Barbie manufacturer Mattel announced that they plan to release a doll of Hollywood trailblazer Anna May Wong as a part of the brand’s continued drive to expand diversity among their toys.
The release of Wong’s toy coincides with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month which started Monday, reports the Associated Press.
According to the brand, the doll is part of its “Inspiring Women” series which features the likes of Amelia Earhart and artist Frida Kahlo and costs $35.49.
“As the first Asian American actor to lead a U.S. television show, whose perseverance broke down barriers for her gender and AAPI community in film and TV, Anna May Wong is the perfect fit for our Barbie Inspiring Women Series,” said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global head of Barbie & Dolls.
Wong’s niece, Anna Wong, also collaborated closely with the brand to help develop the doll’s look.
“I did not hesitate at all. It was such an honor and so exciting,” Wong told AP. “I wanted to make sure they got her facial features and clothing correct. And they did!”
Wong also stated how excited she was that Asian children will now play with a doll that looks like them.
The Post reached out to Mattel and Wong for comment.
Born in Los Angeles in 1905, the late actress gained international recognition not only for her movies but also for her impeccable fashion sense.
Beginning her film career in the 1920s, Wong gained fame after starring in films such as “The Thief of Bagdad” and “Shanghai Express.”
In 1937, Wong lost the role of a Chinese villager in the film “The Good Earth” to a white actress named Luise Rainer, who later won the best actress Oscar for her portrayal in the movie.
Wong spent several years in Europe acting before returning to the US in 1951 where she became the first Asian American to star in her own short-lived tv show “The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong.”
The star was honored in 1960 when she was given a star on Hollywood’s coveted Walk of Fame.
Wong died a year later at the age of 56 due to a heart attack.
Mattel honored the “Daughter of Shanghai” star by clothing her in the iconic shiny red and gold dragon dress and cape she wore in the 1934 film “Limehouse Blues.”
Wong’s doll also features her trademark bangs, eyebrows and elaborately manicured nails and is set to go on sale on June 10, 2023.
The announcement of Wong’s doll comes a week after the brand said they were going to release a Barbie with Down syndrome.
McKnight stated that Mattel’s goal was to “enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves.”
The toy brand also made headlines in August 2022 when they announced they would be releasing a doll of Madame C.J. Walker, the first female self-made millionaire.
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