At last, Ken gets a life (or 15 of them) and a makeover as Barbie’s equal
FOR more than 50 years, Ken has lived in Barbie’s shadow, remaining blond, blue-eyed and blank of expression, during his girlfriend’s countless makeovers.
Now, the man-doll is to get a life – 15 of them, to be exact – of his own, after Mattel redesigned Ken with a range of body shapes, skintones, fashions and hairstyles, from corn rows to man-buns.
There is “Hip Hoodie” Ken in his shorts and sleeveless top, and “Classic Cool” Ken in white shirt and skinny tie.
He has had many jobs over the years, from pilot to surgeon, but the new incarnations are decidedly modern: all could pass for baristas or IT consultants. The range includes seven skin tones, allowing children of all races to identify with a doll that previously came only in white.
Ken also comes in three body shapes: original, slim and broad, although the “broad” model still has washboard abs.
Ray Cavalluzzi, who designed the dolls for Mattel, told GQ magazine: “Originally, I made him paunchy. I gave him a nice healthy gut. He was the post-holiday Ken.”
A fuller-figured Barbie is already on the market, sold as “curvy”, but focus groups did not want the same for Ken. “Where ‘curvy’ in the female world of fashion has become something that’s desirable and sexy and positive, the men’s fashion world has not got there yet,” said Michelle Chidoni, Mattel’s vice-president of global brand communications. Mattel said that the Barbie brand “has always reflected the times, so modernising Ken is the next step”.
Ken – full name Ken Carson – made his debut as Barbie’s boyfriend in 1961. The couple “split” on Valentine’s Day 2004, but are back together. They have never mar-