As a child growing up I played with Barbies, and I still do now with my daughter. When I was little, Barbie didn’t look like me, so to have one created in my likeness is mind-boggling. It’s such an honour to receive this doll that is celebrating my achievements… My daughter and I danced around the living room when we heard!” Emergency Room nurse Amy O'Sullivan, who treated the first COVID-19 patient at the Wycoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Katya Echazarreta holds out the Barbie doll created in her likeness after being honored as a STEM role model. (Image credit: Mattel) Echazarreta's Barbie doll portrays her wearing her Space for Humanity flight suit, complete with a miniature version of the mission patch designed for her flight. In the 63 years since she first appeared, Barbara Millicent Roberts — Barbie to her friends — has had plenty of careers, and plenty of looks… many of which are celebrated in the upcoming Barbie movie, with a whole host of actors joining Margot Robbie to bring the multiple incarnations of Barbie to celluloid life. But which Barbie variant is which? And how many of them are based on real Barbie dolls from the toy line’s past?

Is there an official scientist Barbie doll? Yes, there is. Mermaid Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Is there an official diplomat Barbie doll? Seemingly not, but every Barbie could be a diplomat if she tried. News Anchor Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Is there an official lawyer Barbie doll? Curiously, apparently not. Hey, Mattel, what’s that all about…? President Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. StudiosIs there an official President Barbie doll? Yes, there is. Diplomat Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Dr Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, Canada, who advocated against systemic racism in healthcare. Currently, Echazarreta is pursuing her master's in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University. She is also helping inspire girls and young women through her TV appearances and on her TikTok channel, where her videos have been viewed millions of times. Biomedical researcher Dr Jacqueline Goes de Jesus, who is credited for leading the sequencing of the genome of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil.

On June 4, 2022, Echazarreta lifted off on a 10-minute suborbital spaceflight on Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle. In addition to being the first Mexican-born woman to cross the boundary between Earth and space, Echazarreta was also the first "citizen astronaut" to fly in a seat sponsored by the non-profit Space for Humanity. I want to inspire the next generation of scientists, and especially girls, and let them know that Stem (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is for them. These subjects are just too important to be left to the guys because, through science, you can literally change the world.I hope my doll will remind girls that, when you reach for the stars, anything is possible.” We do often have these stereotypical images of what people do, and I like to smash those stereotypes whenever I get the opportunity. Strap in, friends. We’re headed to Malibu. (Well, only in our minds. Sorry if I raised your hopes.)

Barbie Fashionista with wheelchair, 2019

Makes a great gift for kids 3 years old and up, especially those interested in science, experiments and are curious to learn! Image: Barbie has created dolls based on a number of women who have worked during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile earlier this year Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo unveiled a Barbie doll in her image. Known for fighting racial inequality and championing women’s rights, Amfo’s Barbie was released ahead of International Women’s Day in March.