When I was growing up, Barbies were always my favorite toys. I had so many dolls, I ran out of space in my room to fit them.
While plenty of people have shamed Mattel for not being body positive to young girls, I never saw them like that.
Every Barbie had something unique about her. She's been an astronaut, doctor, pilot, and the list goes on, and growing up in a strong feminist household, she taught me I can be anything I set my mind to.
Empowering young girls since 1959, Mattel has taken their role up a notch by unveiling 17 new Barbies for its collection, just in time for International Women's Day.
These 17 Barbies are inspired by some of the most inspirational women in the world, who no doubt have a place on every youngster's shelf.
"Girls have always been able to play out different roles and careers with Barbie and we are thrilled to shine a light on real-life role models to remind them that they can be anything," Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and general manager for Barbie, said in a statement.
But who did the famous doll company select?
Mattel selected various past and present heroines who've defined the strength of women, and I can't be more pleased with the list.
These influential women are divided into two categories, "Modern-Day Role Models" and "Inspiring Women."
The Modern-Day Role Models are:
Patty Jenkins is an American filmmaker who is known for directing Wonder Woman and breaking the world record for the Biggest Grossing Live-Action Film Directed by a Woman "“ domestic and worldwide.
Chloe Kim is a 17-year-old Olympic gold medalist snowboarder, who is the youngest woman to win her category at the 2018 winter games.
Bindi Irwin is the daughter of the late Steve Irwin, is a wildlife conservationist who is "dedicated to inspiring the next generation to make a difference in the world."
Nicola Adams is the U.K.'s most successful female professional boxer, and the only one in the history of the sport to have won all four amateur titles.
í‡aÄŸla Kubat is a Turkish champion windsurfer and a member of the Fenerbahí§e sailing and windsurfing team.
Hélí¨ne Darroze is a world-renowned French chef who owns three restaurants and has two Michelin stars.
Hui Ruoqi is the fifteenth captain of the Chinese women's national volleyball team who led her team to Olympic gold in the 2016 summer games.
Leyla Piedayesh is an Iranian immigrant who founded the high-end fashion label lala Berlin.
Lorena Ochoa is a Mexican woman who was the top-ranked female golfer in the world for 158 consecutive and total weeks.
Martyna Wojciechowska is a distinguished journalist who was the second Polish woman to conquer the Seven Summits.
Sara Gama is the captain of Juventus and Italian national soccer team, member of the Federal Board and President of Commission for the development of women's soccer.
Xiaotong Guan, Actress and Philanthropist is a Chinese actress and philanthropist who's known for being the Ambassador for "World Life Day" (a joint campaign by the United Nations Environment Program, International Fund for Animal Welfare and The Nature Conservancy).
Yuan Tan is a Chinese prima ballerina and principal dancer at the San Francisco Ballet and guest principal dancer at the Hong Kong Ballet.
Vicky Martin Berrocal is a Spanish entrepreneur and fashion designer known for her colorful costumes and accessories.
The Inspiring Women are:
Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, who challenged gender norms "by breaking and setting aviation records."
Frida Kahlo was an iconic Mexican painter known for her breathtaking art. Along with being an artist, she was an activist and has become a symbol of strength.
Katherine Johnson was a celebrated pioneer in mathematics, who was hired by NASA to work as 'human computers' to "calculate the trajectory of the first American-manned flight into space."
If you're unfamiliar with any of these role models, Mattel has provided educational information about how they have positively impacted society.
These limited-edition dolls are available for pre-sale on the company's website and retail for $29.99.
Which Barbie(s) would you want on your self?