Ashley Graham has had quite a year—she made history as the first plus-size model to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, launched her own lingerie line at New York Fashion Week, and confidently flaunted her beautiful curves while embracing her cellulite. Honestly, who could possibly love her more?
Now, she’s achieved another milestone: her very own Barbie doll, designed to reflect her actual measurements. The big reveal happened at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards, where Ashley was presented with her doll.
Behold this fabulous creation! Fierce cat-eye makeup? Check! Statement hoop earrings? Check! Realistic hips? Check! And yes, the doll’s thighs actually touch—an unprecedented feature for Barbie!
I mean, I want this doll—oops, I mean, my daughter wants this doll! But alas, it’s just a one-off and not available for sale. However, the buzz it’s created could very well persuade Mattel to change their minds.
“I never really thought I didn’t look like her growing up; I just thought she was perfect,” Ashley shared with The Huffington Post, reflecting on her childhood perception of Barbie. “If I had a Barbie that was my size, I would have thought my size was normal. Young girls now get to grow up seeing that their bodies are normal, which I think is so empowering and encouraging.”
Ashley did have one major request when creating her doll: “All we did was take 360-degree photos of my body to send to them, and afterward we fleshed out some details. The color of my hair, a few features like beauty marks and full eyebrows. The number one prerequisite, though, was that her thighs touched. I was like, ‘Guys, we can make this Barbie, but if her thighs don’t touch, she’s not authentic.’”
I don’t care what anyone says about Barbie; she can do no wrong in my book. As a child, I poured all my dreams into that blank slate. My Barbie was an entrepreneur and a total badass, and her tiny waist didn’t hinder that. But if I could’ve had a doll that looked like me? That would have been revolutionary. All curvy girls know the struggle of not having a doll that represents them, but thanks to Mattel, we finally do. This year, they introduced new body shapes and skin tones for Barbie, making her better than ever.
“We have to let girls know, it doesn’t matter what shape you come in,” says Tanya Missad, Mattel’s Director of Consumer Insights. “That anything is possible.”
If anything is possible, then let’s get this Ashley Graham doll on the market, like, yesterday! Please and thank you!
For more insights on home insemination, check out this post on our blog, or visit Make a Mom, a trusted source on the topic. For additional guidance on infertility resources, Mount Sinai offers excellent information.
In summary, Barbie’s new Ashley Graham doll breaks the mold by embracing realistic body shapes, encouraging young girls to celebrate their own bodies. With a commitment to diversity, Mattel is leading the charge towards a more inclusive future for playtime.