Julie Bishop
There’s a new Barbie in town and we are so here for it. I know, I know, we at Franc.World are getting a little old for Barbies, but hear us out – it’s of Australia’s very own former Foreign Affairs Minister and former Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Julie Bishop.
Presented with the doll for being a ‘glass-ceiling shattering icon’, the honour has come with Ms Bishop being named Barbie’s Official 2021 role model for Australia as part of Mattel’s annual celebration of role models breaking boundaries to show girls they can be anything.
The doll comes with a diplomatic passport and silver suitcase (as a nod to Julie’s years in foreign affairs) and wears an exact copy of the outfit she wore the day she quit politics - her navy Armani dress and coat and fabulous red sparkly shoes.
Bishop’s involvement with Mattel includes working on its “Dream Gap” project, which aims to show girls as young as five that they can achieve the same career goals as boys. Locally, she says there’s a major “dream gap” among Indigenous youth, and as ANU chancellor she is focusing on attracting more First Nations students, including through new scholarships.
Tragically, the doll is not available for sale, but we can admire from afar!
Photography credit: The New Daily