Barbie’s got a new body shape that’s more reflective of actual human anatomy, and this bold new direction for the iconic doll has managed to make it onto the cover of the latest issue of Time.
As the cover story explains, Mattel is responding to complaints that Barbie’s tiny-waisted physique presents young girls with a ridiculously unattainable body image by creating three new body types for the doll: curvy, petit and tall.
Related: Watch Barbie’s First Ever Commercial Featuring A Boy Playing With the Doll!
Changes to the new Barbie include articulated ankles (so she can wear flats as well as heels), new skin tones to add diversity and more realistic proporitions; for example, curvy Barbie’s hips, thighs and calves are visibly larger than before.
As design head Kim Culmone of Mattel explains, the changes were made very carefully. “It’s a personal issue because almost every woman has owned a Barbie,”; she tells Time, “and every woman has some relationship with or opinion about Barbie.”;
Related: Isn’t She A Doll? Barbie Backlash Over Sports Illustrated Cover
You can read more about the new Barbie design in the latest issue of Time, and check out this video from the magazine tracing the 57-year evolution of Barbie in a mere 37 seconds:
Not everybody thinks altering Barbie is a good idea. Here’s what Kirstie Alley has to say via Twitter:
Are we seriously going to imply that BARBIE needs to be taken seriously? Jeez bring back 1965 where BARBIE just looked like freak
— Kirstie Alley (@kirstiealley) January 28, 2016
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