30-07-2025
Gay Barbie doll designers and life partners killed in a car crash
Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, a couple who were famous for collaborating with Mattel on custom Barbie dolls, including a Madonna-inspired doll, died earlier this week. The couple was involved in a head-on collision with an 82-year-old man going the wrong way on an Italian highway.
According to an Italian publication, the older man, Egidio Ceriano, and the passenger in the couple's car died. The Daily Beast also reported that Ceriano renewed his license in 2023 and was driving on the wrong side of the road for a little over four miles.
The couple owned a company called Magnia2000, where they'd create tribute dolls to famous icons like Cher, Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, and Sarah Jessica Parker. They worked with Mattel on different creative projects, in addition to their Madonna doll that raised money for charity. Paglino and Grossi's dolls were a part of a 2008 Vogue issue titled "The Black Barbie."
Mattel released an official statement via its Instagram, expressing its sadness over the couple's passing. "The Barbie team is heartbroken by the loss of Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, two treasured creators and Mattel collaborators who brought joy and artistry to the world of Barbie as Magnia2000,' the company wrote. "As passionate and talented designers and lifelong collectors, their spirit and love for the brand turned every creation they touched into a masterpiece."
The statement continues on a second slide, "Their generosity was boundless, creating countless dolls to be auctioned to benefit charities close to fellow collectors' hearts. Barbie is better because they loved the brand, and our beloved collector community is richer for having known them and sharing their passion. Barbie honors their memory with deep gratitude."
This article originally appeared on Out: Gay Barbie doll designers and life partners killed in a car crash
Solve the daily Crossword
