Mattel Creates Barbie Inspired by Gloria Estefan for the Singer's 65th Birthday

September 4, 2022

American company Mattel announced this Thursday the launch of a Barbie doll inspired by Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan, on the occasion of the artist's 65th birthday, who expressed her enthusiasm for the toy dedicated to her.

"Drawing inspiration from her Cuban heritage and blending Latin rhythms with pop and dance beats, Gloria Estefan's unique sound catapulted her to stardom, making her one of the world's most successful crossover artists," says the company's digital site, in the product description.

The doll wears an outfit based on Estefan's iconic 1989 music video, "Get on Your Feet," featuring a jacket with "intricate golden details with jewelry embellishments and a spectacular oversized lace sleeve."

"A golden chain at the waist accentuates her soft leopard belt, while bold thigh-high boots and golden accessories complete her look," the company details about the product designed by Javier Meabe.

From social media, Estefan celebrated the recognition, considering it "the best gift for my birthday." "Full of joy is more or less the word," the renowned artist declared to People magazine.

"I received every award you can imagine. But somehow this was incredibly special to me, maybe because I played with Barbie since I was a child, a little girl, and she is an American icon," she assured.

"That they celebrate my image, my career and my culture on my birthday... it's really special. They were very, very rigorous in making sure I was very involved in choosing her image, the clothes," she commented next. "I sent them my thigh-high boots and my jacket so they could see the detail. Those jewels, the microphone, we made sure the hair was right, that she represented me in the way that was important to me. And I'm just beyond excited. What can I tell you?", she added about the creative process of the figure.

For the artist, her life has been moving quickly. "Maybe because my husband (Emilio Estefan) and I are constantly doing something and I'm probably in one of the most fruitful moments of my life," she said.

Regarding the various projects that have kept her busy, she recalled that she recently acted in a version of the film "Father of the Bride" alongside Cuban Andy García. "I have a Christmas album that I made with my daughter and my grandson that will come out in a month, and having Barbies celebrating my life at this moment is just... there are so many things going on and everything is great and I'm excited about it," she confessed.

"The United States is a tapestry. I mean, unless you're a Native American Indian, you're from somewhere else in some generation and that's what makes this country so unique and special. It's all these colors woven together in this beautiful tapestry of riches," she assured.

Gloria Estefan was born in Havana, just over a year after Fidel Castro's revolution triumphed. When she was 16 years old, she left the island and settled in Miami with her family for political reasons. After studying psychology at university, she joined a group that played Latin music, where she began to sing. Throughout her career, it is estimated that she has sold between 90 to 100 million records worldwide.