Almost 24 years after the “Try Again” singer’s tragic death in a plane crash at the age of 22, Mattel is honoring Aaliyah on what would have been her 46th birthday with her very own Barbie as part of their Music Series collection.
“Today on Aaliyah’s birthday, Barbie honors the Princess of R&B’s unmatched legacy as a once-in-a-generation talent,” the official Barbie account posted to Instagram Jan. 16. “A rising star who left an unforgettable mark on pop culture, the Aaliyah Barbie doll remembers her iconic style, keeping her influence alive across generations.”
Inspired by her outfit in the “One in a Million” music video, the doll—which is currently sold out on the Mattel site—donned an all-black, faux leather look, including a vest, crop top and silver studded pants, complete with black gloves and sunglasses.
And the Barbie was not only a love letter from Mattel, but also from Aaliyah’s brother Rashad Haughton, who worked closely with the toy company to design the doll and was “blown away” by the results.
“It’s still tight fitting, it’s still a little bit sexy. But it’s pants so it brings that power and that confidence and expression,” he told Today.com in an interview published Jan. 16. “It really just checked all the boxes of what my sister represents and also what Barbie represents, which is empowerment and expression.”
And Rashad was especially pleased by the use of her “One in a Million” look, adding that the song “was such a key song in transitioning her sound to maturity, empowerment, confidence at that point in her career.”
Since Aaliyah’s death, he has often stepped in as a creative consultant for brand collaborations, which helps him ensure that his sister’s legacy will go on.
“Obviously it’s emotional at times,” he said, “but it’s also wonderful because there’s a lot of meaning in that.”
Rashad noted, “It brings back memories and it continues on dreams that we had when she was here. In a lot of ways, it makes me feel like things are continuing on as they should, and those dreams are still valuable and they’re still real.”
The collaboration with Mattel was particularly meaningful, as Aaliyah being placed in the Music Series—alongside David Bowie, Elvis Presley and Stevie Nicks and more—is “a dream come true” for Rashad, and he believes would have been for Aaliyah, too.
“It was something that I always wanted because I know it was something that was my sister’s dream,” he explained. “To have my sister part of that list, it really is a testament to her legacy, and I’m elated to have this doll come out. It’s so beautiful.”
