Mattel has released its first Barbie doll, which represents a person with Down syndrome. As part of the Mattel Barbie Fashionistas line, the goal is to show children more diverse images.

Other dolls in the line include dolls with hearing aids, prosthetic limbs and those who use wheelchairs, thenationalnews.com writes.

“As the most diverse doll line on the market, Barbie plays an important role in a child’s early experiences, and we’re committed to breaking down social stigma through play,” said Lisa McKnight, executive vice president and global director of Barbie and Dolls, Mattel. .

Barbie collaborated closely with the National Down Syndrome Society of the United States to create the doll. The company provided guidance and assistance throughout the design process from start to finish.

This includes sculpting the face and body, adding accessories (including yellow and blue, which are associated with Down syndrome awareness), and the pink braces that children sometimes wear to support their legs and ankles. The doll also wears a pink necklace with a three-arrow pendant, representing the three chromosomes 21 that individualize people with Down syndrome.

In recent years, Mattel has been trying to increase diversity and inclusion. In 2020, the company released a doll with vitiligo, a condition in which a person’s skin loses pigment, usually in the form of spots, and another with alopecia. (News.ro)