The long-awaited Barbie doll with the character of the “Salsa Queen” Celia Cruz goes on sale this Tuesday, an event that the singer’s admirers have been waiting for for two years, since the Mattel company announced the news and the photo the singer unveiled doll in 2021.
As a preview of Hispanic Heritage Month 2023, which begins September 15th, this doll is released as part of Barbie’s “Inspiring Women” series (Inspiring Women Series) “a tribute to incredible heroines of her time; brave women who took risks, changed rules and paved the way for generations of girls to dream bigger dreams than ever before,” Mattel said.
This new Barbie, selling for $35, features a young Celia wearing a tight red lace Cuban Rumbera dress that ends in a ruffle at the bottom and sleeves, with a blonde wig with her hair in one She wore a high bun, a long necklace and earrings, and her striking gold shoes.
Celia Cruz’s Barbie comes true when Twenty years have passed since the death of the “Guarachera de Cuba”. on July 16, 2003, when he lost his battle with cancer after a career that spanned six decades and during which he recorded 75 albums.
The eternal “Queen of Salsa”, who brought this music to the world with the Fania Stars, has received countless awards, including several platinum and gold records, three Grammy Awards, four Latin Grammy Awards, the Presidential Medal of the Arts and one Star Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Added to this is the unconditional affection of his loyal audience He danced to the rhythm of his powerful voice and didn’t forget his “war cry”: sugar!
Mattel emphasized in a statement that Celia Cruz is a “stunning performer of many genres of Afro-Caribbean music, has an energetic stage presence and a unique style that makes her popular with fans of different nationalities and generations.”
“One of the few women who was successful in the male-dominated world of salsa. For more than half a century “The ‘Queen of Salsa’ carried her title with class and distinction.” the company added.
“Her boundless enthusiasm, genuine warmth and deep-rooted humanity have made her the music industry’s most successful and respected artist and the most remarkable ambassador of Hispanic culture in the world,” Mattel further noted.
Mattel’s inaugural Barbie Collection of Inspiring Women already includes dolls from other celebrities such as Chinese film actress Anna May Wong; the first Black and Native American female aviator Bessie “Queen Bess” Coleman; poet Maya Angelou; former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt; singer Ella Fitzgerald; including the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
Cruz will also be commemorated on a 25 cent coin which will be in circulation next year and will have the word “Sugar!” next to his picture.
The Cuban singer was previously immortalized along with Selena, Carmen Miranda, Tito Puente and Carlos Gardel in a collection of US stamps from the “Forever Stamps” series, which went on sale in 2011.
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