Former (Em)Power Breakfast Honoree, Yara Shahidi, Represented as a Barbie doll

By Lydia Price
Published on People.com on July 15, 2022

People recently shared a list of powerful and inspiring women who have been turned into Barbie dolls, including our 2015 (Em)Power Breakfast honoree, Yara Shahidi! The article highlights her work with young people including a partnership with The Young Women’s Leadership Schools (TYWLS).

To coincide with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2019, Mattel unveiled a new crop of role models from 20 countries — in Barbie doll form. The brand chose women from ages 19 to 85 with a diverse array of careers for the new release, and representing the U.S. is Grown-ish actress Shahidi.

Shahidi’s doll wears a sharp gray suit with a Tory Burch “vote” graphic tee underneath (a shirt she actually wore to the We Vote Next Summit in September 2018).

Shahidi was chosen for her achievements in acting and activism and for her creation of Yara’s Club in partnership with The Young Women’s Leadership Schools in N.Y.C., a digital meet-up for high school students to discuss societal issues, self-improvement, and higher education.

“I’m honored to be repping all the young ones as a Barbie Role Model,” Shahidi wrote on Instagram. “Let’s continue to inspire the next generation and each other. We need your voices and are watching you all Blossom and shine!”