2016 has been the year of Ashley Graham. Since appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue, the plus-size supermodel has been tapped as Tyra Banks' replacement on America's Next Top Model and been lauded as an advocate of body positivity. Now, she's unveiled her very own Barbie doll - thigh gap not invited.
Ashley worked closely with Mattel to create a doll that truly represented her body type, revealing to the Hollywood Reporter that 'it was important that the Barbie resembled me as much as possible. The thighs touching was one way to show young girls that it's OK for your thighs to touch, despite society saying that a 'thigh gap' is more beautiful.'
The doll is part of Barbie's series of 'Sheroes' dolls representing inspirational modern women like actress Zendaya, director Ava DuVernay and ballerina Misty Copeland.
Speaking at Glamour's Women of the Year summit, the size 22 model revealed that she specified to Mattel that her Barbie doll should have cellulite and no thigh gap. While the company explained that adding cellulite to the dolls might appear like a mistake in production, Ashley was thrilled with the final result.
'She got a round belly. She got round hips. She got round everything, yes!' she praised the design after seeing her doll for the first time.
Ashley's Barbie comes dressed in an embellished denim jacket and sparkling body-con dress, based on an outfit worn by the model earlier this year. As she put it, 'I've never been a girl to cover up my body. [This Barbie's] not covered up. She's just being her fashionable self.'
'Beyond the fashion, it’s so incredible because, now, I’m not striving to be Barbie, she added. 'I am Barbie. Everyone can be Barbie.' Amen to that.
Earlier this year, the model revealed to Grazia that, at the start of her career, she was told that being skinny was the only route to success. 'I remember being told by my very first photographer, that if I lost weight and I was a skinny model it would do wonders for my career,' she said. Read Grazia's exclusive interview with Ashley Graham here.
Ashley's proudly plus-size Barbie is another step in a more inclusive, body positive direction for the brand, which has previously been criticised for promoting unrealistic body shapes. Earlier this year, Mattel revealed that the iconic doll would be getting a refreshingly realistic makeover: Barbie will now come in three further sizes, 'petite,' 'tall' and 'curvy,' and will be available in seven skin tones, 18 eye colours and 18 different hairstyles.
'Beyond the fashion, it’s so incredible because, now, I’m not striving to be Barbie, Ashley added. 'I am Barbie. Everyone can be Barbie.' Amen to that.
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