Latest news with #BarbieDoll
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
New Barbie with type 1 diabetes could help kids with the condition feel seen - and help others learn
By Lynne Chepulis and Anna Serlachius of Mattel's first Barbie with type 1 diabetes. Photo: Mattel Barbie has done many things since she first appeared in 1959 . She's been an astronaut, a doctor, a president and even a palaeontologist. Now, in 2025, Barbie is something else: a woman with type 1 diabetes . Mattel's latest Barbie was recently launched by Lila Moss , a British model who lives with type 1 diabetes. The doll comes with a visible insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor, devices many people with diabetes rely on. To some people, this might seem like just another version of the doll. But to kids living with type 1 diabetes - especially young girls - it's a big deal. This new Barbie is not just a toy. It's about being seen. Mattel has introduced its first Barbie with Type 1 diabetes, as part of wider efforts from the toy maker to increase inclusivity among its dolls. Mattel says it partnered with Type 1 diabetes advocates to ensure that the design of the doll 'truly captures the community.' Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the body stops making insulin, the hormone that helps control blood sugar levels. It's not caused by lifestyle or diet. It's an autoimmune condition (a disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells) and often starts in childhood. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day, often through multiple injections or an insulin pump. They also need to check their blood sugar regularly, using finger pricks or a continuous glucose monitor worn on the skin (usually the upper arm). Although type 1 diabetes can be effectively managed, there is no cure. Millions of people across the world live with this condition, and numbers are on the rise. In Australia, type 1 diabetes affects more than 13,000 children and teens , while in New Zealand, around 2500 children under 18 have type 1 diabetes . Globally, 1.8 million young people are affected. Children with type 1 diabetes may wear a continuous glucose monitor. Photo: Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels Young people with type 1 diabetes must think about their condition every day - at school, during sports, at sleepovers and even while playing. They may have to stop what they're doing and check their blood sugar levels. It can feel isolating and frustrating. Stigma is a big issue for children and young people with type 1 diabetes . Some young people feel embarrassed using their insulin pumps or checking their blood sugar in public. One study found pre-teens with diabetes sometimes felt they received unwanted attention when using devices such as insulin pumps and glucose monitors. Stigma can make young people less likely to take care of their diabetes , which can create problems for their health. Seeing a Barbie with an insulin pump and glucose monitor could make a significant difference. Children form their sense of identity early, and toys play a surprisingly powerful role in that process. While children with type 1 diabetes can often feel different from their peers, toys can help normalise their experience and reduce the sense of isolation that can come with managing a chronic condition. Research shows toys and media such as books and TV shows reflecting children's experiences can boost self-esteem, reduce stigma and improve emotional wellbeing . For girls especially, Barbie is more than a doll. She represents what is often perceived to be admired or desirable and this can influence how girls perceive their own bodies. A Barbie with a glucose monitor and insulin pump sends a clear message: this is part of real life. You're not alone. That kind of visibility is empowering. It tells children their condition doesn't define them or limit their potential. It also helps challenge outdated stereotypes about illness and disability. Some may worry a doll with a medical condition might make playtime too serious or scary. But in reality, play is how kids learn about the world. Toys that reflect real life - including health issues - can help children process emotions, ask questions, reduce fear and feel more in control. Mattel's new Barbie shows diabetes and the devices needed to manage the condition in a positive, everyday way, and that matters. It can start conversations and help kids without diabetes learn what those devices are and why someone wears them. It builds understanding early. Mattel has added to its range of Barbies in recent years to showcase the beauty that everyone has. There are now Barbies with a wide range of skin tones, hair textures, body types and disabilities - including dolls with hearing aids , vitiligo (loss of skin pigmentation) and wheelchairs. The diabetes Barbie is part of this broader shift toward inclusivity and should be applauded. Every child should be able to find toys that reflect who they are, and the people they love. This Barbie won't make diabetes go away. But she might help a child feel more seen, more confident, more like their peers. She might help a classmate understand that a glucose monitor isn't scary - it's just something some people need. She might make a school nurse's job easier when explaining to teachers or students how to support a student with diabetes. Living with type 1 diabetes as a child is tough . Anything that helps kids feel a little more included, and a little less different, is worth celebrating. A doll might seem small. But to the right child, at the right moment, it could mean everything. * Lynne Chepulis, Associate Professor, Health Sciences, University of Waikato; Anna Serlachius, Associate Professor, Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau - This story originally appeared on The Conversation.
