TOMORROW MORNING, STARTING AT 430. BARBIE JUST RELEASED MATTEL RATHER JUST RELEASED THE FIRST EVER BLACK BARBIE DOLL REPRESENTING SOMEONE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. IT WAS CREATED LAST YEAR, BUT FOR TODAY’S NEW EDITION, MATTEL RECEIVED INPUT FROM A LOCAL FAMILY, TANIQUA PENNIX SPEAKS ONE ON ONE WITH THE MOTHER DAUGHTER DUO WHO HELPED MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT’S A STORY ALL NEW AT SIX. BEFORE ADDING BARBIE TO HER RESUME, 21 YEAR OLD TAYLOR FREEMAN WAS JUST YOUR AVERAGE CLEMSON STUDENT WHO LOVES FOOTBALL. GO TIGERS AND IS INVOLVED IN EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. I WANTED TO I’M INTO MY KAPPA. TAYLOR WAS BORN WITH A DOWN SYNDROME, BUT HER MOM AYOKA FREEMAN, NEVER WANTED TAYLOR TO FEEL LIMITED. SHE HAS DONE WHATEVER SHE’S WANTED TO DO. SHE HAS BEEN, UM, SHE’S BEEN IN THE MARCHING BAND. SHE’S BEEN PROM QUEEN. SHE HAS HER LEARNER’S PERMIT. SHE HAS A CAR. SHE CAN DRIVE. WE HAVE NOT PUTTING ANY ROADBLOCKS OR ANYTHING THERE BECAUSE OF HER DIAGNOSIS. BECAUSE THAT’S ONLY PART OF WHO SHE IS, IS NOT WHO SHE IS. THROUGH BARBIE BRAND, MATTEL’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL DOWN SYNDROME SOCIETY, TAYLOR AND AYOKA GOT THE OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME WHEN THEY WERE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF THE FIRST BLACK BARBIE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. WHEN TAYLOR AS A LITTLE GIRL, SHE HAS LOVED PLAYING WITH BARBIES AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT IN A MILLION YEARS THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A BARBIE WITH DOWN SYNDROME THAT LOOKS LIKE MY DAUGHTER TAYLOR AND HER MOM WERE ABLE TO REVIEW THE SMALLEST DETAILS TO MAKE THIS DOLL MORE RELATABLE TO THOSE WITH DOWN SYNDROME. SHE HAS AN OVAL SHAPED FACE. SHE HAS SLANTED EYES. SHE HAS MORE TINY EARS, HER NOSE IS MORE FLAT. SHE HAS A LONG TORSO. WHEN YOU’RE BORN WITH DOWN SYNDROME, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE, UM, LOW MUSCLE TONE. SO THIS DOLL SHOWS SOME OF THOSE CHARACTERISTICS. HOW BRIGHT THIS, LIKE ME LIKE THAT IS. JUST LIKE ME. HER DRESS LOOKS LIKE ME. SURROUNDED BY LOVE AND A STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM, TAYLOR’S FAMILY BASK IN THE JOY THIS BARBIE BRINGS AS IT’S A SYMBOL OF REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION, NOT JUST FOR TAYLOR, BUT OTHERS. JUST LIKE HER. PHOENIX WYFF NEWS FOUR THE BLACK BARBIE WITH DOWN SYNDROME IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE TODAY. YOU CAN FI
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Family in Hartwell, Georgia, helps with creation of 1st Black Barbie with Down syndrome
Barbie just released the first-ever Black Barbie with Down syndrome. The first Barbie with Down syndrome was created last year, but for the new addition, Mattel got input from a focus group of Black individuals, including a woman with Down syndrome.Before adding “Barbie” to her resume, 21-year-old Taylor Freeman could be described as your average Clemson student who loves football and is in a sorority. Taylor was born with Down syndrome, but her mom, Ayoca Freeman, never wanted Taylor to feel limited.“She has done whatever she wants to do. She’s in a marching band, she’s been prom queen, she has a learning permit, she has a car, and she can drive. We have not put any roadblocks or anything there because of her diagnosis because that's only a part of who she is, is not who she is,” said Ayoca.Through Mattel’s partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society, Taylor and Ayoca got the opportunity of a lifetime when they were asked to participate in the creation of the first Black Barbie with Down syndrome.They were asked to review the smallest details that would make the Barbie more relatable to those with Down syndrome.“She has an oval-shaped face, slanted eyes, her nose is flat,” said Ayoca. "She has a long torso. When you're born with this syndrome, you have a little less muscle tone, so this doll shows some of those characteristics.”Taylor was filled with joy when she saw the final product.“Her braids look like me, her glasses are like me,” she said. Surrounded by love and a strong support system Taylor’s family basks in the joy this Barbie brings, as it's a symbol of representation and inclusion, not just for Taylor but for others just like her. The Barbie is now available for purchase; you can find it online and at major retail stores.
HARTWELL, Ga. —
Barbie just released the first-ever Black Barbie with Down syndrome. The first Barbie with Down syndrome was created last year, but for the new addition, Mattel got input from a focus group of Black individuals, including a woman with Down syndrome.
Before adding “Barbie” to her resume, 21-year-old Taylor Freeman could be described as your average Clemson student who loves football and is in a sorority.
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Taylor was born with Down syndrome, but her mom, Ayoca Freeman, never wanted Taylor to feel limited.
“She has done whatever she wants to do. She’s in a marching band, she’s been prom queen, she has a learning permit, she has a car, and she can drive. We have not put any roadblocks or anything there because of her diagnosis because that's only a part of who she is, is not who she is,” said Ayoca.
Through Mattel’s partnership with the National Down Syndrome Society, Taylor and Ayoca got the opportunity of a lifetime when they were asked to participate in the creation of the first Black Barbie with Down syndrome.
They were asked to review the smallest details that would make the Barbie more relatable to those with Down syndrome.
“She has an oval-shaped face, slanted eyes, her nose is flat,” said Ayoca. "She has a long torso. When you're born with this syndrome, you have a little less muscle tone, so this doll shows some of those characteristics.”
Taylor was filled with joy when she saw the final product.
“Her braids look like me, her glasses are like me,” she said.
Surrounded by love and a strong support system Taylor’s family basks in the joy this Barbie brings, as it's a symbol of representation and inclusion, not just for Taylor but for others just like her.
The Barbie is now available for purchase; you can find it online and at major retail stores.
