Barbie Suddenly Looks (More) Normal, Right in Line With the Marketing Zeitgeist

Mattel change was a long time coming

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After 50 years of sporting an oft-criticized combo of thin waist, thin limbs and large breasts, Barbie finally has a new body. Actually, a few new bodies.

The new Barbie Fashionistas line features different body types—curvy, tall, petite—as well as varied skin tones, face shapes, and hair colors. A far cry from the Barbie of yesteryear. And from a societal standpoint, Mattel's choice to evolve Barbie's figure to include more realistic depictions is a monumental one for a couple of reasons.

It's a smart marketing decision amid the movement toward body acceptance and female empowerment, as successfully implemented time and time again by the likes of Dove, Aerie and Always, to name a few brands.

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