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Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Barbie's boyfriend Ken gets a makeover: Cornrows, man buns and new skin tones

NEW YORK - He’s been overshadowed by Barbie for decades, but now Ken is finally getting some attention.

Mattel is introducing 15 new looks for the male doll, including different skin tones, body shapes and hair styles.

Barbie had a similar makeover more than a year ago, both part of the toy company’s plan to make its dolls more diverse and appealing to today’s kids.

Ken hadn’t changed much since he was introduced 56 years ago as Barbie’s blue-eyed, chiseled boyfriend. Now he’ll be sold in three body shapes: “slim,” “broad” and “original.”

He’ll have modern hairdos, such as cornrows and man buns, and come in seven skin tones. And he’ll also be sporting new fashions: think skinny ties, plaid shirts and graphic tees.

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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Everywhere you look now the media and all the commercials are pairing a black guy with a white girl. Trying their best to normalize interracial dating. Well guess what, it isn't normal.

Anonymous said...

I hope the men that walk around with a "man bun" know just how ridiculous they look.

Anonymous said...

Poor Ken

Anonymous said...

Ken will look as gay as the rest in his man bun
Sad society we have created

Anonymous said...

Playing with dolls now is like playing with a hoop and a stick. They are so "out of style" and politically designed, that they're in the final stages of dying out all together. "Normal" parents, of "normal" children, will not buy such products. Pandering to minorities is not necessarily a good capitalist strategy, unless you are simply satisfied with a niche market.

Anonymous said...

Get over yourselves. This is the free market working... I mean.. we're all capitalists I thought.

Someone, somewhere, thought this would increase profits. If it doesn't, they'll be a different Ken doll. Who cares?

Sign of the times folks, the world changes. Keep up or get left behind.

Anonymous said...

3:21 so I'm not the only one that noticed this.

Anonymous said...

They also have dresses, and other female clothing to fit him now. He is transgender now with that man-bun.

Anonymous said...

This looks like the "Gay" Ken doll!