#Kristi Yamaguchi

[dozydawn]

kristi yamaguchi & her oldest daughter keara, 2008.

[theseimmortalsouls]

thinking about the person selling framed cereal boxes of kristi yamaguchi on ebay

[osakautism]

[barbielore]

In the United States, May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, commonly abbreviated to AAPI Month.

I know that in the past I have done a brief history of Asian representation in the Barbie line but I can't find the post in my history anymore and to be honest, it probably wasn't a very good or detailed wrap-up as I did it quite early in the blog's history - in fact, the reason I'm so sure I did a post like that even though I can't find it now is because I remember getting some feedback that the post left out a lot of stuff that I really should have talked about.

This year as a celebration of AAPI Month, Mattel have released a new doll in the Inspiring Women line: Kristi Yamaguchi.

Celebrating Yamaguchi as the first Asian-American woman to win Olympic gold in figure-skating, this doll is depicted wearing a replica of Yamaguchi's Olympic skating outfit. Notably she is not depicted with her gold medal.

But more than being a figure skater, Yamaguchi is also a children's book author. Did you know that? Because I didn't.

Mattel have not always been at the forefront of diversity especially when it comes to representations of AAPI women. There have been some improvements - Mattel have gone from the only Asian doll in the line being an unfortunately named Dolls of the World doll, to including some Asian-American or Pacific Islander friends of Barbie such as Kira and Miko, to having Barbies depicted as AAPI in the regular Fashionistas and careers line.

However, there have still been problems, such as the Tokyo Olympics Barbie series that contained no Barbies of Asian appearance.

And the last AAPI doll that I am aware of that was released in the Inspiring Women line was Anna May Wong - for AAPI month last year.

I do wonder if Mattel could be showing more dedication towards diversity by showcasing Inspiring Women of AAPI backgrounds at times of the year other than the leadup to May, as well as emphasizing more inclusion in the doll line year round.

[barbiesince59]

Inspiring Women: Kristi Yamaguchi - 2024

[oldtimesnew]

Danskin 1990

[dollshobby]

Review: Kristi Yamaguchi, Barbie Inspiring Women, Mattel 2024

Welcome to the review of another incomparable representative of the most famous Inspiring Women series from Mattel - Kristi Yamaguchi 🥇⛸️

[tripleaxelrose]

Brian Boitano and Kristi Yamaguchi’s luxury grown-ass OGM friendship is the best thing in skating.

[figureskatingcostumes]

Kristi Yamaguchi skating to Bridge Over Troubled Water in her 2004 show Kristi Yamaguchi's Salute to American Music.

(Source: scratchspin.com)

[dozydawn]

Kristi Yamaguchi as Juliet, 1993.

[triple-axel-triple-threat]

[osakautism]

[mediocrebap]

[the-haven-of-fiction]

Who’s watching Elton?

I didn’t grow up with parents who were fans, so his music wasn’t played in my house; but I remember the first time I was struck by one of his songs. I was a little kid and it was “Tiny Dancer” used as the track for a fluff piece about figure skating at the 92 Olympics. Maybe it was the image of Kristi Yamaguchi in those iconic Lauren Sheehan costumes that made the lyrics so evocative, but I never forgot it.

[iolaussharpe-24]

[nevergonnascore]