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13-year-old succeeds in quest for boy-friendly Easy Bake Oven

Posted at 5:43 AM, Dec 18, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-18 07:44:04-05

PAWTUCKET, RI (WTVR) - A New Jersey child who wanted a more boy-friendly Easy Bake Oven for Christmas will soon get his wish, and it's all thanks to the hard work of his big sister.

Thirteen-year-old Mckenna Pope launched an online campaign asking Hasbro to start marketing the popular toy to boys by offering it in gender-neutral colors, and including boys on the packaging. Her four-year-old brother asked for one for Christmas, and Pope said she was frustrated to learn they only came in purple and pink.

The LA Times is now reporting Hasbro has a new black-and-silver Easy Bake Oven in the works, scheduled to hit toy shelves by fall of 2013. The toy maker reportedly even invited Pope in for a meeting Monday at their Pawtucket, R.I., headquarters to get her input on the plan.

Pope's Change.org petition eventually amassed more than 40,000 signatures, and prompted famed chef Bobby Flay to release a video backing the effort titled Everyone Can Cook. It features several top chefs, including Bobby Flay, throwing their support behind the idea.

You can watch the entire video below: