LISTEN: Five children from Georgia were among 170 kids living with Type 1 diabetes who traveled to the nation’s capital last week to lobby Congress to fund T1D medical research. But they also came home with a now sold-out toy that’s making them feel a little less alone. GPB’s Ellen Eldridge reports.

Torri-Symone Fairris poses next to a photo of a T1D Barbie

15-year-old Torri-Symone Fairris, who has Type 1 diabetes, poses next to a photo of a T1D Barbie doll.

Credit: Contributed

Torri-Symone Fairris, 15, is one of five Georgians who attended the Breakthrough T1D Children's Congress, where she spoke with senators about living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

This was the second time Fairris tried for the competitive, once-in-a-lifetime advocacy opportunity to visit the nation's Capitol.

She met celebrities who are living with T1D, and she spoke with U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock about the importance of special programs for diabetes. Talking with the CEO of Breakthrough T1D encouraged Fairris about research and finding a cure.

Then, Fairris and the group of 170 delegates were presented with a surprise: the new first Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes.

Mattel partnered with research and advocacy nonprofit Breakthrough T1D to create the doll.

"The inner girl in me was screaming," Fairris said. "And then they told us that they had one for all of us."

a group of delegates as seen from above

170 delegates attending the Breakthrough T1D Children's Congress lift the Type 1 Diabetes Barbie dolls they received during the July 2025 event.

Credit: Contributed

Everyone chanted "Barbie, Barbie!" and celebrated the announcement.

Some people cried.

"It was literally so amazing because this Barbie doll, she represents Type 1's and she is just so pretty and amazing," Fairris said.

Emily Masrakou, the director of marketing strategy at Breakthrough T1D, said they were excited to debut Barbie at the Breakthrough T1D 2025 Children's Congress in Washington D.C. 

The three-day event in Washington, D.C., brings children between the ages of 4 and 17 with Type 1 diabetes face-to-face with lawmakers and top decision makers to advocate for Type 1 diabetes progress, cures and research, she said.

Each Barbie doll wears an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor, like many children and adults living with T1D.

More than 1 million people in the U.S. live with the autoimmune disorder. It requires lifelong insulin because the body can no longer produce it.

Fairris said it feels good to be represented.

"Barbie already, she is an actor, an astronaut, a doctor, a nurse, she is anything that she wants to be," Fairris said. "And now that they've put diabetes on her, she's really saying to the world that you can do and be anything you want while having diabetes."

Fairris said she stays active with singing, dancing and theater, but still has to miss certain opportunities because of the way her blood sugar is affected. 

She wants to stay involved as an advocate because she understands how difficult life is with T1D.

"I don't want the next generation to have to go through what my generation with Type 1 diabetes has to go through," she said. "I'm doing my part in helping find a cure by advocating so that way more kids don't have to go through what I go through."

Meanwhile, her Barbie sits on her dresser at home.

"She's mine forever," Fairris said.

Tags: Georgia  Barbie  diabetes