TULSA, Okla. — Barbie is honoring the Osage Nation Prima Ballerina Maria Tallchief with a doll for Native American Heritage Month.
The Tallchief doll is the second from an Oklahoma tribe in the Inspiring Women Dolls series. Last year, Mattel honored first female Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Wilma Mankiller with her own doll.
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First female Cherokee Nation Principal Chief honored with Barbie doll
Maria is widely considered to be the first ballet dancer to attain the honorable title of prima ballerina in America and rose through the ranks with the New York City Ballet.
The doll itself is wearing the prima ballerina costume she wore for her debut in the New York City Ballet's 1949 production of "The Firebird."
Barbie said it worked closely with Tallchief's daughter, Elise Paschen, to sculpt a doll accurately representing the dancer.
"Mattel is honored to have the support of Maria’s family and friends, to share her trailblazing story with more children and to celebrate her legacy," said the company.
Paschen worked closely with designers at Mattel, to ensure every detail represented her mother exactly as she was.
From the adjustable joints, to her skin tone and the vibrant red costume, Tallchief's story is in every detail of this doll.
At her only child's suggestion, Tallchief's Osage name is included on the exterior of the box.
"Her heart and soul was here with the Osage Nation," said Paschen. "I think she would be delighted and surprised by this recognition later and later in her existence.”
As a woman who broke barriers in her own right, Tallchief's daughter hopes this doll will inspire young girls to follow in her footsteps, and follow their dreams — no matter the odds.
"I was a backstage baby so I watched her dance on the stage from the wings, so from a very early age, I learned what it was to focus, to pursue your passions," said Paschen. "My mother instilled that in me as a writer, as someone who has made a life out of writing poetry, and I hope that she has that same influence on all the little girls across the world to pursue their own passions.”
It's for people like Nicolette Elm, and her nieces, who were at the Osage Nation's celebration in Pawhuska.
“I feel like there were never barbies that looked like me," said Elm. "They were always very like smaller faces, olive skin, beautiful skin, so it’s important for generations and young girls to see their representation in Barbie’s and dolls and I want them to see that their beauty matters.”
Which is exactly what her young nieces are getting to grow up with now.
"I really like it because it looks like me, it seems like me, it dresses like me, it's all the same," one said.
Passion calls this doll her mother's second renaissance, after being honored on the U.S. quarter in 2023. She said her mother would be ecstatic to know that this doll — which means so much more to many young girls who look like her — is an extension of her legacy.
"I hope that her story as an inspiring woman barbie will now shed light to all the little girls playing with Barbies," said Paschen.
Barbie will make a donation through the Barbie Dream Gap Project to the Center for Native American Youth, which is a national education and advocacy organization that works alongside Native youth on reservations in rural villages and urban spaces across the country to improve their health, safety and overall well-being.
Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said the tribe is proud of the recognition.
"Maria Tallchief was an extraordinary person with immense talent who remained grounded in her Osage culture,” said Chief Standing Bear. “She remains a guiding light for many across the globe, especially here at home on the Osage Nation Reservation. Her many accomplishments exemplify that you can achieve your dreams with hard work and determination. We are proud that Mattel and the Tallchief family created a Barbie honoring Maria to ensure future generations learn about her remarkable life."
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