Barbie presents its first doll with Down syndrome

The multinational Mattel, Inc. has taken another step towards inclusiveness. This Tuesday it announced the addition of a Barbie doll with Down syndrome, "created to provide the opportunity for even more boys and girls to see themselves reflected in Barbie, as well as for Barbie to reflect the world around them." This new version will arrive in Spain from May 1.

With the intention of not falling into stereotypes, the brand has worked together with the National Down Syndrome Society of the United States to design the doll. As you can see in the image, it will have a new face contour, a lower body and a longer torso.

The main objective of the company is that the incorporation inspires the little ones "to tell and create more stories through play." This was highlighted by the brand in a statement in which it stressed that the doll has a local ambassador in Spain such as Mariana de Ugarte, influencer, writer and mother of Marianita and Jaime.

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The new doll will be on sale from May 1 in Spain

The president and CEO of the American society, Kandi Pickard, has expressed that "it has been an honor" to work on the Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Likewise, he added that "this Barbie reminds us that we should never underestimate the power of representation. It is a great step forward for inclusion and it is a moment worthy of celebration."

The Spanish ambassador, Mariana de Ugarte, is the mother of two children with Down syndrome, and a defender and promoter of the inclusion of people with this disability. The influencer uses social networks to give voice, normalize and raise awareness in society about this group.

It is not the first time that Barbie has released a more inclusive version of her mythical doll. In 2019, she expanded her catalog with two models that surprised everyone: the Barbie in a wheelchair and the Barbie with a prosthetic leg. However, it was not the first doll in a wheelchair. The first version was included in the cast of Mattel in 1997, her name was Becky and she was Barbie's best friend. But eventually it disappeared from the market.

Similarly, in 2016 the company released a shorter and curvier version of the doll. With this, the company tried to bring the physique of the toy closer to that of a real woman. Leaving aside the perfection of the typical blonde, tall and thin Barbie. Mattel executives stated that they wanted to release the doll to "allow all children to see themselves in Barbie." And for this they partnered with the US National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).

Ellie Goldstein, a British model with Down syndrome who has been featured in a campaign featuring the new Barbie, said she was "very pleased" to see the new doll.

He added: "Diversity is important to me, as people need to see more people like me out there in the world, and not hidden."

Mattel said it consulted with the NDSS and medical professionals to inform the design process , introducing a new face and body sculpt to be more illustrative of women with Down syndrome, including a shorter frame and longer torso.

The doll has been put on sale today Tuesday. The doll is part of the Barbie Fashionistas line, which launched in 2022. It also includes a Barbie with a prosthetic leg, a wheelchair-bound Barbie, and slimmer, less muscular male dolls.Mattel has described this collection as its "most diverse and inclusive line of dolls, offering a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities and fashions, to inspire even more stories."