Barbie designs doll after Asian American healthcare worker Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz for #ThankYouHeroes

August 6, 2021

Barbie’s new collection of “medical role model” dolls highlighting healthcare workers features an Asian American doll designed after Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz.

Cruz’s doll: Cruz, an internal medicine physician from Las Vegas, was chosen as the U.S. representative due to her work advocating for Asian Americans, reported Fox Business.

She worked as a full-time hospitalist and faculty member at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in California.
In addition to being a wellness blogger, Mattel reported that Cruz has been fighting racial bias and discrimination alongside Asian American healthcare workers.
“I felt that it was a huge honor because I’m also the only Asian included in this group of new Barbies,” Cruz told NextShark.
Cruz wrote in an Instagram post that she’s “incredibly honored” to be part of Barbie’s #ThankYouHeroes program and that she “hopes to represent minorities in America and encourage cultural advocacy.”

About the collection: Mattel modeled their new line after six women who were considered as healthcare heroes during the pandemic.

“With over 200 careers, Barbie has done it all in an effort to inspire girls to believe that they can be anything. Now it’s our turn to be inspired as we honor these real-life heroes and continue to leverage Barbie’s platform to shine a light on the courageous women selflessly leading the world through the pandemic,” Mattel’s SVP and global head of Barbie and Dolls Lisa McKnight told Fox Business.
Parents can purchase the dolls on Barbie.com or in retail stores beginning on Aug. 4.
Other dolls include Amy O’Sullivan, Chika Stacy Oriuwa, Sarah Gilbert, Jacqueline Góes de Jesus and Kirby White from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Brazil and Australia.
Barbie tweeted that these heroes “continue to serve their communities and inspire generations to follow their lead.”

Featured Image via Dr. Audrey Sue Cruz

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