Toy giant Mattel is celebrating Barbie's 60th anniversary. The focus is on six career dolls that have already existed in their history over the past 60 years. Women are still underrepresented in these areas, such as in the professions of astronaut, pilot, athlete, journalist and firefighter, which belong to the "Barbie 60 Years" series with the birthday.
Barbie also wants to be a role model
With her 60th anniversary, Barbie honors a long line of female role models to close the so-called "dream gap". The term "dream gap" describes the gap that stands between girls and the development of their full potential. A study* shows that girls from the age of five start doubting their potential, this is the dream gap. Barbie wants girls all over the world to grow up with a "you can be anything" attitude. The most famous doll in the world therefore acts as a role model and creates a play world full of possibilities, dreams and belief in yourself.
It was precisely this belief that made Kristina Vogel six-time junior world champion, two-time Olympic champion in track cycling, and she won 11 world championship titles in the elite age group. Kristina was well on the way to becoming the most successful track cyclist of all time. Numerous titles and awards undoubtedly testify to the indomitable will to make this dream come true.
On May 20, 2009, Kristina suffered a severe setback. During road training, the right of way will be taken from her on the open road. A collision with the vehicle is inevitable, Kristina falls and is seriously injured. Two days of coma, four weeks of hospital and three months of rehab are the result. But the unbelievable athlete is fighting her way back: At the 2010 German Railway Championships in Cottbus, she won three gold medals. A long series of successes followed with Olympic gold in 2012 and 2016.
In 2018, however, Kristina Vogel's life changed from one second to the next forever. During training, she collides with another driver and falls so badly that her spinal cord is severed at the seventh thoracic vertebra. Kristina is paralyzed and will never be able to walk again.
Three months after the accident, Kristina Vogel resigns to the public with a very emotional interview and a public press conference. Kristina shares her fate with the public and above all wants one thing: to encourage and show how important it is to believe in yourself to be able to draw new strength.
As part of the “Shero Campaign” introduced in 2015, Barbie is commemorating this mental strength and irrefutable belief in herself with a unique doll that is modeled on her. The impressive personality of Kristina Vogel should encourage girls to realize all their dreams - whatever that may be. Through the campaign, Barbie draws attention to numerous inspiring women and tries to strengthen the importance of strong role models for girls.
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