Along with the likes of Ida B. Wells, Naomi Osaka, Celia Cruz, and a sorority of other history-making women, Mattel has just announced the newest member of Barbie’s Inspiring Women Series: Maria Tallchief.
Tallchief was a member of the Osage Nation and a trailblazer in the Native American community who left an indelible mark on ballet history as America’s first prima ballerina.
The new Barbie has been released just in time for Native American Heritage Month.
The dancer died in 2013, but her legacy will be immortalized through the doll, which was designed with the help of Tallchief’s daughter, poet Elise Paschen.
“Mattel has been so thoughtful in this whole process,” Paschen told PEOPLE. “I would say to them, ‘No, the arm isn’t like this. It’s more like this,’ and they were very sensitive and attuned to all of the recommendations that I had as her daughter.”
The Barbie doll wears Tallchief’s outfit from a pivotal performance in The Firebird at the New York City Ballet. She was the company’s very first prima ballerina and went on to raise the profile of American ballet on the international stage. She danced for decades and retired from the stage in 1966, when she settled in Chicago.
There, she went on to serve as the artistic director of the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet and was the founder and artistic director of the Chicago City Ballet.
She has since been inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996, received the National Medal for the Arts in 1999, and was posthumously inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame in 2018.
Tallchief is also featured on a U.S. quarter released last year.
“Maria demonstrated that determination knows no bounds, and her unwavering commitment to Native American and female empowerment makes her story one Barbie is delighted to share to inspire generations of girls to pursue their dreams and embrace their limitless potential,” said Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls for Mattel, in a statement.
Tallchief’s accomplishments went beyond ballet, as Paschen said she was deeply proud of her heritage, which is seamlessly integrated into the design of the Barbie. Her full name — in her native language — is printed on the back of the doll’s box.
“Her name is Wa-Xthe-Thonba, which means two standards,” Paschen told PEOPLE. “I’m very excited. This is a language that the Osage Nation has resuscitated, and it’s also on the U.S. quarter, and now it’s on the Barbie packaging, and now will be in the hands of millions of children, too.”
This mirrors Tallchief’s commitment to her name, too, which Paschen said she was pressured to change, especially as Russian ballerinas rose to prominence during her time on the stage. Her resilience and dedication to her heritage has stuck with Paschen.
“She encouraged me to pursue my own dreams as a poet, and it brings me joy that her story can inspire other young girls to discover their passions and pursue them,” Paschen told The Oklahoman.
“There is immense value in honoring your own heritage while also breaking down barriers through the power of artistic self-expression — whether it is through dancing, writing, or another passion — and I hope this doll instills that power in everyone.”
In addition to this inspiring message, Tallchief’s impact will continue, as Mattel facilitates a donation to the Center for Native American Youth, as part of the Barbie DreamGap Project.
These efforts have been lauded by the Osage Nation, as well. Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear shared pride in both Mattel and the Tallchief family to “ensure future generations learn” about Tallchief’s “remarkable life.”
“Maria Tallchief was an extraordinary person with immense talent who remained grounded in her Osage culture,” Standing Bear said in a statement.
“She remains a guiding light for many across the globe, especially here at home on the Osage Nation Reservation. Her many accomplishments exemplify that you can achieve your dreams with hard work and determination.”
Header images courtesy of Mattel Domain
