At just 19 years of age, Zendaya Coleman already has quite the impressive career, having been a Disney Channel star (a great platform to come from, as proven by the likes of Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez) and even famously standing up for herself earlier this year against "Fashion Police" co-host Giuliana Rancic - now, she's being honored with a Zendaya Barbie!
A few months back, Mattel honored actress Emmy Rossum and director Ava DuVernay with their own Barbies for being role models and great women, and now it's the turn for a Zendaya Barbie to come out as well to honor the "Shake It Up" actress.
According to People Magazine, this Zendaya Barbie comes as a bigger partnership between the actress/singer and Mattel, as the 19 year-old "Bad Blood" co-star will be hosting the Rock n' Royals Concert Experience in Los Angeles in a few days, next Saturday.
As Pop Sugar reports, the Zendaya Barbie will be modeled after the young star's 2015 Academy Awards look, dreadlocks included, the very same style that prompted Rancic's comments that Coleman looked like she smelled like "Patchouli oil," which then caused Zendaya to hit back on Twitter over the hostess' racist remarks, with a stir of controversy followed, even causing a feud between Rancic and Kelly Osbourne, who ultimately left the show made famous by Joan River.
"I'm excited to be a part of the new direction the Barbie brand is headed, specifically how they are celebrating diversity in the line and encouraging kids to raise their voices," said the actress in a press release about the Zendaya Barbie, according to Entertainment Weekly. "It's a positive message to send to my fans, including my nieces who are coming with me to the concert."
According to Mashable, with this Zendaya joins a large list of celebrities honored by Barbie dolls, including Hollywood legends Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn as well as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Jennifer Lopez, the cast of the AMC hit show "Mad Men," Jennifer Lawrence and even Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart.
We can't wait to see the Zendaya Barbie!
