Six Idaho Women Worthy of Their Own Barbie Doll
Barbie did something super awesome yesterday. They announced a collection based on 'Inspiring Women' like artist, Frida Kahlo, snowboarding champ Chloe Kim, conservationist Bindi Irwin, among others. HOW. COOL. IS. THAT. According to the Barbie website, 85% of moms are "worried about the kind of role models their daughters are exposed to." So they decided to help out by creating dolls inspired by women from a plethora of different backgrounds.
So, it got me thinking....who are some Idaho women that are worthy of their own Barbie Doll. Here are five women, I think totally, deserve it.
- 1
Sacagawea
Known for helping with the Lewis & Clark expeditions, Sacagawea was of the Lemhi Shoshone tribe born near (what is now) Salmon, ID in Lemhi County.
- 2
Nell Shipman
Shipman worked in her studio on Priest Lake (Bonner County) where she filmed and produced the first movie made in Idaho. “The Girl from God’s Country”.
- 3
Kristin Armstrong
Originally from Memphis, TN, Armstrong attended the University of Idaho where she ran track. After her osteoarthritis diagnosis, she decided to focus on her cycling career. She went on to earn gold medals in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic games making her the "most decorated female cyclist in U.S. history."
- 4
Barbara Morgan
Morgan was once a teacher at McCall Donnelly Elementary, then she flew into space! She originally went to NASA with the 'Teacher in Space' program. Then became a full-time astronaut.
- 5
Esther Simplot
Chances are you've probably heard the Simplot name before. Esther Simplot was the wife of industrialist J. R. Simplot. She had a big appreciation for the arts and it showed; she co-founded the Boise Opera Company, the Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy and the Academy Annex in 1996. She joins the list of women who have Boise parks named after them too, you can check hers out at 3206 W Pleasanton Ave.
- 6
Hilary Knight
Sun Valley's Hilary Knight was destined to be a skier, but after her family moved to the Midwest, Knight took up hockey, playing on teams made up of mostly boys. Her mom, Cynthia, told KTVB that "some boys would start punching her in front of the net [...] But she held her own." She's earned three Olympic medals with the U.S. women's hockey team; silver medal in Vancouver (2010) and again in Sochi (2014), but this year in South Korea, team U.S.A. brought home the gold! They beat out their Candian rivals in a penalty-shootout.