Barbie might not be the most historically progressive brand - what with her impossibly stick thin and perfectly proportioned assets - but Mattel has taken action to change this in recent years with various new dolls, including its inspiring women collection. Now, the latest influential women to be turned into Barbies are Rosa Parks and Sally Rides. Rosa Parks played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a bus in 1955, and Sally Rides became the youngest ever astronaut to travel to space, doing so at the age of 32 in 1987. <img class="wp-image-12548189 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2019/08/f4c354f2-barbie-1.jpg" alt="The Rosa Parks Barbie doll." width="600" height="1566" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Barbie]] A press release from Barbie read: "These historical women broke boundaries that made the world a better place for future generations of girls." The inspiring women collection, which debuted on last year's International Women's Day, features notable women throughout history including artist Frida Kahlo, aviator Amelia Earhart, and NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson. <img class="wp-image-12548192 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2019/08/9bbb5cf1-barbie-2.jpg" alt="The Sally Ride Barbie." width="600" height="1382" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Barbie]] Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global head of Barbie, told <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rosa-parks-sally-ride-barbies_n_5d600237e4b0dfcbd48c9260?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIe5SLCiBsbltOHM3mm_BioH3TKuiIq2WP7iua96gtWac8uDPoq_jXDSNC08A0W-PCBK3ZitEKo5CdMwOvSypM5xOiyuALFO78bENXeoJRCtRrSimjaDN2k0aAAbpqTAk0RXtKJHrWTqFqr43nUWePY79MFE5OxwHEtuJrKYsE2Q">HuffPost</a>: "As a brand that is dedicated to inspiring the limitless potential in every girl, Barbie is shining a spotlight on role models, historical and modern, to show them they can be anything. "Both Sally Ride and Rosa Parks are changemakers, so these dolls celebrate their achievements, while also encouraging girls to challenge the status quo." <img class="wp-image-12548193 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2019/08/9fd221e0-barbie-3.jpg" alt="Barbie's inspiring women dolls." width="760" height="476" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Barbie]] However, while Mattel has been praised for its inspiring women collection, some critics have argued that the brand should have included the body types of the women it modeled its dolls after. Margo Maine, a clinical psychologist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, wrote in her book <a href="https://www.chapman.edu/students/health-and-safety/psychological-counseling/_files/eating-disorder-files/13-barbie-facts.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-rapid-elm="context_link" data-ylk="elm:context_link" data-rapid-sec="{'entry-text':'entry-text'}" data-rapid_p="9" data-v9y="1">Body Wars</a> that if Barbie actually existed, she'd be 5 foot 9 inches tall with a 39-inch bust, an 18-inch waist and wear a size 3 shoe. Totally achievable. Right... Both the Rosa Parks and Sally Ride Barbie dolls are available to purchase from today.

Rosa Parks and Sally Ride are getting their very own Barbies

Top Stories

Entertainment

A giggling Margot Robbie and husband Tom Ackerley seemingly caught in NSFW act on red carpet

Entertainment

Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband ordered to return millions to singer after overcharging as her manager

Entertainment

Paul Walker's daughter Meadow shares heartbreaking home video on 10th anniversary of his death

Entertainment

Travis Kelce accidentally lets adorable nickname for Taylor Swift slip during podcast

Entertainment

Fans remember Paul Walker on the 10th anniversary of his death

Entertainment

Matt Rife mocked for response to plastic surgeon who said he gave unnamed star 'greatest jawline ever'