(ABC News) —Mattel’s latest launch of Barbie dolls keeps diversity and inclusion at the forefront.
The toymaker has released this year’s new 2022 Barbie Fashionista collection with several new dolls including the first Barbie with behind-the-ear hearing aids, a doll with a prosthetic leg, a Ken doll with vitiligo and much more.
The first-of-its-kind doll with visible hearing aids is styled wearing a floral print dress, pink booties and a high ponytail.
“Ready to make waves? Dip into new #Barbie Fashion Dolls – our most diverse and inclusive doll line, offering a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashions, to inspire even more stories,” the brand captioned a photo revealing the exciting new lineup.
Barbie’s new doll with hearing aids was created to further expand the Fashionistas line to reflect people with disabilities such as hearing loss, and to accurately portray the hearing aids, the company tapped leading educational audiologist and hearing loss advocate Dr. Jen Richardson.
Richardson shared in a statement that she felt “honored” to have worked with Barbie for the release of its doll with behind-the-ear hearing aids.
“As an educational audiologist with over 18 years of experience working in hearing loss advocacy, it’s inspiring those who experience hearing loss reflected in a doll. I’m beyond thrilled for my young patients to see and play with a doll who looks like them.”
Since revealing the new doll on Wednesday, lots of people have already praised Barbie for promoting representation within its latest offerings.
“My daughter is so excited that there will finally be a Barbie that has hearing aids like her,”Laura Fordsaid in acomment. “We have modified so many dolls so they have puff paint hearing aids but it is definitely not the same as being able to see her go into a store to purchase a doll that looks like her. Thank you!!!!”
Image: Barbie by Mattel
Image: Barbie by Mattel
Two years ago, Barbie was also praised for introducing its first doll with vitiligo which ended up being one of its best Fashionistas sellers in the U.S. that year. This year, the brand is expanding to include a Ken doll with vitiligo to allow for more storytelling and reach an even wider community of children.
Other amazing additions include Ken options with short hair and new dolls with different body types. These dolls will accompany other successful launches such as a doll with a wheelchair and a Black doll with a beautiful afro hairstyle.
“Barbie wholeheartedly believes in the power of representation, and as the most diverse doll line on the market, we are committed to continuing to introduce dolls featuring a range of skin tones, body types and disabilities to reflect the diversity kids see in the world around them,” said Mattel executive vice president and global head of Barbie and Dolls Lisa McKnight.
She continued, “It’s important for kids to see themselves reflected in product and to encourage play with dolls that don’t resemble them to help them understand and celebrate the importance of inclusion.”
The new 2022 Barbie Fashionista collection will be available in June at a variety of mass retailers.
FAQs
Mattel is adding a more diverse selection of Barbie dolls to its latest collection. The company unveiled two new Barbie dolls on Tuesday — its first-ever blind Barbie and its first Black Barbie with Down syndrome. Mattel said the dolls were created to help more children find a doll that represents them.
What is the new line of Barbie dolls? ›
Barbie Fashionistas line
It is described by Mattel as an inclusive range of dolls "designed to reflect the world kids see today." The dolls come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with plenty of skin tones, hair colors and types, eye colors and shapes, fashion styles, disabilities and more to choose from.
What are the new diversity Barbies? ›
UNDERREPRESENTED CAREERS
Dolls reflecting permanent physical disabilities, including a doll with a wheelchair and prosthetic leg, are added. Barbie introduces three new body types: curvy, tall and petite. New Ken body types and a range of diverse features including a man bun, cornrows, and freckles.
What is the most diverse doll line? ›
This week toymaker Mattel added a Down syndrome Barbie to its popular doll range and trumpeted that the company has “the most diverse doll line on the market”.
When did Mattel release the first African American Barbie doll to the Barbie line? ›
When the first official Black Barbie doll was finally released by Mattel in 1980, her box read, “She's Black! She's beautiful! She's dynamite!” She was specifically a Black Barbie, unlike the other Black dolls from the company that either had a different name or the same design as Barbie just with a darker skin tone.
What are the new Barbie dolls for 2024? ›
Mattel announces new inclusive Barbies: Blind and first Black doll with Down syndrome. Barbie added two new dolls to their inclusive 2024 Fashionistas Line: A blind doll and the first Black Barbie with Down syndrome.
What is the rarest Barbie doll in the world? ›
1. Original Barbie - 1959. Estimated Market Value: Up to $27,450. Values are highest for dolls in mint condition and with original accessories.
What was the first diverse Barbie doll? ›
1980 – First diverse dolls named Barbie
Although many diverse dolls were available over the years, they were always friends of Barbie. This time, Mattel releases the first African American and Hispanic dolls named Barbie.
What is the number one selling doll in the world? ›
Although exact sales figures are impossible to source, there is no doubt that the most successful doll of all time is Barbie, the "fashion" toy first debuted by Mattel (USA) at the New York Toy Fair on 9 March 1959.
What is the name of the biracial American Girl doll? ›
Evette is an absoloutely adorable doll who is biracial. She has tan-ish skin, green eyes, and blonde curly hair.
In 1968, Mattel created Christie. Christie had the same body as Barbie so that their clothes were interchangeable. But her face was a new design intended to highlight the facial features of a Black woman. Many consider Christie to be the first “Black Barbie.” Christie was part of a series of talking dolls.
What is Barbie's full name? ›
Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Barbie was named after Ruth Handler's daughter, Barbara, and Ken after her son, Kenneth. She is from (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin, where she attended high school.
Can you get a Black Barbie? ›
Before 1980, it wouldn't have been possible for Rhimes' children to have that experience with a Black Barbie. Mattel created Barbie in 1959, but it wasn't until 1968 that the toy maker released a line of Black dolls called Francie and Christie.
What is the new Barbie trend about? ›
The Ordinary Barbie trend carries an essential message: self-love and acceptance. It empowers women to recognize that they are all like Barbies in their unique ways, shining brightly in their ordinary lives, irrespective of conforming to conventional beauty ideals or meeting society's expectations.
What are the new Barbie dolls with disabilities? ›
This year, Mattel launched a Barbie with Down syndrome, which seems to have been well-received by the community. Mattel says that it worked closely with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to ensure the doll's aesthetics, clothing, accessories and packaging were accurate.
What are the three new Barbie dolls? ›
A new, petite Barbie Fashionista doll. Mattel, the maker of the iconic plastic doll, announced it will begin selling Barbie with three new bodies - curvy, tall, and petite. The doll will also be available in seven skin tones, 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles.
