Monster High welcomes a new student in honor of Day of the Dead! Her name? Skelita Calaveras!
The Mattel owned line of dolls features characters based off creatures like Frankenstein’s monster, Medusa and Dracula – all of whom attend Monster High as students. Skelita is one of the first international transfer students. Created by Mexican-American doll designer, Natalie Villegas, Skelita is the daughter of Los Eskeletos, and her heritage is rooted in Día de los Muertos.
I had the opportunity to ask doll designer, Natalie Villegas a few questions. Here’s what she had to say!
Interview with Natalie Villegas
SB: I love that this doll is joining the Monster High collection for Día de los Muertos! … I understand that even though you’re Mexican-American, you didn’t begin celebrating Day of the Dead until adulthood. What do you love about the holiday? What are your favorite Día de los Muertos traditions?
Natalie: I grew up in a Chicano Catholic household and reclaimed some lost Mexican/Latino traditions as I grew older. Although I celebrated All Saint’s Day/All Soul’s day in Catholic school, it wasn’t until later that I connected with Día De Los Muertos celebrations. Once I realized how connected I felt to the rituals and celebrations of my past heritage and ancestors, I embraced it and made it part of my life. As Latinos feel less dominated by popular culture we are able to bring on our own perspectives and participate as equals and not feel ashamed of how unique and different our heritage is. As a child you can’t really decide what traditions you will honor, but as adult I choose to not only keep myself informed about my cultural heritage but also adapt it to my modern life.
The things I love most about Día de los Muertos are the ancestral and cultural ties, as well as the celebration among friends and family for those who are longer with us. In addition, I love the beautiful aesthetic. I’m drawn to the colors, patterns, and textures. As you can tell, these visual cues were a huge inspiration when I created Skelita for Monster High.
One of the most important traditions of Día de los Muertos is one of my favorites. I love to prepare the ofrenda, or altar. The altar consists of photographs of loved ones who have passed foods (favorites of family/friends who have passed), flowers, and anything else that may have been significant to loved ones. My second favorite tradition is one that I created for myself. I love to “dress up” and create costume like outfits that mix the traditional Mexican culture with modern fashion for Día De Los Muertos festivals that I attend.
SB: When I was little I used to play with Barbies for hours with my little sister. I never had a doll like Skelita. I’m trying to imagine how I would have incorporated her into our imaginary world! Do you guys do focus study groups? How do kids play with a doll like Skelita and her Monster High friends who are so different than the other Barbies? … How do children not familiar with Día de los Muertos react to Skelita?
Natalie: Monster High is all about celebrating uniqueness and accepting your freaky flaws! So when I design a new character for Monster High, like Skelita, I always think about girls who associate with that feeling of being “perfectly imperfect.”
Monster High has a rich narrative that girls love. While the core characters are children of storybook monsters like Frankie Stein or Draculaura, Skelita is among the first group of international transfer students who also have humorous but relatable stories to tell – this time with a cultural connection. And Monster High is a designer’s dream! In fact, I brought the idea of Skelita to the Monster High team because I wanted to design a character that could bridge a cultural and professional passion of mine.
I’m so proud of this new doll and character. Skelita Calaveras is the newest addition to the Monster High student body. She’s the daughter of Los Eskeletos whose heritage is rooted in a Latino tradition, Día de los Muertos. So, it’s only natural that her favorite activities are face painting, dancing and spending time with her familia. And, Skelita’s freaky flaw is that gets a feeling in her bones that something epic is about to happen … she just doesn’t know when!
So, as you can see, bringing this narrative to life – for girls to play with and “act out” – is extremely special to me. And my hope is that Skelita will inspire girls of all backgrounds to accept and celebrate diverse traditions and holidays. Because at the core, that’s what Monster High is celebrating – the heritage that makes us unique.
A few fun facts about the Skelita doll:
• Natalie wanted to mix up the traditional and modern by giving the doll an “East L.A. Twist”
• One of the traditional elements incorporated in the design include a skirt reminiscent of “papel picado.”
• The bodice design is a mix of a swirled “vertebra” pattern that is somewhat floral – and that floral reference is to the marigolds that are placed on altars during Day of the Dead.
• The wedges Skelita is wearing on her feet have Mexican “huaraches” references.
I like how Dia de los Muertos is meant to be a festive occasion to remember the good times we shared with those who have gone before us, not to dwell on how empty our lives seem without them.
Skelita is a work of art. I love Natalie’s take on the design. Everyone loves this doll, and they should. I even watched the review of Emma’s review on youtube. You probably know her as Kittiemama. I loved her review, she is adorable. I loved her design on the box of Skelita. Natalie is a great artist! I even love that she has a family potrait. They should do that with all of the ghouls.
This doll is so beautiful! I love that they are finally branching out to other cultures with the characters.
