Barbie turns 60 with career dolls and role models

SINGAPORE – Barbie is turning 60, and in an effort to keep up with the times a new range of dolls are being released, including career women and role models to inspire young girls. 

An astronaut, a football player and a news anchor were among the new-look, high-achieving Barbies unveiled by toy company Mattel at an anniversary event in Singapore Friday, March 8

A series of successful women have also had dolls made in their image to mark 6 decades of Barbie. 

These include world number one tennis player Naomi Osaka, American actress Yara Shahidi, and the first ever Maori Barbie, modeled after New Zealand sports journalist Melodie Robinson. 

As part of our ongoing commitment to #CloseTheDreamGap, we are honoring #MoreRoleModels from around the world than ever before. These women are breaking boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls.  Learn more: https://t.co/dDN166naY4. #YouCanBeAnything #Barbie60 pic.twitter.com/giiaPkvSS5

— Barbie (@Barbie) March 6, 2019

“Barbie has come a long way as a role model to show girls that they have choices and can achieve any careers,” said Mattel Southeast Asia marketing chief Chris Chan.

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Imagining she can be anything is just the beginning. Actually seeing that she can makes all the difference. Meet the latest Barbie Role Models–all extraordinary women we’ve honored with a one-of-a-kind doll in their likeness.  #MoreRoleModels #Barbie60

A post shared by Barbie (@barbie) on Mar 6, 2019 at 3:10pm PST

Mattel has marked the anniversary by partnering with the Singapore Flyer – a giant ferris wheel in the city-state – to temporarily turn one of the ride’s cabins Barbie-themed.

Barbie has attracted her fair share of controversy, not least her pin-up measurements put her at odds with a women’s rights movement fighting against unattainable beauty standards.

Mattel has made many changes in the years since, introducing multiple body types and skin tones.

These days more than half of the Barbie dolls sold around the world have neither blonde hair nor blue eyes, according to the company.

More than one billion Barbies have been sold since her debut at the American Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. – Rappler.com