mattel launches david bowie barbie dressed as ziggy stardust

toymaker mattel has revealed a limited edition david bowie barbie dressed as the english singer’s iconic alter-ego ziggy stardust. the release honors the 50th anniversary of bowie’s hit single ‘space oddity’.

images courtesy of mattel

the new barbie is sporting a striped metallic jumpsuit, matching red boots and a backcombed mane of hair. the look is complete with cosmic accessories replicating the look of bowie’s fictional androgynous bisexual rock star.

‘in a definitive celebration of two pop culture icons, barbie honours the ultimate pop chameleon, english singer, songwriter and actor david bowie, whose dramatic musical transformations continue to influence and inspire,’ said mattel. ‘this collectible barbie doll honours the cultural legacy of the musical genius who redefined rock and roll.’

bowie, who died in 2016, released ‘space oddity’ in 1969 as a play on stanley kubrick’s epic film ‘2001: a space odyssey’, which was released a year earlier. bowie debuted his ziggy stardust persona in a few years later in 1972 with the album ‘the rise and fall of ziggy stardust and the spiders from mars.’

over the past decade, barbie has dressed like andy warhol, elvis and frank sinatra. more recently, she has taken on the persona of empowering female figures like frida kahlo, katherine johnson and amelia earhart.

also this week, mattel released a doll of astronaut samantha cristoforetti, the european space agency’s only active female astronaut. it forms part of a project mattel has embarked upon, inspiring girls to explore careers in science and technology.

project info

company: mattel / barbie
model: david bowie / ziggy stardust