Actress, model and activist Sofia Sanchez channeled Mattel’sfirst-ever Barbie with Down syndromeand hit the pink carpet for the world premiere ofBarbiein Los Angeles on Sunday night.
In a comment shared on an Instagram post giving fans a “behind the seams peekat the hand painted custom” gown from Doloris Petunia, Sanchez wrote that thanks to the dress she felt like she “became” Barbie.
At the premiere, she also got a chance to meet a number of stars, includingMargot Robbie. “Pinch me,” she wrote alongside a photo of the pair together.
Actress and Advocate Sofia Sanchez (left) poses with Margot Robbie at the world premiere of “Barbie” in Los Angeles on July 9, 2023. .Sofia Sanchez/Instagram
Sofia Sanchez/Instagram
“It’s me and my new Barbie…..who happens to rock an extra chromosome like me!” she wrote in a social media post at the time.
Sofia Sanchez.Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty
Back in April, Mattel said the doll was “created to allow even more children to see themselves in Barbie, as well as have Barbie reflect the world around them.”
“The Barbie doll with Down syndrome is meant to inspire all children to tell more stories through play,” they added in a press release.
The doll’s outfit also includes a “pink pendant necklace with three upward chevrons represents the three copies of the 21st chromosome, which is the genetic material that causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome,” Mattel said. “The three chevrons, or arrows, are a symbol that unites the Down syndrome community and are meant to represent ‘the lucky few’ who have someone with Down syndrome in their life.”
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“As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we are dedicated to doing our part to counter social stigma through play,” Lisa McKnight, Mattel’s executive vice president and global head of Barbie & Dolls, said in a statement.
Added McKnight, “We are proud to introduce a Barbie doll with Down syndrome to better reflect the world around us and further our commitment to celebrating inclusion through play.”
source: people.com
