The Maya Angelou celebrity doll portrays her as her thirty year old self– a writer, poet, and civil rights activist.   The doll was made by Mattel in 2020 and was released on January 14, 2021 as part of the Inspiring Womenâ„¢ Series.  The Black Label® Barbie was designed by Carlyle Nuera and retailed for $29.99.

Dr. Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson and passed in 2014 at the age of 86.  Her extraordinary life and award winning work continue to inspire people all over the world.

From the box:

Maya Angelou

AUTHOR, ACTIVIST AND TEACHER
1928 – 2014

“IF YOU’RE ALWAYS TRYING TO BE NORMAL, YOU MANY NEVER KNOW HOW AMAZING YOU CAN BE” – MAYA ANGELOU

Barbie® recognizes all femal role models. The Inspiring Women™ Series pays tribute to incredible heroines of their time; courageous women who took risks, changes rules, and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger than ever before.

With a multi-hyphenate career as a writer, author, activist, and teacher, Dr. Maya Angelou used her unique writing style to connect with people through books, poems, songs, and film. After joining the Harlem Writers Guild in the 1950s, Dr. Angelou took on the challenge of writing her prolific autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1970. Nominated for a National Book Award, the memoir was a gripping account of Dr. Angelou’s early life in the segregated South and how she rose above racism, childhood trauma and adversity to find her voice as a woman and a writer. In 1960, Dr Angelou headed the New York office of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, one of the principal fundraising organizations used by Dr. Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Angelou want on to further cement her place in history, becoming the first African American and female inaugural poet to speak at a U.S Presidential Inauguration in 1993. In addition to over fifty honorary doctorates, numerous awards, and accolades, Dr. Angelou also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010, the highest honor for a U.S. civilian. Throughout her extraordinary life, Dr. Maya Angelou endeared herself to readers around the world, and her indomitable spirit continues to serve as an inspiration.

Girls need more role models like Maya Angelou because imagining they can be anything is just the beginning. Actually seeing that they can makes all the difference.

The Angelou doll comes wearing a matching floral black and orange floor length dress and head wrap.  The cotton-like dress is removable and has a Velcro opening in the back.  The head wrap is also removable in one piece after clipping a a thread on each side attaching it the doll’s scalp.  It doesn’t unwrap, so with photo guidance it’s relatively easy to put it back on.  On the feet are white plastic open toe hi heel sandals.  No underwear. 

The doll’s rooted hair underneath is a tightly curled medium length Afro style with a black plastic headband around the hair line.  The face has dot-painted eyes and  peach lipstick painted lips with painted white teeth.  The finger nails are painted a burnt orange, the toe nails bare.  The Angelou celebrity doll is adorned with removable gold plastic ring, two bangle bracelets, a watch bracelet, and earrings.  The earrings and ring push into small holes.  A black plastic replica of her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is also included.

The doll has the Mattel female curvy body which is articulated at the neck (twists, tilts,  and small up and down motion), shoulders and hips(ball joints), knees, elbows, and wrists.  The knees are cardboard wrapped for rigidity in the box when new.  The torso/waist and the ankles are fixed. The doll can do the front and back splits but unfortunately the doll can only sit up straight with the legs spread.  

An unnumbered Mattel Certificate of Authenticity and clear plastic stand with a black base are also included.

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