Everything You Need to Know About the New Barbies

By A Mystery Man Writer

Last updated 17 Jun 2024

Everything You Need to Know About the New Barbies

For 57 years, Barbie has been beloved as a playtime icon and, in some cases, berated for her unattainable body type. (If Barbie were real, her figure would barely allow for any vital organs, and some studies have even shown that playing with Barbie can cause young girls to be dissatisfied with their own bodies.) Now, Barbie is getting an (overdue) makeover that is years in the making. Starting today, Mattel is releasing a fleet of all-new Barbies—including a Curvy model and customizable skin colors. The changes aren't perfect, but they're a good start—read our take on the new dolls both online and in the March issue of Glamour. So how are these new dolls different from the original? We break it down. There are new shapes: Curvy, Tall, and Petite. You can buy the dolls individually or the complete set, and yes, you can still opt for the original. They're all actually Barbies. In the past, dolls that didn't conform to the classic Barbie image were known as "Friends" and were given different names. These new iterations, however, have all been blessed with the official Barbie stamp. The Barbies' hair- and skin-color can be customized. In addition to a
For 57 years, Barbie has been beloved as a playtime icon and, in some cases, berated for her unattainable body type. (If Barbie were real, her figure would barely allow for any vital organs, and some studies have even shown that playing with Barbie can cause young girls to be dissatisfied with their own bodies.) Now, Barbie is getting an (overdue) makeover that is years in the making. Starting today, Mattel is releasing a fleet of all-new Barbies—including a Curvy model and customizable skin colors. The changes aren't perfect, but they're a good start—read our take on the new dolls both online and in the March issue of Glamour. So how are these new dolls different from the original? We break it down. There are new shapes: Curvy, Tall, and Petite. You can buy the dolls individually or the complete set, and yes, you can still opt for the original. They're all actually Barbies. In the past, dolls that didn't conform to the classic Barbie image were known as Friends and were given different names. These new iterations, however, have all been blessed with the official Barbie stamp. The Barbies' hair- and skin-color can be customized. In addition to a