You know her from the Disney show Shake It Up, you’ve heard her hit “Replay” on the radio, but now you can see Zendaya as her very own Barbie doll. This honor has been bestowed to many distinguished woman, such as Audrey Hepburn and Princess Diana. So why was her doll made now?
Her appearance at the 2015 Oscars made a bold statement. Not only did her dress steal the show, but also her dreadlocked hair became a sensation. After the Oscars, Fashion Police’s Giuliana Rancic made a controversial comment on the stars hair saying that it most likely smelled of “patchouli oil” or “weed”. These racial slurs did not go unnoticed, as they brought embarrassment to the TV show and caused Rancic to leave her job.
Zendaya took to social media to make a stand against ignorance and racism. If you search on her Instagram account, you can find her post in response to Rancic’s words. To her “locs are a symbol of strength and beauty”, and they should be. Additionally, she talked about the constant shaming of African American hair, regardless of gender. Her post describes her desire to shed positive light on locs and bring awareness to the stereotyping that occurs so frequently in our lives.
We should applaud her words of wisdom and support her outcry against degrading comments. Despite her young age, Zendaya has set a trailblazing path for others to follow. Her doll is a wonderful way to pass on this courage and moral fortitude. Dolls are valued as the ideal form of beauty; that being said, her doll continues to display the beauty multiracial women possess. Since younger girls play with dolls, the Barbie corporation has the opportunity to influence them in a positive way. As they grow up, girls of African American heritage and mixed races will be able to identify with this doll, and they will ultimately feel proud of the way they look. Zendaya commented on how she wished she had a doll that resembled her when she was younger and now that dream came true.
Zendaya’s message in its entirety tries to bring awareness to the importance of raising one’s voice and becoming comfortable in one’s skin. She was extremely enthusiastic about the “diversification and expansion of the definition of beauty” within Barbie’s company, as we all should be. Because of her new doll and her actions, many others have spoken out against disrespectful insults and racism. Thank you Zendaya!