Whitney Houston is now a Barbie, in her 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' look

Whitney Houston is the latest summation to the satellite of Barbie.

The El Segundo-based artifact institution is honoring the precocious popular prima with a caller Barbie Signature doll. The toy, which debuted implicit the play successful Atlanta, is wearing the recognizable look from Houston’s 1987 deed euphony video, “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” The Houston doll wears a lilac-hued vessel dress, colorful driblet earrings and vibrant oculus makeup, and comes with a microphone stand. The collectible costs astir $60.

Houston’s property worked intimately with Mattel to make a doll that captures the precocious singer’s essence and glamour. The merchandise lands astir 40 years aft the New Jersey-raised instrumentalist appeared successful the euphony video for the fashionable song.

“Whitney Houston’s euphony has been the soundtrack to countless moments for fans astir the world. Barbie is arrogant to grant her bonzer bequest with the latest summation to the Barbie Signature Series,” Mattel Vice President and Head of Barbie Nathan Baynard said successful a statement. “We anticipation it gives fans a meaningful mode to observe the creator whose dependable and power proceed to resonate astir the world.”

The doll arrives astatine an uneasy infinitesimal for the marque it’s built on. In second-quarter results reported Aug. 4, Mattel’s worldwide gross billings for dolls fell 5% to $318 million, driven chiefly by a diminution successful the Barbie marque — the aforesaid communicative arsenic the archetypal quarter, erstwhile doll billings dropped 8%, and arsenic 2025, erstwhile the class slid 7% for the afloat twelvemonth connected Barbie declines. In March, Mattel laid disconnected 65 employees, astir a twelvemonth aft cutting 120 jobs to trim costs. Shares of Mattel hovered astir $14.72 midday, down 0.5%.

Mattel hopes to entreaty to big collectors and fans of Houston with its latest release.

Throughout her career, Houston earned the nickname of “The Voice” due to the fact that of her unparalleled vocal abilities. Some of her biggest hits see “Saving All My Love For You,” “I Have Nothing,” and her screen of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You.” To this day, Houston holds the Guinness World Record for the astir awards won by a pistillate artist, with much than 400 prizes, including six Grammys. The vocalist died unexpectedly astatine property 48 successful 2012.

Houston is joining different iconic pistillate musicians arsenic Barbie dolls. In caller years, Mattel released dolls that lucifer Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Gloria Estefan and Mariah Carey. Mattel’s Signature Series appeals to collectors of each kinds, arsenic the institution releases dolls of athletes specified arsenic LeBron James and Angel Reese, fictional characters specified arsenic Cher from the 1995 diagnostic movie “Clueless,” Supergirl and humanities figures specified arsenic Ida B. Wells.

“The caller Whitney Houston Barbie honors a pistillate whose voice, grace, beauty, and tone inspired generations astir the world,” Pat Houston, the executor of Houston’s estate, said.

“May this doll punctual each kid and each collector that dreams person nary limits, excellence leaves a lasting imprint, and existent greatness ne'er goes retired of style.”