The Ida B. Wells Barbie honors the investigative journalist and civil rights activist for her accomplishments. The Black Label doll was designed by Mattel's Linda Jiang, and it's part of the Inspiring Women Series. Wells was born into slavery in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1862 and became an advocate of women's suffrage. She also exposed the brutality of lynching in the 1890s. She co-owned and edited a Memphis newspaper, where she wrote about inequality affecting African Americans. In addition, Wells (later known as Wells-Barnett) co-founded the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

She lived in Chicago and died in 1931.

Wells joins a list of women honored in the Barbie Inspiring Women series, including singers Celia Cruz and Ella Fitzgerald, astronauts Sally Ride and Ellen Ochoa, figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, tennis champions Venus Williams and Billie Jean King, and other athletes such as Sue Bird. In fashion, the collection is represented by Anna Sui. Dolls in other categories include Wilma Mankiller, Bessie Coleman, Madam C.J Walker,  Dr. Jane Goodall, Maya Angelou, Isabel Allende, Maria Tallchief, Anna May Wong, Florence Nightingale, Amelia Earhart, Katherine Johnson, Helen Keller, and Frida Kahlo.