First available as either a blonde or brunette, the shapely blonde bombshell Barbie has since become synonymous with the brand, which has previously been criticised for promoting an unrealistic body image and overly sexualised appearance. Barbie® Fashionistas™ celebrate diversity and offer endless possibilities for storytelling and fashion exploration. With this inclusive range of dolls, kids can see how fun it is to express personality through style! They’re an ideal gift for fashion-loving kids everywhere. Each sold separately, subject to availability. Dolls cannot stand alone. Colors and decorations may vary. Barbie® doll’s pink ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) match her outfit perfectly and support her as she walks, while her white sneakers have a zipper detail so kids can easily slip them on and off!

The doll also wears pink ankle foot orthotics (AFOs) to match her outfit and the trainers have a zip detail.The Mighty wanted to learn more about Walker’s dolls, including how you can get one, so we reached out to her. She said: “I am so happy that there is a Barbie with Down’s syndrome. Seeing the doll, I felt so overwhelmed - it meant a lot to me and I’m so honoured and proud that Barbie chose me to show the doll to the world. Its palms include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down syndrome, according to Mattel. The new Barbie is part of Mattel's Barbie Fashionista line of dolls which champions diverse representations of beauty and appearance. Mattel American Girl has stated that their purpose is to, ‘Build character through strong characters, represent every girl’s story and focus on authenticity,’” Robertson said, adding:

Barbie consulted with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) in the US and medical professionals informed the design process, introducing a new face and body sculpt to be more illustrative of women with Down’s syndrome, including a shorter frame and a longer torso.The first Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome was released by Mattel "to allow even more children to see themselves in Barbie," the company said. But at least one doll maker disagrees with American Girl’s position — Kristy Leigh Walker, a master doll maker who has been creating lifelike dolls with Down syndrome for more than five years. If a company like American Girl followed her lead, Walker told The Mighty, beautiful dolls with Down syndrome could be provided to thousands of people around the world.

For decades after its debut in 1959, Barbie dolls continued to be light-skinned – white – slender, blonde, with a very narrow waist, ample bosom and always teetering on impossibly high heels. Diversity is important to me as people need to see more people like me out there in the world and not be hidden away.” This realisation – that play can be a valuable tool in shaping how children think – has sent toymakers around the world scrambling to better capture the rich diversity of the world around us. Dolls that are gender neutral, in wheelchairs or which have prosthetic limbs have proliferated in recent years. The doll’s puff sleeved dress pattern features butterflies and yellow and blue colours, which are symbols associated with Down’s syndrome awareness Finally, in 2016, as it faced softening sales of the doll, Mattel crafted Barbie into a more realistic depiction by making the newer dolls more inclusive and diverse in their appearance. Barbie was reintroduced in four body types and seven skin tones, with 22 eye colors and 24 hairstyles. Her evolution continues with Barbie Fashionistas, which came three years later.

The new face sculpt features a rounder shape, smaller ears, and a flat nasal bridge, while the eyes are almond shaped. The doll’s palms even include a single line, a characteristic often associated with those with Down’s syndrome. How is having a doll with Down syndrome not doing any of that? My daughter is strong. She’s independent, she loves who she is, she’s happy, she’s a self-advocate and an ambassador for numerous organizations. Her story is important too. Showing she’s a strong and capable little girl is important for other typical kids to see too. Having Charlie see a physical doll that looks similar to her shows that she’s worthy too. It shows all individuals who have Down syndrome that the world isn’t shutting them out and choosing not to include them. It shows that as a society, we are moving in the right direction and making sure that ALL individuals are represented equally. Designed to reflect the world kids see today, this diverse line of Barbie® Fashionistas™ showcases bright and trendy styles that make for endless storytelling possibilities.