top of page

Barbie creates doll to represent British COVID-19 vaccine developer

[Aug 4, 2021: The Brighter Side of News]


Sarah Gilbert posing with her commemorative Barbie doll. (CREDIT: Andy Paradise/Shutterstock)

Sarah Gilbert, a 59-year-old professor at Oxford University, is already a household name in many parts of the world as the co-developer of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine.


She can now add one more accolade to her credit as she shares an exceedingly rare honor with Beyoncé, Marilyn Monroe and Eleanor Roosevelt: a Barbie doll in her likeness.


 
 

Toy maker Mattel Inc is recognizing six women in the Covid-19 fight with a line of Barbie "role model" dolls.


Gilbert's Barbie shares her long auburn hair and oversized black glasses, and she wears a sensible navy-blue pantsuit and white blouse.


"It's a very strange concept having a Barbie doll created in my likeness," Gilbert said in an interview for Mattel. "I hope it will be part of making it more normal for girls to think about careers in science."


 
 

Gilbert chose nonprofit organization WISE (Women in Science & Engineering), dedicated to inspiring girls to consider a career in STEM, to receive a financial donation from the toy maker.


Astra Zeneca virologist Sarah Gilbert's Barbie close-up (CREDIT: Andy Paradise/Shutterstock)




For more international good news stories check out our Global Good section at The Brighter Side of News.


 

Note: Materials provided above by The Brighter Side of News. Content may be edited for style and length.


 
 

Like these kind of feel good stories? Get the Brighter Side of News' newsletter.


 

Most Recent Stories

bottom of page