Photo: Halle Bailey/instagramHalle Baileyhas marked another milestone in her journey to becoming a Disney princess.The 22-year-old actress revealed the newestLittle Mermaiddoll, a replica of herself that even captures the mole above her left eyebrow.Bailey, one half of the R&B duoChloe x Halle, stars as Ariel in the upcoming live-action adaptation ofThe Little Mermaid, which is set to release Memorial Day weekend.“Today I have something really exciting to reveal to you all,” Bailey said in a sweet Instagram video posted Monday. “I am going to cry. This is the newLittle Mermaiddoll. I am literally choking up because this means so much to me, and to have one that looks like me, that is my favorite Disney character, is very surreal.“And, look — she even has my mole. See!“The doll has the same red hair that Bailey sports in the movie.“I am just stunned,” Bailey said, near tears. “I don’t quite know what to do with it, but I am going to steal this and take it home and hide it forever.“Bailey’s post was met with celebration. “IM BUYING 100 OF THEM!!!” wrote her sister Chloe Bailey.Even the iconic Barbie brand commented: “Well deserved 👏❤️.“Bailey wrote in her Instagram caption that “the little girl in me is pinching herself right now.““I have my own Little Mermaid Ariel doll !!! I can’t believe how much she captures my version of this iconic character 🥹💕brb gonna go cry now,” she added.Bailey auditioned for the rolein 2019 and wrapped shooting in 2021. The world saw their first glimpse of theGrown-ishactor as Ariel in ateaser trailerreleased in September of last year.Many celebrated Bailey as the iconic character, but some expressed negative feedback that the studio did not cast a white actress who resembled the red-haired cartoon from the animated movie.Bailey has said her family helped support her through the vitriol.Her grandparents opened up about their own experiences with discrimination.“It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to heartheir words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,’ " Bailey toldVarietyin August of last year.Despite some of the negativity, Bailey has celebrated representation, sharing videos of young Black girls who watched in awe as they saw aDisney princesswho looked like them.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In a September 2022 interview with PEOPLE, Bailey said she sobbed after finishing the film.“I remember at the end of filming, wrap day, I was just sobbing because I truly felt like I had come out of this cocoon with Ariel,” said Bailey. “This story has done so much for me and the filming process has really kind of changed my life. I’d definitely say it mirrored what Ariel goes through in the film.“The Little Mermaidis in theaters on May 26.
Photo: Halle Bailey/instagram

Halle Baileyhas marked another milestone in her journey to becoming a Disney princess.The 22-year-old actress revealed the newestLittle Mermaiddoll, a replica of herself that even captures the mole above her left eyebrow.Bailey, one half of the R&B duoChloe x Halle, stars as Ariel in the upcoming live-action adaptation ofThe Little Mermaid, which is set to release Memorial Day weekend.“Today I have something really exciting to reveal to you all,” Bailey said in a sweet Instagram video posted Monday. “I am going to cry. This is the newLittle Mermaiddoll. I am literally choking up because this means so much to me, and to have one that looks like me, that is my favorite Disney character, is very surreal.“And, look — she even has my mole. See!“The doll has the same red hair that Bailey sports in the movie.“I am just stunned,” Bailey said, near tears. “I don’t quite know what to do with it, but I am going to steal this and take it home and hide it forever.“Bailey’s post was met with celebration. “IM BUYING 100 OF THEM!!!” wrote her sister Chloe Bailey.Even the iconic Barbie brand commented: “Well deserved 👏❤️.“Bailey wrote in her Instagram caption that “the little girl in me is pinching herself right now.““I have my own Little Mermaid Ariel doll !!! I can’t believe how much she captures my version of this iconic character 🥹💕brb gonna go cry now,” she added.Bailey auditioned for the rolein 2019 and wrapped shooting in 2021. The world saw their first glimpse of theGrown-ishactor as Ariel in ateaser trailerreleased in September of last year.Many celebrated Bailey as the iconic character, but some expressed negative feedback that the studio did not cast a white actress who resembled the red-haired cartoon from the animated movie.Bailey has said her family helped support her through the vitriol.Her grandparents opened up about their own experiences with discrimination.“It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to heartheir words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,’ " Bailey toldVarietyin August of last year.Despite some of the negativity, Bailey has celebrated representation, sharing videos of young Black girls who watched in awe as they saw aDisney princesswho looked like them.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.In a September 2022 interview with PEOPLE, Bailey said she sobbed after finishing the film.“I remember at the end of filming, wrap day, I was just sobbing because I truly felt like I had come out of this cocoon with Ariel,” said Bailey. “This story has done so much for me and the filming process has really kind of changed my life. I’d definitely say it mirrored what Ariel goes through in the film.“The Little Mermaidis in theaters on May 26.
Halle Baileyhas marked another milestone in her journey to becoming a Disney princess.
The 22-year-old actress revealed the newestLittle Mermaiddoll, a replica of herself that even captures the mole above her left eyebrow.
Bailey, one half of the R&B duoChloe x Halle, stars as Ariel in the upcoming live-action adaptation ofThe Little Mermaid, which is set to release Memorial Day weekend.
“Today I have something really exciting to reveal to you all,” Bailey said in a sweet Instagram video posted Monday. “I am going to cry. This is the newLittle Mermaiddoll. I am literally choking up because this means so much to me, and to have one that looks like me, that is my favorite Disney character, is very surreal.
“And, look — she even has my mole. See!”
The doll has the same red hair that Bailey sports in the movie.
“I am just stunned,” Bailey said, near tears. “I don’t quite know what to do with it, but I am going to steal this and take it home and hide it forever.”
Bailey’s post was met with celebration. “IM BUYING 100 OF THEM!!!” wrote her sister Chloe Bailey.
Even the iconic Barbie brand commented: “Well deserved 👏❤️.”
Bailey wrote in her Instagram caption that “the little girl in me is pinching herself right now.”
“I have my own Little Mermaid Ariel doll !!! I can’t believe how much she captures my version of this iconic character 🥹💕brb gonna go cry now,” she added.
Bailey auditioned for the rolein 2019 and wrapped shooting in 2021. The world saw their first glimpse of theGrown-ishactor as Ariel in ateaser trailerreleased in September of last year.
Many celebrated Bailey as the iconic character, but some expressed negative feedback that the studio did not cast a white actress who resembled the red-haired cartoon from the animated movie.
Bailey has said her family helped support her through the vitriol.
Her grandparents opened up about their own experiences with discrimination.
“It was an inspiring and beautiful thing to heartheir words of encouragement, telling me, ‘You don’t understand what this is doing for us, for our community, for all the little Black and brown girls who are going to see themselves in you,’ " Bailey toldVarietyin August of last year.
Despite some of the negativity, Bailey has celebrated representation, sharing videos of young Black girls who watched in awe as they saw aDisney princesswho looked like them.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In a September 2022 interview with PEOPLE, Bailey said she sobbed after finishing the film.
“I remember at the end of filming, wrap day, I was just sobbing because I truly felt like I had come out of this cocoon with Ariel,” said Bailey. “This story has done so much for me and the filming process has really kind of changed my life. I’d definitely say it mirrored what Ariel goes through in the film.”
The Little Mermaidis in theaters on May 26.
source: people.com