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"We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty," says Evelyn Mazzocco, global general manager of Barbie.
Barbie is going to get a size change--three in fact. As a part of the new 2016 Fashionistas Line, the doll will be available in tall, curvy, and petite, as well as a variety of skin tones and hairstyles, Mattel announced on Thursday. The release of this new line of Barbie dolls will be the first time Mattel goes beyond the skinny frame we're all used to seeing on Barbie.
Richard Dickson, president and chief operating officer of Mattel, released a statement about the Barbie makeover:
"For more than 55 years, Barbie has been a global, cultural icon and a source of inspiration and imagination to millions of girls around the world. Barbie reflects the world girls see around them. Her ability to evolve and grow with the times, while staying true to her spirit, is central to why Barbie is the number one fashion doll in the world."
Mattel has been criticized in the past for Barbie's unrealistic body standards, causing the company to make changes to the iconic doll. Mattel's effort to bring Barbie within the realm of realistic body standards has been an ongoing project for the past two years.
Last year, they released 23 new dolls with different skin tones, hairstyles, outfits, and even one with flat feet. "We believe we have a responsibility to girls and parents to reflect a broader view of beauty," said Evelyn Mazzocco, senior vice president and global general manager of Barbie.
The new Barbie dolls are now on sale at Barbie.com and are scheduled to hit store shelves on March 1. The only question that remains is, will Ken also come in new sizes?
