Photo: Getty Images
Barbie is honoring the late Princess of R&B with a new doll.
On Thursday (January 16), Barbie released a doll in honor of the late singer Aaliyah, marking what would've been her 46th birthday.
Aaliyah's doll joins the Barbie Music Collector Series, celebrating the singer's contributions to music and fashion. Barbie pulled inspiration from Aaliyah's "One in a Million" music video, styling the doll in a black leather outfit with studs and lace detailing paired with black sunglasses. Aailyah's doll also features her signature hairstyle — straight hair that swoops over one eye.
The company said they collaborated with Aaliyah's brother, Rashad Haughton, to design the doll.
"I can vividly remember my sister playing with her favorite Barbie dolls for hours when we were kids. She would make them sing, dance, and perform little concerts," Haughton said in a statement. "It's clear to me now that she was imagining dreams that would eventually become reality when she embarked on a career in entertainment at just fifteen years old."
"Inspiring confidence, belief in yourself, and embracing who you truly are is the essence of Barbie. My sister would be ecstatic to see her legacy celebrated this way," he added.
Aaliyah broke into the music industry with her 1994 debut single "Back & Forth." The singer went on to earn several awards for her work, including three American Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, and five Grammy nominations.
Aaliyah died in 2001 at the age of 22.
The Princess of R&B joins other iconic singers including Gloria Estefan, Elton John, and Stevie Nicks, who have been honored by Barbie's Music Collector Series.
"We hope the Aaliyah Barbie serves as a powerful reminder to her loyal fans and Barbie collectors everywhere that, like Aaliyah, they can unlock their limitless potential and achieve anything they set their minds to," Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, said in a statement.
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