Barbie just got a major overhaul. And it’s not a new career—there’s no data scientist Barbie (yet) to keep up with the times. The infamous doll is staying hip by getting some hips. Mattel announced it’s now selling curvy, tall, and petite Barbies in addition to the one we’ve known for the last 50 years.
Photo: Mattel
The change (Mattel is calling it “an evolution”) comes on the heels of new skin tones and hair styles that were introduced last year. Curvy Barbie is scooping up most of the attention, and for good reason. Barbie has a booty and calves—and just generally looks a lot more like you, or at least someone you’d pass by on the street. The petite and tall Barbies are also a big step forward, showing that beauty really comes in more than one very rigid shape and size. And if you think it’s silly to connect self-confidence to what a doll looks like, there’s actual science to back us up. Studies have found that girls who played with Barbies had lower self esteem than those who didn’t.1
To celebrate the release, Mattel released an adorable video (see below). It’s a bit heavy on the cheese factor, opening with one girl saying, “It’s important for Barbies to look di…