How Barbie Lives Outside the Plastic Box

Do you ever pause and ask yourself if you are living your best life? I bet you do and you struggle with the answer from time to time. If you look at the life of icon, social media sensation, pop culture figure, and favorite childhood toy Barbie, however, you will get a definitive answer: You haven’t lived at all.

Barbie, or Barbara Millicent Roberts, has become more than just a plastic figure for everyone. When talks about body image and positivity grew, she became  a touchpoint for how girls see themselves, for better or worse. She’s ahead of the branding game even before social media came to be with a cartoon series and movies to her name. Not to mention the franchise of stuff that she has from various clothing items to makeup.

She’s been out living a life beyond just a toy. It seems like people couldn’t get over how you can make believe with Barbie and be anything you want to be. Heck, even rapper Nicki Minaj claims to be a Barbie, owning it in her Instagram profile and in various looks.

Speaking of Instagram, it’s here you will see just how much life Barbie is living. (Because did it really ever happen if it’s not on your feed or Stories?) Confused over what we’re talking about? Just scroll through and see how Barbie is living a better life than you ever will.

Barbie

The original Barbie account. You will see the latest in merch here, her deals, and what else is upcoming. Strictly business and kid-friendly. You don’t bcecome sucessful at selling yourself pre-Kim K era for nothing.

Barbie Style

You know how some influencers have a personal account apart from their well-curated feed? Barbie has the same thing. In this account, she shares how life is like as a jet-setter wearing the latest in fashion and going to the hottest spots around the world. Recently, she even made friends with Song of Style’s Aimee Song.

Socality Barbie

Is woke Barbie the best Barbie? For a time, the Internet was abuzz for Socality Barbie. It was direct in making fun of the usual, Instagram-perfect photos along with the cheesy and cringe-worthy captions, completely with the gazillion hashtags. Barbie became the face of the dark side of our #feedgoals. In an uncanny way, we got a childhood lesson on what really matters from a childhood companion.

Barbie Savior

Barbie continues to educate us. This time, she tackles white privilege and how the image of helping those in developing countries while making sure to take a photo does more harm than good. In Barbie Savior, we see how the efforts to bring awareness to less fortunate countries becomes a publicity stunt and an ad oppurtunity. Tsk. It hurts how Barbie is more sensitive to these issues then government officials sometimes.

Trophy Wife Barbie

I need Mattel to make this a recognized Barbie edition. Artist Annelies Hofmeyr created Trophy Wife Barbie to “…highlight the limitations of labels and to explore gender issues and the modern female identity.” Hence, you will see posts featuring some dark humor but also the realities about being a woman that tend to be glossed over such as heavy periods, sagging breasts, and also the need for fundamental rights which are taken away by the patriarchy. You know, stuff you should teach young girls.

 

Art by Lara Intong 

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Olivia Sylvia Trinidad: