Tragic Crash Claims Barbie Designers Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi in Italy

Renowned Barbie designers Mario Paglino, 52, and Gianni Grossi, 55, lost their lives in a devastating head-on car crash on Italy’s A4 Turin-Milan highway on Sunday, July 27, 2025. The professional and romantic partners, celebrated for their innovative contributions to the Barbie brand through their company Magia2000, were killed when an 82-year-old driver, Egidio Ceriano, drove the wrong way for over seven kilometers, colliding with their SUV at 130 km/h near the Marcallo-Mesero tollbooth in Lombardy. The crash also claimed the lives of Ceriano and Amodio Valerio Giurni, 37, a banker traveling with the designers. Giurni’s wife, Silvia Moramarco, 36, the sole survivor, remains in critical condition at Niguarda Hospital in Milan.

The incident occurred when Ceriano, after missing a toll booth, made a U-turn and re-entered the highway in the wrong lane, driving against traffic for approximately four miles, according to Italian news outlet ANSA. A couple in another vehicle narrowly escaped a similar collision, with the woman describing it as a “miracle” that her husband swerved in time, per the New York Post. Paglino and Grossi, residents of Novara, were reportedly heading for a day at the lake when the tragedy struck.

Mattel, the parent company of Barbie, mourned the loss in an emotional Instagram tribute: “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. As passionate and talented designers and lifelong collectors, their spirit and love for the brand turned every creation they touched into a masterpiece.” The statement highlighted their infectious energy and global impact, noting, “Whether leading the Italian Doll Convention in Milan or showcasing their talents at doll shows worldwide, their presence brought warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging.

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Paglino and Grossi founded Magia2000 in 1999, a company named after the Italian word for “magic” and an anagram of their names (MA-rio and GIA-nni). Their custom Barbie dolls, inspired by pop culture and art, included tributes to icons like Madonna, Cher, Lady Gaga, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Sophia Loren. Their 2006 Barbie Film Noir doll, designed for the National Barbie Convention, marked them as the first non-American duo to create a souvenir Barbie for Mattel. In 2016, they received the prestigious Barbie Best Friend Award from designer Carol Spencer. Their creations, often auctioned for charity, fetched high prices, with one doll selling for $15,000 at a 2015 convention.

The duo’s legacy extends beyond design. They founded the Italian Doll Convention in 2011, Europe’s largest fashion doll event, and served as consultants for the 2015 “Barbie The Icon” exhibition in Milan and Rome, showcasing their personal collection. Their recent work included the 2025 National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention’s exclusive ICON Barbie, inspired by art like Van Gogh’s Irises and Frida Kahlo’s The Two Fridas. Fans on Magia2000’s Instagram mourned their loss, with one writing, “Your artistry and kindness were unparalleled, a beacon in the Barbie community.”

The crash has raised concerns about elderly drivers, as Ceriano had renewed his license in 2023 despite his age. Italian traffic police are investigating, with preliminary reports suggesting confusion at the toll booth led to the fatal error. The incident, which closed the A4 for hours, has prompted calls for stricter highway safety measures in Italy, where wrong-way driving incidents have increased by 15% since 2020, per local media.

The Barbie collector community and Mattel continue to honor Paglino and Grossi’s transformative contributions, ensuring their legacy endures through their iconic dolls and the joy they brought to fans worldwide.

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