Mattel launches first Barbie with Down syndrome; look

• A Mattel presented this Tuesday (25) the first Barbie with Down syndrome in the Fashionistas 2023 line, which aims to portray the diversity of society.
• The creation is the result of a collaboration between the company and the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS).
• The doll aims to encourage children to tell more stories through games and comes with a printed dress with puffed sleeves and colors such as yellow and blue, which are symbols of Down syndrome awareness.
• To complete the look, Barbie wears pink orthotics and sneakers with zipper details.
• The pink pendant on the doll's necklace features three upward-facing chevrons, which symbolize the three copies of chromosome 21, responsible for the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. These chevrons are a symbol that unites the community and represent people who have someone with the syndrome in their lives.
• According to Mattel, Barbie with Down syndrome seeks to bring visibility and representation to the cause. The objective is to make more children identify with the traditional doll.
• NDSS provided a box of orthotics for real-life inspiration, as many children with Down syndrome use these devices to support their feet and ankles.
• NDSS President and CEO Kandi Pickard said Barbie with Down syndrome means a lot to the community, who can now play with a doll that looks just like them.

See the new Barbie:

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How did the Barbie doll come about?

Ruth Handler created the Barbie doll in 1959 with the aim of offering girls a more adult and versatile toy option than the children's dolls of the time. She noticed that girls enjoyed playing with dolls, but often grew quickly tired of the limited clothing and accessory options. Ruth also wanted to encourage the girls' imagination and creativity through playing with the doll. 💕

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