Barbie and Mattel have noticeably changed the look of their dolls over the past year.

The latest figure in that effort is perhaps the most famous ballet dancer in the world right now: Misty Copeland.

"I was a very shy girl, so I felt this instant connection with Barbie. She was a way for me to dream," Copeland says in a Barbie commercial.

Copeland is the first black woman to be named principal dancer at the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre. Barbie's latest doll shows Copeland in the "Firebird" costume from her very first lead role with the American Ballet Theatre.

But the costume selection is important for a few reasons.

"Black dreaded-line fracture, it sounds like death to me. It was scary," Copeland told PBS.

Along with being Copeland's first lead role at ABT, it was also the show she performed with a devastating tibia injury. Copeland performed "The Firebird" with six stress fractures in her tibia, three of which were almost full breaks through the bone.

Copeland was forced to sit out seven months in 2012 and 2013 before she could return to the stage, but since she returned, she's been rising to superstardom.

"Firebird" is also the title of her debut children's book that encourages young girls to have confidence in themselves.

Copeland is set to reprise the Firebird role this month for the first time in four years for the American Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House.

This video includes clips from Under Armour and PBS and images from Barbie

About the Author

Keep Reading

Lake Street Dive "just wanted to put a lot of positivity into the songs," vocalist Rachael Price (front) says of the quintet's newest music. (Courtesy of Shervin Lainez)

Credit: (Courtesy of Shervin Lainez)

Featured

Governor Brian Kemp speaks at the grand opening of the Hyundai Metaplant in Bryan County, GA on March 26, 2025.  (Justin Taylor/The Current GA)

Credit: Justin Taylor for The Current GA