"I couldn't believe it!" - Singer Lira makes history as the very first African Barbie doll

"I couldn't believe it!" - Singer Lira makes history as the very first African Barbie doll

South African musician and businesswoman Lerato "Lira" Molapo has become the first African to have a Barbie doll made in her image.

LIRA
Jacaranda FM

The ‘Lira doll’ is part of Barbie's 60th-anniversary campaign to inspire more girls.

Lira joins the likes of tennis star Naomi Osaka, artist Frida Kahlo, NASA mathematician and physicist Katherine Johnson, supermodel Adwoa Aboah, US actress Yara Shahidi and US filmmaker Ava DuVernay.

"I am proud to announce that I have been awarded a one-of-a-kind Lira Barbie doll, as part of Barbie’s 60th Anniversary Shero campaign celebrating role models who inspire young girls to be all they can be. I am the very first African to be bestowed with this honour and I’m simply thrilled to be honoured in this way,” Lira said.

"I was so worried about her hair - but now she is perfect. " 

"They gave me a call and I couldn't believe it. " 

"I forward pictures of myself and my outfits - and the detail is perfect!"

"The team worked extremely hard to make my doll- and this is the highest honour BARBIE could give someone."

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