Barbie with Down syndrome launched: How the doll has become more inclusive since its debut

If you played with Barbie when you were younger, you are aware of her evolutionary journey.

The doll, which was first recognised for its distinctive blonde hair, slender frame, and white skin, has developed to be more inclusive by bringing a variety of skin tones to a healthy physique.

Ever since her debut at the New York Toy Fair in 1959, she has donned many avatars.

As a part of this year's Fashionistas line, the brand just debuted the first Barbie with Down's syndrome.

April 2023 – Barbie with Down’s syndrome

Toymaker Mattel announced on Tuesday that the first-ever Barbie doll with Down syndrome has been released.

The doll's outfit has butterflies and the colours yellow and blue, which are used to raise awareness of Down syndrome.

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The three copies of the 21st chromosome are symbolised with a pendant necklace with three chevrons, among other accessories.

Ankle-foot orthotics, which many kids with Down syndrome utilise for support, are also included with the doll.

British model, Ellie Goldstein poses with Barbie's first doll with Down's syndrome, in London, Britain. Reuters

To guarantee that the doll authentically depicted a person with Down syndrome, the business developed a tight working relationship with the National Down Syndrome Society.

Kandi Pickard, NDSS president and CEO, in a press release, said, "This Barbie serves as a reminder that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a huge step forward for inclusion and a moment that we are celebrating."

2023 – Fashionistas line-up

Besides Barbie with Down syndrome, the Fashionistas line-up for this year includes new dolls wearing braces and a Ken with a prosthetic leg.

“Our goal is to enable all children to see themselves in Barbie, while also encouraging children to play with dolls who do not look like themselves. Doll play outside of a child’s own lived experience can teach understanding and build a greater sense of empathy, leading to a more accepting world,” Economic Times quoted Lisa McKnight, Executive Vice President and global head of Barbie & Dolls at Mattel, as saying.

January 2023 – Barbie with scoliosis, Chelsea

The company unveiled their first scoliosis doll, which included a removable back brace and a curvature of the spine.

It was designed to normalise the use of the equipment and inspire kids to celebrate inclusion.

May 2022 – First transgender Barbie

The first-ever transgender Barbie was inspired by Laverne Cox, an Emmy winner and the first transgender woman of colour to play a major character in a scripted television series.

She expressed her joy at the moment in a video by saying, “Now kids get to dream with a Laverne Cox barbie, the first transgender Barbie."

August 2022 – Doll with hearing aids

The American doll manufacturer released set of dolls with hearing aids with an aim to help kids “see themselves reflected,” according to McKnight.

Dr Jen Richardson, a well-known expert in educational audiology, was consulted by the business to help correctly replicate behind-the-ear devices for the Barbie with hearing aids, reported CNN.

2019-2020 – Diverse Fashionistas doll

Barbie dolls with no hair, vitiligo, wheelchairs, a prosthetic limb, afro hair, and a Ken doll with "long rooted hair" were among the Barbie dolls in the Fashionistas series.

The 2020 collection also featured several dolls from the previous lines such as doll with a wheelchair, due to its popularity.

2019 – Gender-inclusive Barbie dolls

To be inclusive of all genders and free from labels, Mattel introduced a range of dolls that children may dress in either a skirt or pants or both, short or long hair or both.

2017 – First Barbie with a hijab

According to BBC, the first hijab-wearing Barbie was inspired by American fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, who won a bronze medal in Rio Olympics in 2016.

"When I think about my own journey, me being a Muslim girl involved in the sport of fencing, there were people who made me feel like I didn't belong. For all those people who didn't believe in me, this Barbie doll is for you," Muhammad had said at the time.

The Barbie doll was unveiled at Glamour's Women of the Year summit.

2016 – Curvy, petite and tall Barbie

Expanding its Fashionistas line, the brand introduced three new body types: tall, curvy and petite with diverse skin tones and hair textures.

According to Time magazine, Mattel hoped that the new body types "will more closely reflect their young owners' world."

2000 – ‘Princess of India’ Barbie

The ‘Princess of India’ Barbie featured the doll wearing an extraordinary pink sari with golden accents.

A golden headpiece called a tikka (a forehead ornament), a golden choker and earrings were added to enhance the look.

1992 – First President Barbie

Continuing to improve, Barbie released a set of US president and vice president dolls in 1992.

Making a strategic move to attract focus on its all-female Barbie dolls, it aimed at “inspiring girls to become leaders.”

1980 – African-American Barbie dolls

Mattel’s first African-American Barbie, designed by Bill Greening, became available for purchase in 1980.

“I hope people feel that it’s a fitting tribute to the original … I hope I’m doing the doll justice, and I hope collectors embrace the new doll. I hope maybe they display it side by side with the original and the new version and see how the beauty of Black Barbie transcends time,” Greening said in a Mattel statement.

1968 – One of the first Black Barbie dolls, Christie

Mattel first attempted to make the first “black” Barbie in 1967 with “Coloured Francie,” however, it was a mere replica of her white counterparts.

The company then introduced Christie in 1968 with same body type, allowing their clothing to be worn interchangeably.

Her face, however, was a novel creation meant to emphasise a Black woman's facial traits.

Christie was one of several dolls who could talk.

1967 – First celebrity Barbie

The British fashion model Twiggy served as the inspiration for the first celebrity Barbie doll, according to Barbie Media.

The first Twiggy doll featured the recognisable Twiggy makeup and sported a mini-dress with vertical blue, green, and yellow stripes as well as yellow footwear.

She was the first in a long line of dolls created to mimic famous people and the top of the fashion world.

1965 – Astronaut Barbie

Barbie ventured into space in 1965, four years before humans set foot on the moon.

The Astronaut Barbie demonstrated to girls that they could reach for the stars while wearing a stylish space suit and helmet.

1959 – First Barbie

The first Barbie had her trademark hair and a black and white striped bathing suit.

Barbie Dolls on display to promote the Barbie Fashion Show to be held at the shows at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in New York. AFP

Barbie was different from the baby and toddler dolls that were popular at the time, so toy consumers were hesitant to buy.

However, the doll went on to become a global sensation, letting girls have the most vivid future fantasies ever.

With inputs from agencies

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