Barbie just got even more diverse

What’s truly admirable is Mattel’s dedication to ensuring authenticity with every single one of its new, inclusive dolls. The influential brand has jumped through hoops to improve representation within the toy industry, going out of its way to accurately research each condition before proceeding with manufacture.

It worked with dermatologists when designing the dolls with vitiligo and spoke with gender-creative children for the neutral dolls. It even collaborated with Jordan Reeves – a 13-year-old disability activist born without a left forearm, ‘on a mission to build creative solutions that help kids with disabilities’ – for its doll with a prosthetic limb (which can be removed for a ‘more realistic play experience’). And these steps that Mattel has taken – it’s introduced over 170 looks showcasing different identities in the last five years – have definitely not gone unnoticed, resonating worldwide with the public.

‘Our Fashionista line has been received incredibly well by consumers,’ says Lisa McKnight, global head of Barbie. ‘For basically every week last year, our best-selling doll was curvy and black with an afro, and one in four sold in the UK annually is in a wheelchair. Our commitment to better reflect the world drives a powerful conversation, and we know our efforts are resonating with eight consecutive quarters of growth.’

It’s great that Barbie is continuing to reinvent herself after these years, but hopefully this progression doesn’t slow down because, diversity aside, we must acknowledge that the dolls have a way to go before they truly reflect the population. Let’s just wait and see, shall we.