This Barbie took the American ballet world by storm. Mattel recently released a limited-edition Barbie celebrating the legacy of Maria Tallchief, America’s first prima ballerina. Because Maria Tallchief was also a member of the Osage Nation, the release of the doll fittingly coincides with Native American Heritage Month.
Maria Tallchief was born in Fairfax, Oklahoma, in 1925 and began studying ballet at a young age. As a proud member of the Osage Nation, she was determined to achieve her dream of becoming a prima ballerina. She not only achieved that goal but also made history as America’s first major prima ballerina—an honor made even more significant by her Native American heritage. Tallchief broke barriers in the world of ballet, rising to prominence in the 1940s and 1950s with the New York City Ballet. Working closely with choreographer George Balanchine, she helped revolutionize classical ballet.
For those familiar with the world of ballet, Maria Tallchief is often synonymous with the role of The Firebird. Her performance in that iconic ballet was so legendary that when Mattel designed the Maria Tallchief Barbie, they included a costume that directly nods to her role. To authentically celebrate her Osage heritage, her name is also printed on the packaging in Osage orthography.
Mattel went the extra mile with this tribute. They worked closely with members of Tallchief’s family to ensure the doll was both culturally and personally accurate. Elise Paschen, Tallchief’s daughter, was directly involved in the process. Paschen expressed her excitement about the collaboration, stating, "I love it that it celebrates historical and present-day female role models to inspire future generations of girls through doll play."
In addition to creating the Maria Tallchief doll, Mattel made a sizeable donation to the Center for Native American Youth to further support Native communities. Tallchief was deeply proud of her heritage and used her platform as a ballerina to represent her culture on an international stage. Her dual commitment to her art and her role as a cultural ambassador remains inspiring, with her legacy continuing to resonate today.
Ballet as an industry traditionally prizes conformity—uniform hairstyles, movements, pink tights, and shoes that often reflect the skin tone of only one demographic. Maria Tallchief stood out in that world, embracing her Native identity with pride. Where pink shoes and tights have always been the necessary choices for dancers, today more ballet institutions encourage dancers to select tights and shoes that reflect their own skin tones, an important step toward inclusivity. While this evolution cannot be attributed to Tallchief alone, her unwavering commitment to celebrating her heritage laid the groundwork for others to push for representation in ballet culture.
Decades after she retired her pointe shoes, Maria Tallchief’s life and legacy continue to inspire dancers around the world. And this Barbie? She’s inspiring a new generation.
