On June 4, 2022, Echazarreta lifted off on a 10-minute suborbital spaceflight on Blue Origin's New Shepard launch vehicle. In addition to being the first Mexican-born woman to cross the boundary between Earth and space, Echazarreta was also the first "citizen astronaut" to fly in a seat sponsored by the non-profit Space for Humanity. Emergency Room nurse Amy O'Sullivan, who treated the first COVID-19 patient at the Wycoff Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Is there an official doctor Barbie doll? Yes, there is. Lawyer Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios A former NASA engineer who became the first Mexican-born woman to fly into space now has a one-of-a-kind Barbie doll attesting to her being a role model for the next generation of scientists and explorers. As a child growing up I played with Barbies, and I still do now with my daughter. When I was little, Barbie didn’t look like me, so to have one created in my likeness is mind-boggling. It’s such an honour to receive this doll that is celebrating my achievements… My daughter and I danced around the living room when we heard!”

Echazarreta's Barbie doll portrays her wearing her Space for Humanity flight suit, complete with a miniature version of the mission patch designed for her flight.

Doctor Barbie

Meanwhile earlier this year Radio 1 presenter Clara Amfo unveiled a Barbie doll in her image. Known for fighting racial inequality and championing women’s rights, Amfo’s Barbie was released ahead of International Women’s Day in March.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo holding the Barbie doll created in her likeness. Photograph: Michael Bowles/Mattel/PA We do often have these stereotypical images of what people do, and I like to smash those stereotypes whenever I get the opportunity. Mattel will expand its Barbie Career range with a marine biologist doll this spring, joining Stem figures including a doctor, a vet, a scientist, and an astronaut. Image: Barbie has created dolls based on a number of women who have worked during the COVID-19 pandemic.Is there an official news anchor Barbie doll? Yes, there is. Author Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Is there an official lawyer Barbie doll? Curiously, apparently not. Hey, Mattel, what’s that all about…? President Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Dr Chika Stacy Oriuwa, a psychiatry resident at the University of Toronto, Canada, who advocated against systemic racism in healthcare. Is there an official mermaid Barbie doll? yes, there is. Judge Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios

Marketing director at Mattel UK Kelly Philp said: “We know that, globally, Stem is a field widely recognised as under-representing women, so, as a brand, Barbie is committed to showing girls more Stem careers.” Thank you Barbie for inviting me to be a part of the role models campaign!" said Echazarreta in a social media post on Tuesday. "I used to play with my dolls and pretend they were traveling the galaxy!"Dr Audrey Cruz, a frontline worker from Las Vegas who joined forces with other Asian-American physicians to fight racial bias and discrimination. I want to inspire the next generation of scientists, and especially girls, and let them know that Stem (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is for them. These subjects are just too important to be left to the guys because, through science, you can literally change the world.I hope my doll will remind girls that, when you reach for the stars, anything is possible.” In the 63 years since she first appeared, Barbara Millicent Roberts — Barbie to her friends — has had plenty of careers, and plenty of looks… many of which are celebrated in the upcoming Barbie movie, with a whole host of actors joining Margot Robbie to bring the multiple incarnations of Barbie to celluloid life. But which Barbie variant is which? And how many of them are based on real Barbie dolls from the toy line’s past?

Biomedical researcher Dr Jacqueline Goes de Jesus, who is credited for leading the sequencing of the genome of a COVID-19 variant in Brazil. When I give talks, I encourage everyone, but especially the girls, to have a “desire to aspire”; to reach for the stars, no matter what those stars may be. It doesn’t matter what your story is – have a big crazy dream and see where it takes you. I still live by this mantra, and my dreams today are just as big as they were when I played with dolls as a child. It might be tempting to judge the Barbie brand with a retrospective gaze. But what they are doing today is inspiring the next generation of girls to be anything they want to be. By championing real women, they are showing young girls that virtually anything is possible. Is there an official President Barbie doll? Yes, there is. Diplomat Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Is there an official scientist Barbie doll? Yes, there is. Mermaid Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios Barbie is also making a donation to Prof Gilbert's chosen organisation, Women in Science and Engineering, which runs an outreach resource created to inspire girls to consider a career in STEM.Is there an official diplomat Barbie doll? Seemingly not, but every Barbie could be a diplomat if she tried. News Anchor Barbie Image credit: Warner Bros. Studios