Since Barbie arrived on the scene in 1959, she has inspired generations of girls to be proud of who they are and reminded us that girls can do anything. She's come a long way in 65 years, and on July 23, 2024, two brand-new Barbie dolls hit the scene, furthering the line's message of acceptance and inclusion. Mattel is proud to introduce the world to its first blind Barbie Fashionista doll and a Black Barbie doll with Down syndrome.
After careful research and expert development, these two new dolls are bringing much-needed market representation. Once again, Barbie proves that she is just like us, no matter who we are.
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Mattel turned to the experts when creating the new blind Barbie.
Mattel gave details about the new doll in a press release shared with CafeMom. The company partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind, or AFB, to ensure it was properly capturing what it means to be blind to guarantee "every detail of the Barbie including face sculpt, fashion, accessories, packaging experience and e-commerce communication accurately depicts someone with blindness and helps add representation for the blind community."
This Barbie comes with a cane and sunglasses, and the foundation encouraged the placement and writing of 'Barbie' in braille on the package. It also announced a new, easy-to-open package that will be implemented across the Fashionista line going forward.
The AFB is thrilled about the new doll.
American Foundation for the Blind CEO and President Eric Bridges shared his excitement about the partnership in a press release.
"It was an honor to collaborate with Barbie on the development of the Blind Barbie doll. By increasing representation and promoting awareness about the experiences of blind individuals and those with low vision, our shared goal is to inspire boundless opportunities for everyone, ultimately leading to a world of greater accessibility and inclusion," he explained.
Now, let's check out the Black Barbie doll with Down syndrome.
Barbie partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society, or NDDS, in 2023 to create its first doll with Down syndrome and is excited to release a new doll to represent Black individuals in the Down syndrome community.
Mattel once again consulted with the NDDS to ensure the doll was sculpted to accurately represent a person with Down syndrome. "The doll has a braided hair texture, which was one of the key features asked from the Black Down syndrome community," Mattell explained.
Society President and CEO Kandi Pickard shared her excitement in a statement.
"NDSS is thrilled to introduce a second Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Having this doll launched alongside the new Barbie doll with Blindness marks another important step in expanding representation for the disability community," said Kandi Pickard. "We are proud to partner with Barbie as they grow to reflect our diverse and beautiful world," Pickard added.
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Barbie is more than just a doll.
Barbie means many things to many people, and increasing representation for individuals who aren't always seen is an integral part of Mattel's mission.
"We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging. We proudly introduce a new blind Barbie doll and Black doll with Down syndrome to our Barbie Fashionistas line, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity in the doll aisle," Krista Barger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls at Mattel, shared in a statement. "We are delighted to introduce these dolls in partnership with the American Foundation for the Blind and National Down Syndrome Society to further our mission for every young girl to feel represented and celebrated through Barbie."
Barbie, we love you and thank you for always helping us to feel seen, no matter what we look like.
