Everybody loves the ‘Backwoods Barbie’. Especially photographer Alice Hawkins who has spent 10 years dolled up as her heroine – and meeting fellow devotees along the way
In an age of political discord, endless culture wars and the continuing existence of Piers Morgan, only one force on Earth is powerful enough to unite the divided masses. Her name is Dolly Parton. Beloved by everyone from the Christian right to the global drag queen community, Dolly achieves a rare alchemy by at once representing traditional values and progressive ideals, homespun charm and worldwide appeal, artifice and authenticity.
She is the “Backwoods Barbie” who became a feminist icon – the apolitical star who has donated almost 200m books to preschool children, and quietly helped fund the Moderna Covid vaccine.
