A brave young Black woman who became a pilot in the 1920s-and even walked on the wings of airplanes-has become the latest hero to be honored in the Barbie doll series featuring 'Inspiring Women'.

Known for her daring adventures as a barnstorming stunt flyer, Bessie Coleman broke new ground in the field of aviation. She also inspired generations of Black, Native American, and female pilots.

Despite facing racial and gender discrimination, Bessie Coleman became the first Black and Native American female aviator.

She also became the first Black person to earn an international pilot's license. She had to go all the way to France to get the license, because there were no pilot training opportunities for Black women in the US at the time.

The 'Brave Bessie' doll was sculpted to her likeness and dons a traditional olive-green aviator suit, including a cap with her initials "BC".

"It was great to learn more about such a daring wonderful woman who was ahead of her time," said the doll's packaging designer Priscila Bara.

Bessie's great niece, Gigi Coleman, teamed up with Mattel to make the Barbie. "Keeping Bessie's legacy alive has always been a labor of love for my family. We hope through this doll more people will discover Bessie's story and be inspired."

Coleman was born on January 26, 1892 and grew up poor in Atlanta, Texas. She helped her mother pick cotton to earn money, but Coleman wanted to attend college. After she could only afford one semester, she heard that women in France had more rights-and could even fly planes.

Coleman made it her mission to become a pilot. However, American aviators would not teach her. So, she studied the French language and saved up her money. At age 29, she sailed to France, enrolled in a flight school, and received her international pilot's license on June 15, 1921.

She returned to the U.S. and amazed crowds with stunts that earned her the nickname "Brave Bessie". In 1922, she became the first African American woman to stage a public flight-and continued to make a living by showing off her barnstorming tricks.

Coleman's stunts included making figure-8 shapes with her plane. She walked on her craft's wings while in midair. She even shocked crowds by parachuting from the plane, while a co-pilot took the controls.

Coleman toured the country, giving flight lessons and speeches-and refused to perform for segregated crowds. At one event, Coleman learned that there would be separate entrances for Black and white people. She said she would not perform unless there was only one gate. The event leaders agreed.

Coleman died in 1926, at the age of 34, in a plane accident. However, the designers of the new Barbie released this month hope to raise her status as an American icon to new heights.

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