Meet new ‘Fat Barbie’

Iconic doll gets curvy

Looks like someone has been spending a lot of time in the Barbie Deluxe Kitchen. Mattel rolled out a new Curvy Barbie on Thursday — dubbed “Fat Barbie” on the Internet — taking its original Size Zero doll (left) and beefing her up to the equivalent of a Size 10 (right).

The move is sure to be a hit with feminist critics who have long complained that Barbie’s oddly attenuated hourglass figure sets an impossible standard for women.

But Mattel’s market, little girls, is divided on the moretolove makeover. Julia Vainana, 9, of The Bronx, defended Barbie’s new shape while shopping with her mom in Midtown

“I would like her to look like a real person,” Julia said.

But Marcelina Chabot, 9, of Queens, said, “I’m sticking with my old Barbie.” Besides, what would Ken think? “He would like the old one better,” Marcelina predicted.

The new doll, along with new Petite and Tall Barbies in a variety of skin tones and hairstyles, have just started to be offered online. Instore sales begin in March.

But issues were already cropping up, although nothing on the scale of Mattel’s 1997 introduction of Share a Smile Becky, whose wheelchair didn’t fit in the Dream House door.

“Hello, I’m a fat person, fat, fat, fat,” one 6yearold girl sang while playing with a Curvy Barbie at a focus group observed by Time magazine.

And Time described an unfortunate dollimitateslife moment when a reporter had trouble squeezing Curvy Barbie into a dress.

“Try going feet first,” a lead designer suggested to no avail.

Meanwhile, Barbie fatshamers abounded online.

“The #FatBarbie play set comes with a collapsible wall and crane to get her to the hospital,” @MetaFandangogo sniped. “Buy now!”

But Mattel cautioned against looking at Barbies “through an adult lens.”

“Little girls love the variety,” said spokeswoman Michelle Chidoni. “And they’re going to love a doll that looks like their mom or their aunt, or their baby sitter.” Can Husky Ken be far behind? “We are always looking for ways to expand the line,” Chidoni said. “So anything is possible.”