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Barbie brand Mattel released a statement honoring Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi.
The Barbie designers and unofficial Madonna doll makers were killed in an Italian car crash.
“Barbie is better because they loved the brand,” Mattel’s statement read.
Barbie designers and unofficial Madonna doll makers Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi — also known for their Magia2000 company — were among four people killed in an Italian car accident over the weekend, per media reports from the region.
According to local news, a driver entered a road on Sunday traveling in the wrong direction, near the border between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy, which ultimately led to the deaths of the longtime business and romantic partners.
In tribute to the couple, Barbie brand Mattel released a statement on the doll franchise’s Instagram account, honoring the duo that frequently collaborated with the toy company.
Marco Tacca/Getty
Mario Paglino and Mario Paglino attend Superdolls collectables cocktail party on May 25, 2012 in Milan, Italy
“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 Magia2000,” the 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.”
The statement highlighted the pair’s commitment to charitable endeavors as well, noting that they enjoyed “showcasing their talents and love for Barbie at doll shows all over the world” and that “their presence brought warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging.”
“Their generosity was boundless, creating countless dolls to be auctioned to benefit charities close to fellow collectors’ hearts,” the statement continued. “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.”
In the caption, the post further elaborated on the pair’s impact, indicating that “Barbie mourns the loss of two treasured artists whose work has forever shaped the world of dolls. Mario and Gianni, you will be missed.”
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP via Getty
Mario Paglino with one of his celebrity Barbies at the 2015 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention
Entertainment Weekly has reached out to Mattel for additional comment.
Paglino and Grossi’s work became notable in the toy space and beyond, with their work even garnering the Barbie Best Friend Award in 2016, as presented by legendary Barbie fashion designer Carol Spencer.
Over the years, they have designed multiple Barbie projects and tributes to celebrities, including dolls made in the likenesses of Cher, Victoria Beckham, Sarah Jessica Parker, Laura Pausini, Giorgia, Sophia Loren, and Lady Gaga, per their website.
Perhaps their best known celebrity tribute, however, remains Madonna, as their dolls honoring the pop icon also led to the “Simply Madonna” exhibit in London in 2009, which ultimately facilitated their first meeting with Madonna on The Graham Norton Show talk series in the United Kingdom, upon which they gifted one of their tribute dolls to Madonna herself.
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Additionally the pair once generated $15,000 for charity through an auction at the National Barbie Convention, their website says.
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