Debbie Allen, a luminary in the realms of dance, directing, and culture, has achieved a new milestone in her illustrious career. She has been immortalized as the latest figure in Mattel’s Barbie Tribute Collection. For Allen, seeing herself transformed into a Barbie doll is both a humbling and enchanting experience.

“Receiving a Barbie was everything to me,” Allen expressed in a recent conversation with theGrio. “I’ve been honored with many accolades throughout my career, but becoming a Barbie stands out as something truly unique and special. I was absolutely thrilled!”

The newly released doll pays homage to Allen’s memorable role in Fame, where she captivated audiences as the no-nonsense choreographer Lydia Grant. This role earned her the distinction of being the first Black woman to win a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a television comedy or musical. Dressed in an off-shoulder top, purple fringe pants, and a gold belt, the Barbie exudes the vibrant spirit of the 1980s.

Yet, when the S.W.A.T. star gazes upon the doll, she sees a reflection of every chapter of her life, from her days as a globetrotting dancer to her roles as a director and mother.

“Oh, goodness, when I look at the doll, I see the Debbie from Fame, no doubt,” she reminisced. “This was the Debbie who traveled the globe with a show that used the arts as a beacon of diplomacy, uplifting and inspiring people worldwide. It was during the peak of my dance career. I remember the Debbie who dashed off to work with Bob Fosse on Sweet Charity. I see the Debbie who began directing numerous TV shows. And, of course, the Debbie who embraced motherhood for the first time with Vivian. That’s the essence I see in my cherished Barbie.”

For Debbie, the tribute goes far beyond her own legacy. “It’s wonderful for children to see that image of themselves in me,” she said. “And for any child I work with, whether they’re Black, Latin, white, or Asian, for them to be able to touch someone and then see their Barbie, that’s a big deal.”

Her family shares the excitement, she joked that her grandchildren are “over the moon,” though she’s keeping their dolls hidden until Christmas.

Through the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and Debbie Allen Middle School, she continues to build pathways for young people to dream big and move with purpose. That mission, she says, is what keeps her inspired. “These things are just bigger than me personally,” she reflected.

“For me, it is a mission of purpose and [is] very targeted and focused, to give young people a real glimmer and a path of light, because that is something that we don’t have enough of. Right now. There’s just so much arguing and fighting and blaming all over the place, and at some point we need leadership that speaks of the positive part of the world that looks up in the sky, that sees the sun rise every day and set that, you know, gives homage to something more or greater than themselves. Personally, that keeps me going.”

Even after decades of groundbreaking success, the multi-hyphenate entertainer shows no signs of slowing down.

“I honestly feel like I have to keep going because I don’t know anybody [who] quite does all the things that I do. Where I’m sitting right now, and the amount of people that I can pull forward with me. The millions of children that I can pull forward with me, that is a real purpose in my life.”

And what would she tell “Little Debbie,” the girl from Houston, Texas who once played with Barbies before becoming one? “Keep going, stay curious the way you are right now, and never be afraid, and just know that your name is already written on that lit path where you going to go so child, put on your dancing shoes and kickball change up the lane.”

The Debbie Allen Barbie Tribute Doll is available now at Mattel Shop, Amazon, and select retailers. Get yours now and make sure that it is under your tree for Christmas.

Photo Credit: Debbie Allen Instagram