Slender Sights: Average Barbie
On many afternoons in the 90s, I could be found with a blonde Barbie clenched in my chubby hands. Looking back, I know I understood that she wasn’t real, but I still somehow found her to be exceptionally beautiful. Her eyes sparkled and her hair was far shinier than mine, even after begrudgingly brushing my own. I loved her range of clothing and mourned the loss of every tiny plastic shoe that inevitably wandered off into the abyss that was my bedroom.
Today, my views on Barbie have definitely changed, though the chubby hands have not.
I’m sure many of you have seen the shocking stats related to what a true life size manifestation of Barbie what look like– 5’ 9” with a 36-inch bust, 18-inch waist and 33-inch hips. Her neck would be too thin to support her head. Her abdomen would be too small to fit an entire liver or intestinal tract. She’d be forced to walk on all fours due to the frailty of her ankles.
Alas, that’s all old news. It’s only recently that someone has really decided to do something about it.
The doll on the right is Lammily, artist Nickolay Lamm’s way of showing us that average can be exceptionally beautiful too. It’s pretty clear that Lammily and Barbie are two very different women, but there are even more separating these two than this image communicates. Lammily’s joints all move, so she can do more than just welcome Ken home from work with a loving embrace. Her feet are also freed from Barbie’s constant tiptoe, allowing her to fit into sneakers or even (gasp) flats.
Lamm also created a brunette version, complete with toned down make up and hair that doesn’t appear as if it’s been sprayed with PAM instead of hairspray. Nickolay, my former pudgy childhood self thanks you.
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