Gloria Estefan Gets Her Own Barbie Doll On 65th Birthday

Gloria Estefan felt "overjoyed" to learn that she'd inspired a new Barbie doll.

The singer marked her 65th birthday on Thursday (Sept 1) by introducing a new Barbie Signature doll on Instagram. 
 

Speaking to People, Estefan said she is honoured to have a Barbie toy made in her likeness. 

She explained: "Overjoyed is pretty much the word. I've gotten every award that you could possibly imagine. But somehow this was so incredibly special for me, maybe because I played with Barbie since I was a kid, a little girl, and she's an American icon."

She added: "To have them celebrate my image and my career and my culture on my birthday ... it's really special.

"They were really, really sticklers about making sure that I was very involved in choosing her image, the clothes. I actually sent them my thigh-high boots and my jacket so that they could see the detail. That jewellery, the microphone, we made sure the hair was right, that she represented me in the way that was important to me. And I'm just beyond thrilled. What can I tell you? I'm a Barbie."

The new doll has been specifically inspired by Estefan's outfit in her music video for the 1989 smash 'Get On Your Feet'. 

In another interview with E! News, Estefan said of the costume, "I wanted to emulate the torero jackets because my grandfather was from Asturias, Spain, and a mix of Moroccan from the Lebanese side of [my husband] Emilio [Estefan]'s family because him and I are so intertwined. It's just one of my favourite looks that I've ever had."

Looking back at her career, Estefan continues to be amazed by her own success.

The seven-time Grammy Award winner said: "I've got a Christmas album that I did with my daughter and my grandson that is coming out in a month — and to have Barbies celebrating my life right at this moment is just ... there's a lot going on and it's all great and I'm thrilled about it."

The Gloria Estefan Barbie retails for US$55 (S$77) and is available on MattelCreations.com. The release of the doll arrives ahead of Hispanic Month, which is Sept. 15-Oct. 15.— BANG SHOWBIZ

Photos: TPG News/Click Photos, Mattel