It was only announced one week ago that Zendaya’s awesome Oscars look — a white Vivienne Westwood gown worn with locs and metal hair accessories — would be immortalized in Barbie form, but the musician and actor has already revealed the doll design on Instagram.
“When I was little I couldn’t find a Barbie that looked like me,” the mixed race star commented on the image, adding, “my…how times have changed. Thank you @barbie for this honor and for allowing me to be apart of your diversification and expansion of the definition of beauty”.
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) February 24, 2015
At the time of the Oscars, Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic caused widespread offense when she commented on Zendaya’s look, saying “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil. Or weed”. Zendaya responded, explaining that, “To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or ‘weed’ is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive… There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair.”