Teresa Rivera

**Teresa Rivera** is a Hispanic friend of Barbie who first debuted as the "California Dream" Teresa doll in 1988 resembling Dee Dee Schwitzerson from the *Barbie and the Rockers* line. Since then, she has been Barbie's most frequently featured female companion in the toy line (next to Christie). Currently, Teresa remains one of Barbie's core friends in the Barbie brand along with Summer, Nikki, Raquelle, and Renée Honda. In the movie, *Barbie & the Diamond Castle*, Barbie states that Teresa is officially her "best friend".

## Biographyedit | edit source

Barbie's "family tree" has expanded over the years to include numerous diverse and multicultural friends. Teresa was among these. She first appeared in 1988 in the "California Dream" line alongside Barbie, Ken, Christie and Midge (who made her comeback in this line).

Christie had been Barbie's most featured friend at the time, and being featured continuously in the playline since 1968. It wasn't till 2004, when Christie was discontinued after the "Really Rosy" line, that Teresa would become Barbie's most frequent companion after Ken.Since then Barbie and Teresa are still best friends.

Teresa has been seen in various Barbie-related media such as books, magazines, video games and movies such as *Barbie & the Diamond Castle*, *Barbie and the Three Musketeers* and *Barbie in A Mermaid Tale*, but she made her first appearance in *Barbie of Swan Lake* where she played the [[Fairy Queen]]. She currently appears in the web series *Life in the Dreamhouse*, where she plays herself.

## Fashion Fairytale

After a confrontation with Barbie's friends Teresa and [[Grace Findley]], who thinks Ken dumped Barbie for Raquelle, he is confused. However, one of the lines he recorded for Raquelle was about breaking up with someone, and he realizes that Raquelle sent it to Barbie. To make sure Barbie understands what happened, Teresa and Grace tell him to make a 'grand romantic gesture'. Ken decides to go to Paris to surprise Barbie, so he books a flight. Teresa is a quirky girl and jumps to odd conclusions about normal situations.

## Diamond Castle

Teresa is Barbie's best friend. They sing and play their guitars together, and have a strong bond. When Barbie's sister Stacie comes to them upset with one of her own friends, Barbie tells her the story of two girls based on her and Teresa: Liana and Alexa. They are two girls who don't have much, but they do have each other. At one point, they have a disagreement, just like Stacie and her friend, but they resolve it and live happily ever after. The story convinces Stacie to make up with her friend.

## Life in the Dreamhouse

Always there for her friends (just maybe not on time), Teresa is the mellow, live-and-let-live type. Sarcasm is lost on this boho-chic gal, who subscribes to as many conspiracy theories as she does gossip magazines. What she says is what she means… for better or for worse. She supposedly originated from Spain, (or did she...?) and her voice is high, and definitely the typical "valley girl" voice.

## Spy Squad

Teresa and her best friends, Barbie and Renee, are talented gymnasts. Aunt Zoe observes their skills and recruits them as spies for a secret agency named I3. They are tasked with catching a Cat Burglar who wants to steal powerful gems. As they scale a building during their first mission, Teresa's fear of heights causes them to fail their mission.

## Princess Adventure

Teresa is a student at Golden Beach High. She is friends with Barbie, who is identical to Amelia, a foreign princess. Amelia arranges for Barbie, Teresa and their friends to stay at her palace for a week. Teresa and the others fly to Floravia.

Barbie meets Amelia and agrees to switch places with her for a week so Amelia can experience a normal life before becoming queen. Barbie tells Teresa and their other friends, and Teresa agrees not to reveal it to anyone until Barbie and Amelia switch back.

Barbie's first event as Amelia is a pre-coronation party. Teresa and her friends go to the party, and Teresa helps Barbie up when she falls over in front of paparazzi. Barbie meets Prince Johan, who knows Amelia. She doesn't know what to say to him, so Teresa helps Barbie to get away from him. Teresa and her friends go back to the palace.

The next day, Teresa goes shopping in Floravia with her friends. She buys new pajamas. They later have a surprise slumber party for Barbie. Teresa and the others hear something, and notice that Amelia's pet rabbit Snowy is trying to get their attention. Snowy leads them to Amelia's secret hangout room.

Teresa and her friends overhear Johan's guards, and figure out that Amelia is in trouble. She was kidnapped by Johan's guards so that she would miss her coronation, and he could become the ruler of Floravia. Teresa and her friends split up to search the city for Amelia. Barbie gets separated from them and attaches her personalized necklace to Morning Star, Amelia's horse. Morning Star alerts Teresa and the others that Barbie is in trouble. Barbie and Amelia are both trapped on Johan's yacht.

Teresa and Nikki give an old man a goat so that he will let them use his speedboat. Then, they go to Johan's yacht. Barbie and Amelia escape and get on the speedboat. After Teresa and her friends work together to get Amelia to her coronation in time, Amelia is crowned queen. Teresa and the others take a group selfie and celebrate with everyone. Teresa livestreams the celebration, and it gets one billion views.