Barbie boasts flawless style and kicks serious butt at every profession, but her counterpart Ken—at least for a while there—seemed to have been left in the dust. We'd like to formally welcome him back in the running for America's Top Doll: Barbie's Fashionistas line just expanded with 15 new Ken dolls in three body types (slim, broad and original) and released 40 new dolls in total! "Next Gen Ken" (and the other dolls in the collection) feature new skin tones, eye colors and modern apparel. "Ken Fashionistas Doll 13, Distressed Denim," even rocks a man bun! Mind = blown.
Photograph: Courtesy Mattel
Lisa McKnight, SVP and General Manager, Barbie, comments, "By continuing to expand our product line, we are redefining what a Barbie or Ken doll looks like to this generation. Evolving Ken was a natural evolution for the brand and allows girls to further personalize the role they want him to play in Barbie's world." The move by Mattel with the Barbie brand is similar to that made with American Girl's first boy doll, Logan. The new Barbie Fashionista dolls retail at $9.99.
Photograph: Courtesy Mattel
Wondering about the rest of the collection? It's equally awesome and includes impeccably dressed women of various body types, skin tones, eye colors and hair colors, including a doll with blue hair, a doll with big, natural hair in an afro-style and at least two dolls with truly curly hair.
For more Barbie coverage, check out Time Out New York's story on the Barbie Commuter Video (ha!) and Entrepreneur Barbie (plus a few other New York-inspired Barbie's we'd giggle to see) back in 2014.