Kate Ng
·Trending Lifestyle Reporter
Updated ·4-min read
Mattel is further diversifying its range of Barbie dolls with the launch of the first-ever blind Barbie doll, which has been released on Tuesday 23 July.
The new blind Barbie fashionista doll aims to allow more children to find a doll that represents them. The doll is designed with an eye gaze facing slightly up and outwards to accurately reflect the sometimes-distinct eye gaze of a blind person.
Barbie partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to produce the new doll, in an effort to ensure details of the blind Barbie doll accurately reflect individuals who are blind or visually impaired. In the UK, Barbie consulted with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Details such as the distinct eye gaze and articulated elbows to ensure “comfortable cane use” will feature on the new Barbie, as well as a white and red cane accessory, textured and vibrant fabrics to provide an “accessible and satisfying play experience for kids with blindness or low vision”, and the writing of ‘Barbie’ in Braille on the packaging.
Broadcaster and disability activist Lucy Edwards, who lost her sight at the age of 17, features in a campaign launching the new doll.
Edwards met the new Barbie doll for the first time during a fashion shoot. She said: “To see the most well-known doll in the world introduce a blind Barbie makes me feel so seen.
The presenter first lost sight in her right eye at 11 years old, before losing her sight completely at 17 to a rare genetic disease, Incontinentia Pigmenti.
Edwards began sharing her journey by posting about the challenges she faces as a blind person on social media. She began her award-winning broadcasting career at age 20, and she presents shows and documentaries for the BBC regularly.
She is also the author of her 2024 debut book Blind, Not Broken, as well as her children’s novel Ella Jones vs. The Sun Stealer, which will be released in 2025.
Commenting on the new Barbie, Edwards said: “As a teenager, I felt isolated by losing my eyesight and not seeing role models like me.
“I was embarrassed by my cane - but knowing Barbie had a cane would have made me feel so differently about mine and helped me feel less alone on my journey to accept and embrace my blindness. It means everything to me.”
Debbie Miller, director of Customer Advice and Support at the RNIB, said: “Barbie is all about joy – about discovering and understanding the world through play – and it’s wonderful to think that children with a vision impairment can now play with a Barbie that looks like them.
“We’re so pleased with the details that have gone into designing this new Barbie, the tactile clothes as well as the cane and the sunglasses. It’s an acknowledgment that not everyone can see well, which means a lot to the blind and partially sighted community. This is a positive step forward in helping children and adults with sight loss feel like they belong and are recognised.”
Alongside the first blind Barbie in the Barbie Fashionistas 2024 lineup, Barbie has also again partnered with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to introduce its second doll with Down’s Syndrome.
Barbie launched its first doll with Down’s Syndrome last year, with British model Ellie Goldstein making an appearance in the introduction campaign. The doll features a shorter frame and a longer torso, as well as new facial features including a rounder shape, smaller ears, a flat nasal bridge, and almond-shaped eyes to better represent individuals with Down’s Syndrome.
Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, said: “We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging.
“We proudly introduce a new blind Barbie doll and Black doll with Down syndrome to our Barbie Fashionistas line, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity in the doll aisle.”
Watch: Mattel unveils first-ever blind Barbie with disability activist Lucy Edwards
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