Culture

It’s not easy to shop for someone who is turning 93. He or most likely she has everything they want or need. That may be especially true if they’re an EGOT. With that kind of hardware around, do they really need another bauble?

But Mattel came up with a good way of recognizing Rita Moreno as she turns 93 on Dec. 11. She’s getting her own Barbie doll, part of the Barbie Tribute Collection. With a suggested retail price of $40, the doll will be available in the Mattel Shop beginning Nov. 20.

Despite the twin obstacles of sexism and discrimination that she faced as a woman of color on her self-made path to stardom, Moreno emerged as one of the very few Latin movie stars in the Golden Age of Hollywood. (She was born in Puerto Rico and lived there until she was five.) In 1977, Moreno became just the third person to complete the EGOT (following composer Richard Rodgers and actress Helen Hayes). Moreno was just 45 at the time. She was the youngest person to EGOT until 2014, when Robert Lopez achieved the feat at 39.

“I was a girl who decided to go for it, and despite the challenges I faced, I never gave up on my dreams,” Moreno said in a statement. “That’s what I hope this doll inspires in each and every girl today: to live their life with courage and resilience so that they can make their dreams a reality. It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Barbie to bring this doll to life, and I hope it serves as a reminder to embrace your limitless possibilities and pursue your passions because when you embrace them, you’re bound to go far.”

The Barbie Rita Moreno doll wears an elegant gown that echoes many designs Moreno has worn on the red carpet. Barbie worked closely with Moreno to sculpt a doll in proper reflection of her likeness, working with the star from the initial design to the final touches.

“It’s an honor to celebrate Rita Moreno as the latest addition to our Barbie Tribute Collection,” Krista Berger, svp of Barbie and global head of dolls, Mattel, said in a statement. “As one of the few performers to achieve EGOT-status stardom, she has shattered stereotypes and barriers for Latinas in the entertainment industry and beyond.”

The Barbie Tribute Collection was conceived to celebrate visionaries for their contributions, impact and legacy as trailblazers. The series kicked off in August 2021 by paying tribute to TV legend Lucille Ball. The Tribute Collection has since recognized such diverse figures as designer Vera Wang and actress, producer, writer and LGBTQ+ advocate Laverne Cox.

Moreno isn’t the oldest person upon to have a Barbie doll made her in her honor. Barbie honored Queen Elizabeth II with a Barbie Tribute Collection doll in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The Queen was 95 at the time.

Nor is she the first Latina to have a Barbie doll made in her honor. Barbie continues expanding Latin representation in its doll collection, including the Isabel Allende Inspiring Women doll that launched in September 2024.

Moreno isn’t even the first EGOT recipient to have a Barbie doll made in her honor. Barbie previously honored Audrey Hepburn with a doll, dressed in an outfit she wore in her iconic, Oscar-nominated performance in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. In March, Barbie celebrated International Women’s Day and the brand’s 65th birthday by honoring Viola Davis and other storytellers with a one-of-a-kind role model doll made in their likeness. (These dolls were not available for purchase.)

Additional accolades Moreno has received include the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004, the National Medal of Arts in 2009, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2013, the Kennedy Center Honor in 2015, and a Peabody Award in 2019.