In honor of the new Barbie x MoMA Vincent Van Gogh Doll by Mattel Creations and the Museum of Modern Art, I’ve compiled this list of Barbie collectibles inspired by history and world cultures. As many of you know, Barbie is not just a children’s toy—she’s a cultural icon.
Over the years, Mattel has increasingly celebrated the diversity of girls and women all over the world by producing Barbies of various skin tones, hairstyles, and body types. They’ve also created Barbies inspired by historical figures, vintage fashion trends, and cultural celebrations. These collectibles are the perfect gift for both women and girls who love Barbie and everything she represents.
Barbie Collectibles of Historical Figures
From civil rights activists to the Queen of Salsa, many of the following collectibles are from the Inspiring Women Series, which honors historic heroines who carved a path for girls of later generations. Other dolls are from Barbie anniversary or tribute collections celebrating outstanding women in contemporary culture.
Rosa Parks is known as the “Mother of the Modern Civil Rights Movement.” When she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man in 1955, she helped spark a movement that changed the world. Parks’s resistance inspired the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which was led by Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ida B. Wells was a journalist, anti-lynching activist, women’s suffragist, and early civil rights leader. Born an enslaved woman, she was emancipated after the Civil War. The doll holds a copy of Memphis Free Speech, a newspaper Wells owned.
Susan B. Anthony was an American abolitionist and women’s rights activist. She was a vital player in the women’s suffrage movement from 1851 until her death in 1906. Although she never saw women receive the right to vote in her lifetime, this goal was achieved in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment.
Queen Elizabeth II was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. Her reign lasted 70 years and 214 days, from February 6, 1952, to September 8, 2022. Although Elizabeth II was only 25 when she ascended the throne, she quickly achieved icon status. Her legacy is one of duty, responsibility, and stability.
Bessie Coleman was the first Black and Native American female aviator. She was also the first Black person and American woman to earn an international pilot’s license. In 1926, Coleman tragically died at the age of 34 in an aerial show rehearsal.
Jane Goodall was a British ethologist and conservationist best known for her work with chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. This pioneer in primate behavior research passed away recently, on October 1, 2025.
Kristi Yamaguchi is an Olympic figure skater. She became the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in the 1992 Olympics. Since retiring from skating, Yamaguchi has written several children’s books and founded Always Dream, an organization dedicated to early childhood literacy.
Celia Cruz is known as “la Reina de la Salsa” (the Queen of Salsa). Born in Havana, Cuba, Cruz found refuge in the United States after the Cuban Revolution. Her musical career spanned decades, earned her 5 Grammy awards, and taught all of us Hispanic kids that la vida es un carnaval.
As the first Hispanic woman in space, Ellen Ochoa is a STEM queen. Ochoa is an astronaut, electrical engineer, and former director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. She has been on four space missions, the first in 1993 and the last in 2002.
Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, singer, and activist. She earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony, making her the first Latina to have an “E.G.O.T.” She was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004.
Barbie Collectibles Honoring World Cultures
The following collectibles honor cultural celebrations from around the world. The dolls are dressed in traditional clothing from Mexico, India, and China.
Barbie commemorates Día de Muertos, a Mexican holiday honoring the dead. She’s dressed in a beautiful ruffled gown adorned with cempasúchil, the marigold flower. During this festival of remembrance, marigolds are placed on altars and graves of loved ones. Barbie also wears traditional sugar skull face paint.
We can’t forget about Ken! For Día de Muertos, he wears a suit also inspired by the marigold flower, with metallic designs on his vest and pant legs. Ken wears a sombrero and, like Barbie, has calavera face paint. He also has skeleton bones painted on his hands.
Barbie honors the Lunar New Year by donning traditional hanfu robes. The robes are inspired by Chinese art, specifically woodblock prints from the Tang dynasty and colors from ancient Dunhuang cave paintings.
Barbie celebrates Diwali, the Festival of Lights. She wears a lehenga designed by Indian fashion couturier Anita Dongre. Her outfit consists of a choli top, a floral koti vest, and a lehenga skirt with jasmine, lotus, and dahlia flowers.
Barbie Vintage Fashion Reproductions
These dolls are faithful reproductions of vintage Barbies from bygone eras.
This reproduction is a classic vintage Barbie from 1962. Barbie wears dainty pearl earrings, white gloves, and open-toe heels. Her double-breasted black-and-white dress was the height of fashion back in the day. She’s both elegant and glam.
This collectible is a vintage remake of the 1965 original Miss Astronaut Barbie. Yes, that’s right—1965! Barbie made it into space years before man landed on the moon. Our girl has always been a trendsetter.
If you’d like to see more fun products inspired by history and art, see Totally Historic’s Gift Guides.
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