The 9-year-old is actually on a mission to collect 1,000 new Barbie dolls for 1,000 homeless girls her age, her mother explained.
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According to analysts, the arrival of MGA Entertainment’s Bratz doll line in 2001 put a dent in Barbie’s appeal as it offered a sassy personality and pouty-lipped ethnically ambiguous alternative to the impossibly thin body, out-of-proportion bust and sky-high stiletto pumps of the iconic toy. But body type “was only one of the criticisms”, he said.
Before adding: “Girls don’t come in one shape”.
Some might argue the move is too little, too late, but Mattel’s President and COO Richard Dickson told Time that their goal is to get Barbie’s fans to love the doll even more, and if they can even change some of that negative perception to neutral, that’s a step in the right direction.
As a result, Mattel ended up reporting eight straight quarters of declining revenue from sales of Barbie in recent years.
However, a British study in 2006 of girls aged five to eight found that those exposed to Barbie had a less favourable view of their own bodies.
The El Segundo, California, toy company will also continue to sell the original Barbie. The new versions will begin arriving on USA store shelves in March and will roll out globally after that.
Yes, Barbie is now available in curvy, tall and petite. The variety “allows girls to find a doll that speaks to them”.
Some, however, saluted the new Barbie wholeheartedly. Barbie was supposed to be every woman, only she didn’t represent that physically.
Barbie has gone through many changes since I was a little girl.
With the new Barbies, kids have various options to go with as the dolls having different eye shapes and skin tones.
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I’m not sure what the outcome will be for Barbie’s new look, but I must say it’s refreshing to see.
