This Sky at Night presenter and space scientist just had a Barbie doll made in her honor.
Meet Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, a British scientist who is best known for her work with the James Webb Space Telescope, the largest space telescope ever made, now has a Barbie doll. Her other achievements include becoming the first Black woman to win gold at the Physics News Awards and being appointed as chancellor of the University of Leicester. These achievements were no easy task; growing up, Aderin-Pocock attended 13 different schools but often struggled because of her dyslexia.
The toy company Mattel has honored many of our Black queens and pioneers with dolls, with Aderin-Pocock’s being the newest addition. The doll marks a full circle moment for the space scientist who grew up playing with ones that didn’t look like her. Even today, she says she plays “Barbie” with her daughter and never thought she’d see the day where she’d be adding her very own doll to the play date.
Aderin-Pocock said in an interview with The Guardian, “Learning that Mattel is planning to immortalise you in Barbie form would be a “pinch me” moment for anyone. It feels especially surreal for me. When I was growing up, Barbie offered a narrow ideal of beauty: she was thin and blonde, with straight hair and blue eyes, and she didn’t look a bit like me. But times have changed. I’ve been lucky enough to receive a number of awards in my career, but I think having a Barbie role model made in my image may be one of the most important.”
This Barbie will not only serve as more representation for our little Black queens but will also share Aderin-Pocock’s inspirational life story. It will let little girls everywhere know that they too can shoot for the stars!
Photo: Michael Bowles/Rex/Shutterstock/ BBC