5'6"
5'9"
8 Hips
6 Hips
Body Inclusivity
New Body New Cover Story
Barbie And Body Image
If the traditional Barbie doll was a real woman, she would be 5’9” and weigh 120 pounds. Her measurements would be 38-18-34. The average woman’s measurements, on the other hand, are about 41-34-43.
In the book “Ken and Barbie at Life Size,” author Kevin Norton states that only about one in 100,000 women actually match the Barbie body image. So what do Barbie dolls teach children about the world? They teach children that it is desirable to be thin, white, and blonde. They may encourage children to strive for an unrealistic body image.
World's Most Popular Doll
Barbie's New Image
Barbie has been a lightning rod for controversy since her debut at the New York Toy Fair in 1959. Mattel has made subtle changes to the doll’s body and face over the years, but none as dramatic as the changes they are making now. In 2016, the earth shifted.
For the first time in 57 years, Barbie got a proper makeover, and her curvy silhouette graced the cover of Time Magazine. A plastic doll’s dream! Mattel grew to embrace the community’s remarkable diversity by adding three new body types: tall, petite and curvy.
"Imagination comes in all shapes and sizes. That's why the world of Barbie is evolving"
The team at Mattel is excited to literally be changing the face of the brand – these new dolls represent a line that is more reflective of the world girls see around them – the variety in body type, skin tones and style allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them,” said Mattel senior vice president Evelyn Mazzocco.