Barbie posted a line honoring global COVID-19 heroes, but where’s Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett?

She may have a controversial backstory (and sparked more than a few body image issues), but we can’t help but remain fans of Barbie, especially as the 60-plus-year-old doll is heading to a much more inclusive world. and asserting leadership lately. Under parent company Mattel, it is working hard to close the dream gap, expanded the range of body types, skin and abilities and hairstyles (with mixed results), defended women in politics, famous black icons and even had a candid conversation about racism amid last year’s cries for racial justice. (Hint: right-wing parents accusing Barbie of pushing the critical race theory into 1, 2, 3 …)

So it’s only fitting that the latest offering in Barbie’s #ThankYouHeroes series honors six “experts in their fields who have shown unprecedented courage during a difficult time,” a global assortment of women who have been in frontline in the fight against COVID-19, including, by mattel:

• Amy O’Sullivan, IA (US) – Emergency nurse Amy O’Sullivan treated the first COVID-19 patient in Brooklyn at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, fell ill and was intubated, then a few weeks later returned to work to continue caring for others.
• Dr Audrey Sue Cruz (United States) – Dr Cruz, a frontline worker from Las Vegas, NV, during the pandemic, joined with other Asian American doctors to fight racial prejudice and discrimination.
• Dr Chika Stacy Oriuwa (Canada) – A psychiatric resident at the University of Toronto, Canada, Dr Oriuwa has advocated against systemic racism in healthcare, which has been further highlighted by the pandemic.
• Professor Sarah Gilbert (United Kingdom) – As Professor of Vaccinology, Professor Gilbert led vaccine development at the University of Oxford in the UK
• Dr Jaqueline Goes de Jesus (Brazil) – As a biomedical researcher, Dr. Goes is credited with leading the genome sequencing of a variant of COVID-19 in Brazil.
• Dr Kirby White (Australia) – A general practitioner in Australia, Dr White co-founded the Doctors’ coats initiative – by developing a PPE gown that could be washed and reused, allowing frontline workers in Victoria, AU, to continue to see patients during the pandemic.

“Barbie recognizes that all frontline workers have made enormous sacrifices to deal with the pandemic and the challenges it has heightened,” said Lisa McKnight, senior vice president of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, in a statement. communicated. “To highlight their efforts, we’re sharing their stories and leveraging the Barbie platform to inspire the next generation to learn from these heroes and give back. “

We love to see such a wide array of women portrayed, but it is true that there is one COVID hero we would have loved to see immortalized in these unique dolls: Dr Kizzmekia Corbett, African-American immunologist to whom Dr Fauci himself credited be strongly involved in the development of the Moderna vaccine.

Clearly, we weren’t the only ones.

I’m just saying, Mattel — Dr. Kizzy is a Barbie Role Model for which we are making a personal request. Please do so.

That omission aside, there is still credit to be given to Mattel here, which is also donating $ 5 to the Children’s First Responders Foundation for every Doctor, Nurse, or Paramedic Barbie doll sold at a Target store in August.

“I am incredibly honored to be a Barbie model, highlighting the commitment and compassion that all frontline workers have shown over the past year and a half and every day,” said Cruz in a communicated. “Kids think they can be anything, but seeing that they can and hearing the brave stories of others makes all the difference. “