Misty Copeland, the first black female principal dancer in the American Ballet Theatre, was honored Monday by Mattel Inc., which unveiled a Barbie doll in her likeness. 
 
 The idea is “to continue to show girls they can be anything,” the world’s biggest toymaker said in a statement issued from its El Segundo headquarters. 
 
 The doll is part of what Mattel calls the Barbie Sheroes program, honoring female heroes who inspire girls by having broken through boundaries and expanded possibilities for women everywhere, it said. 
 
 Copeland joins an esteemed group of role models, including Ava DuVernay, Emmy Rossum, Eva Chen, Kristin Chenoweth, Sydney “Mayhem” Keiser, Trisha Yearwood and Zendaya, Mattel said. 
 
 The fashions for the doll were inspired by Copeland’s Firebird costume from her first American Ballet Theatre principal role, which she is performing again on May 18 and 19 as part of ABT’s annual spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. 
 
 Copeland was intimately involved in the doll’s design and partnered with the Barbie design team on all the details, Mattel said. 
 
 “I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on,” said Copeland. “It’s an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll.” 
 
 —City News Service 
 
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 The doll is part of the Barbie Sheroes program, honoring female heroes who inspire girls by breaking boundaries and expanding possibilities for women everywhere. Copeland joins an esteemed group of diverse Barbie Sheroes, including Ava DuVernay, Emmy Rossum, Eva Chen, Kristin Chenoweth, Sydney "Mayhem" Keiser, Trisha Yearwood and Zendaya. 
 
 The fashions for the doll were inspired by Copeland's Firebird costume from her first American Ballet Theatre principal role, which she is performing again on May 18 (matinee) and 19 as part of ABT's annual spring season at the Metropolitan Opera House. Copeland was intimately involved in the doll's design and partnered with the Barbie design team on all the details. 
 
 "I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on," said Copeland. "It's an honor to be able to inspire the next generation of kids with my very own Barbie doll." 
 
 Copeland shows girls how to break boundaries both on and off the stage. She began dancing on a Boys & Girls Club basketball court and continues to be very active in local Clubs in various cities. She also works with Project Plié, ABT's comprehensive initiative to increase racial and ethnic representation in ballet and diversify America's ballet companies. 
 
 "Misty Copeland is at the center of a cultural conversation around how women continue to break boundaries," said Lisa McKnight, General Manager and Senior Vice President, Barbie. "As a brand, we want to honor women, like Misty, who are inspiring the next generation of girls to live out their dreams. We know role play often leads to real "play" in life and we're thrilled to celebrate Misty with her very own doll." 
 
 This initiative furthers the Barbie "You Can Be Anything" campaign message echoing that when a girl plays with Barbie, she imagines anything she can become. Earlier this year, Barbie expanded their Fashionistas® line by introducing even more diversity with three new body types – tall, curvy and petite – seven skin tones, 22 eye colors, 24 hairstyles and countless on-trend fashions and accessories. 
 
 For more information and images, please visit www.barbiemedia.com. The doll is available today for $29.95 on www.thebarbiecollection.com and rolling out to retailers nationwide. 
 
 About Mattel 
 
 The Mattel family of companies is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends®, Fisher-Price® brands and MEGA® Brands, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2015, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ approximately 31,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. Visit us at www.mattel.com, www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel. 
 
 © Misty Copeland Enterprises, Inc. 2016 
 
 Media Contact: 
 
 Marissa Beck 
 
 Marissa.beck2@mattel.com 
 
 310-252-4974 
 
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 To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/barbie-launches-misty-copeland-doll-300260744.html 
 
 SOURCE Mattel
– Misty Copeland made history last year when she became the American Ballet Theatre's first black female principal dancer. This year, another honor: Mattel has released a Barbie doll in Copeland's likeness, MyNewsLA reports. The doll is part of the Barbie "Sheroes" line, which honors female role models including filmmaker Ava DuVernay, businesswoman Eva Chen, celebrities, and more. The line is meant "to show girls they can be anything," Mattel says in a press release. "This initiative furthers the Barbie 'You Can Be Anything' campaign message echoing that when a girl plays with Barbie, she imagines anything she can become," the release continues, and Copeland echoes that idea: "I always dreamed of becoming an ABT ballerina and through Barbie I was able to play out those dreams early on," she says. She worked closely with Mattel on the doll's design; the outfit was inspired by the Firebird costume Copeland wore during her first ABT principal role.