‘Real-life Barbie’ laid to rest in glass coffin so people can ‘admire’ her
A fashioned-obsessed mum planned a Barbie-themed funeral for herself, which included being laid to rest in a glass coffin.
US mum-of-four Dikivia 'Kivie' Steed's life was turned upside down after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2024 after finding a lump in her armpit.
Just months later, Kivie would receive the heartbreaking news that her cancer was terminal after further tests revealed the disease had since spread to the lining of her brain.
The 39-year-old bravely began making arrangements for her funeral and planned a glamorous, Barbie-inspired bash, so her family could give her a stylish and extravagant final send-off.
Advert
"Kivie loved clothes, she was the fashion go-to. If you needed someone to help you put an outfit together, you'd call her," her sister Deedee Steed explained.
"That was her life, fashion and her kids. One of her favourite colours was pink, she was a real-life Barbie doll."
The Florida mum would pass away on 21 March and left her family plans for a lavish pink-hued funeral, which was attended by over 100 people.
The event saw Kivie resembling a real-life doll by lying in a glass coffin while flanked by two cutouts of herself with her social media handle 'Barbie BLVD' featured on them.
Mourners were also requested to follow the Barbie theme for the day, with their outfits following the strict hot pink and black dress code.
Deedee went on to explain that while the general theme of the day was pre-planned by Kivie, the decision to have a glass box came from the funeral director, who wanted to help the mum fulfil her dream of being a human Barbie doll.
"She already knew Kivie was a real-life Barbie, so she put together the whole Barbie aesthetic," Deedee said, adding that the glass coffin was meant to resemble a doll's box.
"She said to me 'I'm going to make it seem like she's in a Barbie box'. The coffin was like the cellophane packaging."
The glass coffin decision is one which received backlash, a decision which Kivie's family have defended.
"[The funeral director] got a lot of backlash from people saying it was 'too extra' but she did it with grace, elegance and class," her sister explained.
"It made me feel proud because we did exactly what Kivie wanted. If she could come down and say 'job well done' she would have."
Deedee is now caring for her four nephews and has created a GoFundMe to help support the children, which you can donate to here.
"It was and still is unbelievable. I still don't believe it. I still feel she's home and will pick up the phone and call me and we'll gossip," Deedee said, adding: "She passed away 10 days before her 40th birthday."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Brenna Cooper