- Barbie announced that the latest addition to its Fashionistas line will be the most diverse and inclusive set yet.
- The new collection will include dolls its first ever doll with hearing aids, which joins other diverse Barbies that have prosthetic legs, and even a skin condition called vitiligo.
- The new Barbies are set to be released in stores later this summer. Read on for everything there is to know so far.
On Wednesday, toy giant Mattel announced that a new, diverse, inclusive collection of Barbie dolls will be hitting shelves this summer. The set will be added to Barbie's Fashionistas line, and will include the first-ever doll with behind-the-ear hearing aids, as well as more dolls with prosthetic legs, and a Ken doll with vitiligo, which is a condition where skin loses pigmentation. They will join other dolls in the line that have various body types and hair textures.
Mattel introduced a Barbie with a wheelchair back in 2020, at which time the brand said they had 176 dolls with nine body types, 35 skin tones and 94 hairstyles in their line. The Fashionistas line initially launched back in 2015.
"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," says Lisa McKnight, Mattel's Executive Vice President and Global Head of Barbie and Dolls.
McKnight went on to explain that she believes that it is important for kids to not only see themselves reflected in Barbie products but to experience playing with dolls
that don’t look like them "to help them understand and celebrate the importance of inclusion."
To get the designs right for the Barbie with hearing aids, the Mattel team partnered with leading educational audiologist and hearing loss advocate Dr. Jen Richardson.
“I’m honored to have worked with Barbie to create an accurate reflection of a doll with behind-the-ear hearing aids," said Richardson. "It’s inspiring to see 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.”
Fans expressed their excitement for the new doll. "I appreciate the design choice of a ponytail," one user tweeted. "Not all hearing aid users like for their device to be visible, but some do."
The company has come a long way since the original blonde, thin-framed Barbie and Ken dolls. From curvier Barbies, to flatter chests, and now even prosthetic legs, the dolls are trying to help kids see themselves represented.
If you're looking to get your hands on one of these new Barbies, the new additions to the Fashionista line will be up for grabs at Amazon, Target, and Walmart this June—just in time for the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act later this summer.
Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Women’s Health. When she’s not writing, you can find her running, training in mixed martial arts, or reading.
