Kimora Barbie

Recently I have found myself caught in the reality T.V. trap. And as much as I used to claim I would never be part of the trend, I too am a fan of the shows such as The Hills, Rock of Love, and now just recently Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane. Life in the Fab Lane follows the life of Kimora Lee Simons and her journey as a mogul, model, and most of all a mom. However, on one of the more recent episodes, I found myself coming back to the idea of Barbie. Mattel has just recently made a Kimora Barbie. This is a huge milestone for Barbie because it is the first bi-racial Barbie, Japanese and African American. Kimora made sure that designs for the Barbie suited both her cultures with details such as Asian eyes and thick, African lips. The doll was initially supposed to be called the Kimora Lee Simons Doll, but with Kimora debated that one. “No, I want her to be the Kimora BARBIE, you keep wanting to take that away from me!..She’s not the side kick!” Mattel finally agreed on the name change and the doll will soon be sold in stores. I was so excited to see that once again, Barbie is exceeding all limits. She no longer is limited to the same color, ethnicity, or body shape as the original 1959 doll, but she is becoming an icon for all women. So as much as I wish I wasn’t wasting some of my precious time that should be spent studying or doing anything else useful, I really do enjoy my reality T.V. shows. And it makes me also realize how many other people as well as myself still have a love for Barbie. Whether you’re a huge fashion designer or even just a mom, one thing is for sure, who wouldn’t love to have a Barbie designed after them…?

To all those who wish they could still play with Barbies....

Never say Bye Bye to Barbie is really my own way of saying I wish I was 10 again and playing Barbies in my basement with my sister. Recently, my little sister turned 10 and I watched as her eyes light up as she unwrapped her presents. And to no surprise to me, her favorite gifts were Barbies. She immediately ran into our den, which she has morphed into a Cate and Friends Only play room, with her two other best friends and started their next Barbie adventure. Seeing this made me remember the times of my old birthdays and how I too could not wait to take my new Barbies into the world that my older sister and I had created. To some it might have looked like a simple cardboard box with dividers for rooms that dumb little dolls could play in, but for us it was a place to accomodate all of our dreams and desires. There were no limitations in our Barbie world and our guide was simply our imagination.

So this is a tribute to Barbie, who she was for my mom, who she was for my older sister and I, and who she is now for my younger sister.