Golden Globe-nominated director Ava DuVernay confirmed she will be immortalized in the form of a new Barbie doll, adding proceeds from the toy will go to two charities.
DuVernay over the weekend confirmed a Barbie doll made in her likeness would go on sale. She said proceeds from the sale of the doll would be donated to civil rights nonprofit Color of Change and human rights nonprofit WITNESS.
She confirmed the news in the following tweet:
https://twitter.com/AVAETC/status/673625255999500289
DuVernay is a notable African-American film director that has achieved several key milestones in recent years. In 2012, she became the first black woman to win the best director prize at the Sundance Film Festival. For her work directing “Selma,” she became the first black woman to earn a Golden Globe nomination in the directing category.
The director later sent out a tweet on Monday saying she heard the Barbie collection “sold out.”
Even with that update, the DuVernay doll likely won’t move the sales needle much for Barbie owner Mattel (MAT). The DuVernay – like other dolls based on public figures – are generally targeted to collectors and adults.
That isn’t to discount Mattel’s efforts to add diversity to the toy aisle. Already this year it announced a limited edition doll for singer/actress Zendaya. And at New York Toy Fair earlier in 2015, Mattel vowed to release dozens of new Barbie dolls – including eight different skin tones and 14 different hairstyles throughout the collection.
