The one-of-a-kind 'Julia Alvarez' Barbie was gifted to the award-winning Dominican-American writer, educator, and activist, whose vast body of work explores multicultural themes for children and adults alike. For decades, she has worked to promote literacy as a means of overcoming generational poverty and has remained an outspoken advocate for peace between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Her awards include the Pura Belpré and Américas Awards for her books for young readers, the Hispanic Heritage Award, and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Award.

In 2013, she received the National Medal of Arts from President Obama.