Virgin Atlantic and Barbie launch pilot, engineer and cabin crew dolls
Toy manufacturer Mattel has launched a new Barbie range in pilot, engineer and cabin-crew uniforms based on Virgin Atlantic’s designs.
Virgin and Barbie have got together to create the one-of-a-kind dolls to encourage young girls to get into STEM (science, tech, engineering and maths) and aviation careers.
Barbie has had over 200 careers throughout her history, and in the brand’s 60th year three Virgin Atlantic careers join the ranks to inspire girls to believe anything is possible.
Research has identified that starting at age five, many girls begin to develop limiting self-beliefs and doubt their full potential – called the Dream Gap.
The Virgin-based dolls are part of Barbie’s Dream Gap Project, designed to level the playing field for girls globally.
Virgin senior vice president Nikki Humphrey said: "It’s astounding that girls start believing they can’t follow a certain career path from as young as five and it’s our ambition to help close the dream gap."
The dolls will be available to buy on-board and at key retail partners later this year.
The message is being accompanied by a social media campaign #SeeHerFly as well as school visits by pilots and female engineers.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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