Gay couple famous for designing Barbie and Madonna dolls killed in car crash
Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, the designers of Barbie and Madonna dolls (Getty)
Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, the designers of Barbie and Madonna dolls (Getty)
Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, the couple famous for designing Barbie and Madonna dolls, have been remembered after their tragic deaths in a car crash over the weekend.
The couple, who often collaborated with Mattel, died on Sunday (27 July) following a collision involving two vehicles in the Italian region of Lombardy.
The Independent reports that the driver of the other vehicle, 82-year-old Egidio Ceriano, also died. Amodio Valerio Giurni and his wife, Silvia Moramacro, who were in the same car as Paglino and Grossi, were hospitalised.
After news of the couple’s death emerged, Mattel posted a tribute to the pair on social media.
“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 [the couple’s company] Magia2000,” a statement read.
“As passionate and talented designers and lifelong collectors, their spirit and love for the brand turned every creation they touched into a masterpiece. Beyond their remarkable talent, they shared an energy that lit up every space they entered.”
Mattel celebrated the pair’s talent, adding: “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 shared in their passion. Barbie honors their memory with deep gratitude.”
Paglino and Grossi were well known in the doll collector community, having formed in 1999. In 2016, they received the Barbie Best Friend Award for promoting Barbie culture globally. It was awarded to them by the iconic designer, Carol Spencer. They also created many celebrity dolls over the years, including those with the likenesses of Cher, Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Lady Gaga.
The two created a series of dolls of the icon Madonna, which they were able to show off to her when she appeared on The Graham Norton Show in 2009. In a clip that the pair shared on YouTube, the “Vogue” singer initially seems sceptical of the dolls but after seeing a few of them up close showed some reserved appreciation for the pair’s work. Paglino and Grossi even gifted Madge a doll recreating a flowing outfit she wore at the Venice Film Festival.
