Mattel has released its first Whitney Houston Barbie doll, part of the collectible Barbie Signature Series, recreating the singer's look from her 1987 music video for "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)". The release marks the enduring popularity of the song, which Billboard has ranked the greatest pop song of all time, and adds Houston to a line-up of music legends already honoured with Barbie dolls, including Tina Turner, David Bowie and Elvis Presley.

The doll was designed in collaboration with Pat Houston, the singer's sister-in-law and former manager, and reproduces her distinctive 1980s hairstyle, a ribbed lavender bodycon dress, paint-splattered white heels, replica earrings and a microphone and stand. It was unveiled on 8 August at a hotel in Atlanta during the fifth annual Legacy of Love Gala held by the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, an event that also raises funds for youth education and scholarships. As part of the tie-in, Mattel's Barbie Dream Gap Project will donate to the foundation, and the doll is available to buy online through retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.