I love that it is and always been about celebrating those who have passed, their lives and who they were. Time has tainted how people see Halloween (Samhain); it was a day to also celebrate those who had passed, The Day of the Dead give us an opportunity to honor that without that many people saying it is evil.
My 4 year old daughter is just starting to get into dolls & she would love this!!
I love how the Day of the Dead incorporates beauty with a sense of the macabre.
I love Skelita! She’s goregeous! She’s so colorful and detailed! She has got to be my new favorite Monster High ghoul!
LOVE her!!!! she’s so pretty!
I want her soooooo bad!!! she’s my favorite out of almost every doll out there.
I love that a Latino/a inspired Monster High doll is coming out. It’s so important to me to have toys that are indicative of my children’s heritage!
As a mom that was raised bilingual I understand what a big deal this doll is. growing up I didn’t have who to look up to that was just like me. I think this doll is a huge step for all little Latinas! Asi se hace
I love it because of all the colorful decorations and how it’s such a great celebration of both life and those who have passed on.
I love the colorful designs!
I love the clothing and the face painting!
I love this doll! she is by far one of the most beautiful in the Monster High line!!
I love the celebration of LIFE during Dia de los muertos. I also need to comment that I’d like to congratulate Natalie Villegas on a Doll “well done”!
I love how colorful is the celebration! This ancient tradition is a wonderful chance we have to remember our loved ones under a light of happiness and respect
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I really like the culture, heritage, style, and imagination that Skelita portrays! My niece really wants this doll and is always talking about her!
I like the festivities.
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I love the diversity that Skelita offers to the Monster High line, I cannot wait to add her to my collection
What I love about Dia de Muertos is going to see all the altars that they build for different people including celebrities and other important characters of history. I also like the tradition of the calaveras, which are the goofy poems in which someone tels how the Catrina, which is the Lady Skeleton, comes and takes someone away to the grave. I have this thing for skeletons since my Anatomy and Physiology class. I guess that´s why I´ve always loved both Halloween and Día de Muertos. In my hometown, they make Día de Muertos altar exhibitions, and it´s a way to keep with the Mexian culture no matter where you are. Thank you so much for the giveaway.
I meant Mexican (Missed the C) sorry, typo!
Oh I love her, she is so beautiful. One of the best Monster Highs for sure
I love getting together with family and celebrating our loved ones that are no longer with us. Telling stories and sharing memories…it’s a great way to ensure they are always in our hearts.
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What a stunning beauty and so rich in heritage!
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I grew up in Southern California, surrounded by Mexican culture, and love it like it was my own. Discovering Dia de los Muertos was such a wonderful thing for me, to be able to celebrate the memories of our dead loved ones (and at this point, there are many) with joy instead of tears. I know my dear grandmother would have loved it too- especially the tequila haha- and she was the first of my family that I was able to honor in this way. I’ll have to put some marigolds on her grave again soon, and that of my parents as well.
Skelita is one of my favorites. I can’t wait to get one for myself. <3
I’ve always been intrigued by Dia de los Muertos, and I’d give anything to see the festivities in Mexico in person.
Oh I’ve been itching to see more pictures of Skelita! I can’t wait to see her in person!
I also subbed! I’m really loving this site!
This is one of the coolest monster yet! I need this!
I love taking the time to slow down and remember and celebrate family members that have passed before us.
I love celebrating the dead and how non-morbid it is.
I think the tradition of honoring those who have passed on in a celebratory way. I also think it’s fabulous to see a Monster High Doll that comes from Latino culture.
I just LOVE this doll
She is the most beautiful doll I have ever seen! I love how something “scary” can be so beautiful. Its like the leaves during the fall season — everyone loves how beautiful they are with all the radiant colors, but ironically they are colorful because they are dying or already dead. 
A beautiful death 
Dia de los Muertos is a beautiful tradition, pure and simple!… I really love the idea of honoring those who have passed on before us in this way!… Skelita is a gorgeous doll!
Subscribed to the site’s newsletter!… I’m really looking forward to getting it!
She looks fantastic!
I absolutely love Dia de los Muertos, it’s such a beautiful festival and I’m so happy to see it incorporated in Monster High. The doll is beautifully done and I’m excited that she’s a full skeleton doll. My favorite part is the skirt though. So colorful!!!!
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My daughters love everything about La Dia de Los Muertos! We have our sugar skulls, papeles picados, and other assorted supplies. Tomorrow we are off to a large festival of ofrendas. This new doll is fabulous, and we can’t wait to buy it!
I love all the beautiful colors and the wonderful traditions that are celebrated.
We celebrate dia de Los muertos by making the favorite foods of our loved ones who have passed. I love that my daughter gets excited to share with her friends what “traditions” her family has; it makes me proud she is so happy to share part of her culture
I love this doll!, Skelita is amazing I loved how they used many things about this colourful Mexican tradition to made a doll . I need it! hehe
I am super excited about this doll! The detail is incredible!
