‘Everything Is Possible’: The Powerful Lesson Isabel Allende Wants Girls to Learn from Her New Barbie
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and Barbie’s 65th anniversary, Mattel has added internationally acclaimed Chilean-American author Isabel Allende to its Inspiring Women series. This collectible doll honors Allende for her literary contributions and her relentless work as a social rights advocate.
Available now on the Mattel Shop for $35, the doll comes dressed in a striking red evening gown. It also wears gold earrings, black high heels, and a cape draped over one shoulder. The details also include a miniature replica of her beloved novel The House of the Spirits and her dog Perla from her latest children’s book.
Isabel Allende: When a legacy is more than just a doll
For Allende, the doll represents more than just an addition to a collection. It’s a tribute to storytelling as a tool for empowerment. “I have been telling stories since I was a child. Stories have incredible power. They challenge our minds and touch our hearts,” she shared. The Isabel Allende Barbie reflects her journey as a trailblazer. The author inspired generations of readers and gave a voice to the voiceless.
This partnership between Allende and Mattel aligns with Barbie’s mission. The famous toy maker celebrates women who’ve made significant contributions to social and cultural progress. As Allende said, “The doll represents the wish that every person, especially women, has of understanding their own life and telling their story.”
How Isabel Allende is inspiring the next generation
Allende is not only immortalized as a Barbie but is also featured as a guest on The Barbie Podcast. In the second episode, she discusses her journey to becoming one of the most widely read Spanish-language authors globally and how her activism has shaped her career. “There are few writers that can make a living writing, but we all have stories, and we all can tell our stories, and our stories are important,” she shared during the podcast.
Hosted by Barbie’s Malibu and Brooklyn, the podcast aims to introduce children and families to influential role models. Each episode offers valuable life lessons for the next generation of dreamers.
Isabel Allende’s Barbie aims to empower
Through the Inspiring Women series, Mattel hopes to spark conversation and creativity among young girls. The Isabel Allende doll comes with a mission—to show girls everywhere that everything is possible. As Allende put it, “I want young kids to dream big. Everything is possible! The whole point of this collection is to show girls that you can be anything you want.”
This initiative is also backed by a donation from Barbie and Allende to Girls Write Now through the Barbie Dream Gap Project. The donation aims to help the next generation of women find their voices and share their stories.
Mattel’s growing collection of trailblazers
Allende joins an elite lineup of influential women honored in the Barbie Inspiring Women series, which includes cultural icons like Celia Cruz, Frida Kahlo, Rosa Parks, and Maya Angelou. “It’s an honor to be included in this collection,” Allende said, adding, “Whatever you do for yourself is for everybody. Think of other women as your sisters.”
Through this collaboration, Barbie has created a symbol of hope and empowerment that transcends age, reminding us all that, as Allende says, “Everything gets better. The more power you have, the better it gets.”
