Marilyn Monroe Barbie Doll Celebrates Her 100th Birthday

Marilyn Monroe is getting the Barbie treatment once again. To mark what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday, Mattel has released a new Barbie Signature Marilyn Monroe doll inspired by one of the actress’s most famous movie moments.

The collector doll recreates Monroe’s glamorous look from the “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” performance in the 1953 musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The doll became available at U.S. retailers on August 18 for $81.

The new Barbie takes its inspiration from the unforgettable pink satin gown Monroe wore as Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The doll features a pink gown with an oversized bow, long gloves and jewelry designed to evoke the dazzling look from the film.

The original song dates back to the Broadway production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, where Carol Channing introduced it. Monroe's 1953 film performance helped turn the number into a lasting piece of Hollywood pop culture.

The choice of this particular outfit also makes sense for Monroe's centennial. The pink gown has become one of the most recognizable costumes in movie history.

In fact, the original gown recently returned to the spotlight. The authentic dress is currently part of the “Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon” exhibition at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. The costume had been considered lost before collector Bryan Johns helped track it down.

Mattel developed the new doll in collaboration with The Estate of Marilyn Monroe LLC.

According to Mattel executive Robert Best, the goal was about more than recreating a famous outfit.

“Barbie has a rich history of celebrating Marilyn Monroe’s legendary style as both a fashion icon and beloved actress,” Robert Best, Mattel’s Vice President and Dolls Design Creative Director, said in a statement.

Best says the company wanted the doll to recognize Monroe as “a savvy producer, a businesswoman and a boundary-breaking artist.”

That broader focus is important. Monroe remains known around the world for her glamorous image, but her career also included efforts to gain more creative control in Hollywood.

This isn't the first time Barbie has celebrated Marilyn Monroe.

Mattel previously released Marilyn-inspired dolls beginning in the late 1990s. Those versions recreated other famous looks, including the white halter dress from The Seven Year Itch, a red gown from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and an evening gown inspired by How to Marry a Millionaire. 

The latest release adds one of Monroe's most recognizable performances to that collection.

And with Monroe's 100th birthday taking place in 2026, the timing gives the doll another layer of significance for collectors and classic Hollywood fans.

Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926. Her career lasted only about 15 years, but her influence has stretched across generations.

Her performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” remains one of the clearest examples of that lasting influence. The pink dress, platinum hair and sparkling jewelry have become shorthand for old-Hollywood glamour.

Now, 100 years after Monroe's birth, that image has found another home on a Barbie shelf.

For fans of Marilyn Monroe and Barbie, the new Marilyn Monroe Barbie Signature doll is more than a collectible. It is another reminder of how one Hollywood star's image continues to shape pop culture decades later.