Skelita is fantastic! What I love best about the Day of the Dead is the vibrant, crazy colours of the skulls and puppets in the parade on the day!
I love th culture, fashion and bright colors of it all!
OMG she is sooooo perfect
most of all I love the sugar skulls!
I was I could have this.
The traditional face paint.. I love it so much..
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I like that it is a day to celebrate the lives of those we have lost.
i’m already a subscriber!
Love the sculpt of the body. Beautiful!
Love the body sculpt.
i love all the celebrations!
What I love about the Day of the Dead celebration is the altar because it has pictures and belongings of friends and family who have past away. It’s beautiful and it brings back such good memories of that person to always remember.
Day of the Dead celebration was something I’ve been exposed to in high school. It gorgeous was my first reaction and something that I can visually relate to as the designs used in the makeup and clothes are fascinating.
I love Skelita!!!! I’m so happy they bring this cultural richness to Monster high
, Oh dia de los muertos es genial!! It makes me think of dead as something that is not all sad, but that brings your family together 
My daughter love these doll she would die if she got skellita and she likes day of the dead
I love the traditional flowers and colors!
I absolutly love this muñeca i had no idea this was comung out and i watch monster high with my daughter! Where can i get one? what stores will carry thesr? are they out already? me encanta esye website buen trabajo!
this doll is so amazing in really captures the feeling of the day of the dead. She capture every detail needed for this doll.
I love the imagery of the celebration, especially the artistic skulls.
This doll is adorable! I appreciate the details like that papel picado skirt. I love how during Day of the Dead celebrations people respect and pay tribute to their loved ones in such a joyous, colorful way! I recently witnessed a Day of the Dead parade and got a chance to see some offerendas in a gallery space. It was really touching to see the amount of effort people put into these tributes!
Remembering loved ones.
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What I love about day of the dead is the marigolds and skeleton designs, they’re beautiful. I also like the fact that it turns death into a about celebration about a persons life .
I love how her whole body is skeletal, very creative.
My favourite part of Dia de Los Muertos is the time spent with my family. It’s really a day to celebrate being together and being happy, and remembering how happy our loved ones who are no longer with us made us.
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I love how she is not just a doll with fashion sense, but also how she represents parts of a beautiful culture. I would love to see more MH dolls represent the same concept (culture not DOTD)
Adore the exquisite detail!
Love the colors of all the Day of the Dead decor!
Wow! She’s a beautiful doll!
She turned out wonderful! Very very very pretty doll!
Skelita muy bone-ita.
Can’t wait to have this ghoul someday.
I’ve always fascinated with the Sugar Skulls, always wanted to try one and they always just look so beautiful and ornate.
We have a picnic in Maple Hill cemetery every year for Day of the Dead.
Love her. She’s my favourite.
There is a lot to like about the Day of the Dead. The bright colors, the food, the sense of family and belonging. But what I’ve always loved were the actual tableaus, the skeleton figures actually posed in various positions. I’m so happy that Skelita’s entire family gets a mention, because that’s what the holiday is about!
She’s so pretty!
Dia de los muertos is huper desgned doll!
Nedd to have one in my collection!
We love the celebration aspect of day of the dead! I love the colors of the “holiday”. Beautiful! Just like this doll!
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The Day of the Dead celebrates life, rather than dwells on the loss. It’s about love, not sadness!
The best thing for me about Dia de los Muertos is being able to remember and celebrate departed loved ones.
I’m actually going to be an embalmer and always enjoyed the art of death. But not the sadness the joy of being there to help someone in their last moments. The Day of the dead is a day i wish more countries celebrated. Because it’s not a mourning it’s a celebration of family, life, and death. The idea of many colors and it’s not be represented into a sadness like other countries is quite amazing! The doll looks amazing and I hope to get one as it’ll be the a great part of the collection and my future job field!
I love that it is a day to celebrate loved ones that have passed.
She is beautiful, I love hearing the story behind dolls and toys!
I love that the Day of the Dead is mysterious and spooky!
I love her make-up and style!
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The colorful outfits have always been mesmerizing, Skelita totes Mc’ghost captures that!
This doll brought Day of the Dead to life with even the smallest details to touch on it.
For me The Day of the Dead is time when I can meet all my family. We live in different cities, but this day we all come home, eat dinner together, and then go to the cmentery to visit those who past away. We light the candles, talk, pray. It is really family time for dead and living.
firstly thank you for this interview its fantastic to actually read a little about the design process of the dolls I instantly fell in love Skelita when the first images started circling around, it was really interesting reading Natalie Villegas inspiration whilst she is designing, and it lovely to see the passion the designers have for the dolls I think think why i love monster high so much meaning to it, its not just about selling kids dolls.
I love that it focuses on ancestors and heritage. I think that it’s important to know about and honor those that have gone before us.