Barbie: Inspiring the next Generation of South African Women

As South Africa celebrates Women’s Month this August, Barbie and Blue Horizon Licensing (Blue Horizon) invite women – and girls – across the country to recognise the “sheroes” who inspire them.

It is often said that ‘You cannot be what you cannot see’. This phrase encapsulates the importance of positive role models, especially for young girls – because today’s girls are tomorrow’s women. And if we truly believe that the future is female, we must inspire today’s girls to be strong, to stand up and be counted, to dream big fat audacious dreams, to become anything that they want to be, and do anything that they want to do.

It is in this spirit, this Women’s Month, that Blue Horizon invites South African women and girls to join the conversation #MoreRoleModels, by nominating three women who have inspired them, and asking those women to do the same, in this way starting a movement that recognises and acknowledges the women across our country who have contributed, and continue to contribute, to shaping a world in which anything is possible.

“Although we at Blue Horizon Licensing believe that every day is Women’s Day, the official calendar month being August provides us with the perfect opportunity to celebrate women across South Africa, for who they are, how much they have achieved, and how they continue to contribute to the growth and development of this country,” says Lezelle Britz, Managing Director at Blue Horizon.

“It also provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on the challenges that women continue to face, and how each of us can contribute to the development of a more inclusive and less discriminatory world.”

With women in the spotlight this month, the Barbie brand seeks to inspire the next generation of South African women as it is a firm believer that ‘You Can Be Anything’.

“Over the past 60 years, Barbie has had over 180 careers, showing girls that they truly can be anything they want to be – from a fashion model to a fashion editor, an aerobics instructor, a ballerina, or a career gal, an Olympic athlete, a Marine Corps sergeant, firefighter or airline pilot, an astronaut and even president!” says Britz.

In March this year, the brand honoured a host of female role models who have broken boundaries in their fields and have been an inspiration to the next generation of girls with a one-of-a-kind doll made in their likeness. Global honorees included British boxer Nicola Adams, Australian conservationist Bindi Irwin, Italian soccer player Sara Gama, Polish journalist Martyna Wojciechowska, and French chef Helene Darroze.

On the local front, Blue Horizon is proud to announce a new partnership with kidswear and tween brand, SODA Bloc, which is kicking off in September with some strong female-focused messaging, where SODA Bloc and Blue Horizon will be enabling girls across South Africa to wear Barbie pink with pride.

In addition, bookstores across the country will be stocking up on the Barbie “You can be anything” series, while Toy Kingdom and Takealot are offering the Barbie STEM kit – an innovative science kit where girls can build 7 experiments and be guided by an accompanying book that shows them just how to build them.

“Barbie has helped shape the dreams of little girls for over half a century, showing them that anything is possible – if you can dream it, you can do it. We are proud to represent a brand that is shaping the future women of South Africa,” says Britz.