As a prima ballerina, Misty Copeland is fast on her feet.
So’s her doll version.
The "Misty Copeland Barbie" which went on sale Monday is sold out. Customers who went to thebarbiecollection.com on Thursday hoping to order their own $29.95 model of the first African American female Principal Dancer with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre were greeted with the three saddest words in the English language:
“No longer available.”
But fear not, there's always the resale market. On eBay, Misty Barbies are already being offered for as much as $199.95. On Amazon you can get one for the comparative low, low price of $148.95 (plus $14.99 shipping); although another seller wants $199 for the toned and graceful doll that's decked out in the orange "Firebird" costume Copeland wore in her first ABT lead role.
There's some precedent here. Last year, Barbie maker Mattel announced the launch of a limited edition "Sheroes" line of Barbies representing famous or accomplished women. Very limited. Originally the idea was to create one-of-a-kind dolls of actress Emmy Rossum and singer Trisha Yearwood to be auctioned off for charity. But when they decided to make a Shero version of "Selma" director Anna DuVernay, her fans and Barbie collectors (a big, very passionate group) weren't having it. Mattel finally made some for sale, though it's thought there were only around 1,000 available.
Right now there's a DuVernay Barbie for sale on eBay for $249.99 and one on Amazon for a whopping $1,015.
Representatives for Mattel didn't respond to emails Wednesday requesting information on how many of the Copeland Barbies were sold or if more would be available at a later date. Target's web site indicates it will be selling what is presumably the same version of the doll for $29.99, although you can't even pre-order them there yet.
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