Barbie dolls just got a whole lot more diverse. In its continued effort to be inclusive over the last few years, Mattel is ringing in the new decade with a collection that might be its most progressive so far.
The new additions to the Barbie family include a doll with vitiligo, one without hair, one with a prosthetic limb, and a Ken doll with long, rooted hair (so kids can actually brush it). The Fashionistas collection includes six body types, nine skin tones, six eye colours, 11 hair colours, and 10 hairstyles designed with children of all backgrounds in mind, and we’re more than pleased to see this representation.
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A spokesperson from Mattel, said in a statement to CNN that the brand wants to showcase “a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion” through the new toys. “If a girl is experiencing hair loss for any reason, she can see herself reflected in the line.”
Though Barbie has previously drawn criticism for continuing an unrealistic beauty standard, in recent years, Mattel has made efforts to be more inclusive, by releasing dolls with natural hair, in wheelchairs and in hijabs.
In 2017, Mattel had also released a range of Ken dolls that broke the tradition of the blonde, blue-eyed doll we were previously used to seeing. The collection included 15 Ken dolls, featuring three different body types, seven skin tones, eight different hair colours, and a range of that included cornrows and even man buns.
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Next in line for Barbie is a selection of gender-neutral dolls designed to let children see their identities reflected in their toys.
Featured images:Instagram/ Barbie
