven’t conquered. Through our global platform, we are igniting a movement to help close the Dream Gap and further establish Barbie as the ultimate girl empowerment brand.”