Name: Tangerine Twist Barbie
Made by and When: Mattel, 1997
Designed by: Kitty Black Perkins
Head Sculpt: Nichelle
Material: Vinyl
Height: 11-1/2 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Long black rooted straight hair with bangs, brown-painted eyes with rooted eyelashes and eyeshadow, closed mouth with frosty pink lip color and burgundy lip liner
Clothes/Accessories: Satin tangerine skirt suit with a leopard-print collar; leopard-print hat with a gold-tone and rhinestone feathered accent; rhinestone stud earrings set in gold, black gloves, a black handbag, and orange high-heeled oxfords with real and mock black laces. Accessories include a doll stand, a certificate of authenticity, and a reply card.
Other: Designed by Kitty Black Perkins for the adult collector, Tangerine Twist is the first doll in the Fashion Savvy Collection. The doll and the designer are described on the back of the box as:
She’s smart. She’s classy. And just a little bit sassy. She’s today’s African-American woman—glamorous, exciting, and confident. Tangerine Twist Barbie has style that doesn’t stop, and she’s not afraid to show it—expressing herself with a personal touch that makes the difference. Here, with a satiny suit that’s all shimmer and sparkle, she wears a stylish leopard print hat with feathers, “leather” gloves, handbag and shoes.
Meet the designer, Kitty Black Perkins, who’s been creating beautiful outfits for Barbie doll for over twenty years [in 1997]. Now, with her understanding of African-American beauty and culture, Kitty creates the first Barbie doll in a very exciting series, designed to celebrate the unique style, image and opulence of the contemporary woman.
Gallery





_________
Your comments are valued. Donations aid the initiative to preserve Black-doll history.
If you subscribe to DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum™ by email, click the post title of the email, which links to the website to view all text and associated media. Please “like” and share this installation with your social media contacts. If you’d like to subscribe, add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar. Add your email address to the subscribe or sign-up field in the footer or right sidebar.