Indianapolis Star
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
A look at Mattel's collectible toys released for 'Clueless' anniversary
Cher, right, and Dionne Barbie dolls are part of Mattel's limited-edition toys available for the 30th anniversary of "Clueless." In addition to Barbie dolls, Mattel release "Clueless" American Girl doll outfits, a Little People Collector set, a Polly Pocket compact and Uno deck. Provided By Mattel/Willy Lew The "Clueless" Cher Barbie Doll features a yellow plaid suit with a pleated skirt, matching blazer and over-the-knee high white socks. The doll also carries a mini white backpack, cellphone and learner's driving permit. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Cher Barbie Doll features a yellow plaid suit with a pleated skirt, matching blazer and over-the-knee high white socks. The doll also carries a mini white backpack, cellphone and learner's driving permit. Provided By Mattel/Willy Lew The "Clueless" Cher Barbie Doll features a yellow plaid suit with a pleated skirt, matching blazer and over-the-knee high white socks. The doll also carries a mini white backpack, cellphone and learner's driving permit. Provided By Mattel/Willy Lew The "Clueless" Cher Barbie Doll features a yellow plaid suit with a pleated skirt, matching blazer and over-the-knee high white socks. The doll also carries a mini white backpack, cellphone and learner's driving permit. The doll is $59.40 on the Walmart website and Amazon and $55.99 on the Target website. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Dionne Barbie Doll wears a black-and-white plaid suit with a ribbon and rose donned top hat. The doll carries a cellphone accessory. The doll is $59.40 on the Walmart website and Amazon and $55.99 on the Target website. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Dionne Barbie Doll wears a black-and-white plaid suit with a ribbon and rose donned top hat. The doll carries a cellphone accessory. The doll is $59.40 on the Walmart website and Amazon and $55.99 on the Target website. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Cher American Girl outfit features the character's yellow plaid skirt and blazer, a yellow sweater, white t-shirt, white over-the-knee socks, white Mary Jane heels, a white, fluffy backpack, and cellphone. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Cher American Girl outfit features the character's yellow plaid skirt and blazer, a yellow sweater, white t-shirt, white over-the-knee socks, white Mary Jane heels, a white, fluffy backpack, and cellphone. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Cher American Girl outfit features a cellphone that reads, "As if!" Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Dionne American Girl outfit includes the character's black-and-white plaid skirt and blazer, a red sweater, white t-shirt, black ankle socks, black Mary Janes shoes, black and white top hat with a red rose, and cellphone. Provided By Mattel The "Clueless" Dionne American Girl outfit includes the character's black-and-white plaid skirt and blazer, a red sweater, white t-shirt, black ankle socks, black Mary Janes shoes, black and white top hat with a red rose, and cellphone. Provided By Mattel Fisher-Price's Little People Collector set includes Cher, Dionne and Tai dolls and a collectors box that features the famous staircase from Cher's house. The set is around $27 from Mattel Creations and Amazon. Provided By Mattel Fisher-Price's Little People Collector set includes Cher, Dionne and Tai dolls and a collectors box that features the famous staircase from Cher's house. The set is around $27 from Mattel Creations and Amazon. Provided By Mattel The Polly Pocket Clueless Compact features Cher, Dionne and Tai dolls, and each doll comes with her own accessory. Behind a facade of Cher's staircase is her home, including her bedroom and living room. The compact also comes with Cher's white Jeep Wrangler. Provided By Mattel The Polly Pocket Clueless Compact features Cher, Dionne and Tai dolls, and each doll comes with her own accessory. Behind a facade of Cher's staircase is her home, including her bedroom and living room. The compact also comes with Cher's white Jeep Wrangler. Provided By Mattel The Polly Pocket Clueless Compact features Cher, Dionne and Tai dolls, and each doll comes with her own accessory. Behind a facade of Cher's staircase is her home, including her bedroom and living room. The compact also comes with Cher's white Jeep Wrangler. Provided By Mattel The Uno Fandom "Clueless" deck features 112 cards that sport characters from the movie, one "Ugh, As If" Wild Card, which can be played to reject any of the other player's cards, and a collectors box. The deck is $12. Provided By Mattel The Uno Fandom "Clueless" deck features 112 cards that sport characters from the movie, one "Ugh, As If" Wild Card, which can be played to reject any of the other player's cards, and a collectors box. The deck is $12. Provided By Mattel The Uno Fandom "Clueless" deck features 112 cards that sport characters from the movie, one "Ugh, As If" Wild Card, which can be played to reject any of the other player's cards, and a collectors box. The deck is $12. Provided By Mattel
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Barbie with type 1 diabetes, glucose monitor launched by Mattel. Check features, images
Barbie Doll has been introduced in first-ever Type 1 Diabetes avatar with a glucose monitor by Mattel. Barbie -- with her tiny waist, long legs and eternally slender physique -- has long looked the same. Now she proudly displays her insulin pump, while wearing a polka-dotted outfit that matches her blue high-heeled boots and blue purse. She also has a pink continuous glucose monitor on her arm. The medical equipment is accurate and the fabric print -- blue circles -- is a global symbol of diabetes awareness. The company released the Barbie with Breakthrough T1D, an advocacy and research organization with the goal of finding a cure for diabetes. Why is this Diabetes Barbie? Over at least the last couple of decades, Mattel has responded to criticism of its unrealistic beauty standards by creating dolls that reflect a wider segment of society. The company continued that push with its newest doll: Barbie with Type 1 diabetes. Tens of millions of Americans have some form of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which usually emerges slowly in adulthood and can sometimes be reversed early on with exercise and dietary changes, Type 1 often strikes in childhood or adolescence. Agencies Source: Live Events Managing diabetes can be difficult. People with the disease have to monitor sugar levels and inject insulin around the clock. It can also lead to complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney damage and the possibility of losing a limb to amputation. On TikTok and Instagram, some users with Type 1 diabetes expressed their joy with the new Barbie, some sharing emotional posts about seeing their disease represented. Evolution of Barbie Doll Barbie, one of the most successful dolls of all time, was criticized for a period in the early 2000s as other companies started to manufacture more diverse and inclusive dolls while she continued to look roughly the same as her 1959 self. In 2010, the company apologized for a book about Barbie and computers that critics said was sexist. Since then, the company has worked to reinvent Barbie. Agencies The newest Barbie is part of Mattel's Fashionistas line, which the company has called its "most diverse doll line." Last year, Mattel introduced a blind Barbie, who has a red-and-white cane with a marshmallow roller tip and sunglasses suited for light-sensitive eyes. In 2019, Mattel released a Barbie in a wheelchair and a Barbie with a prosthetic limb. Other dolls in the Fashionistas line include a Barbie with Down syndrome, a Barbie with hearing aids, a bald Barbie, a Barbie with a skin condition and Barbies with different hair types and body shapes. FAQs Q1. What is the name of Hollywood movie based on Barbie? A1. And in 2023, Barbie's favorite color -- bright pink, obviously -- catapulted back to the center of popular culture with the release of "Barbie," the movie directed by Greta Gerwig that earned $1.4 billion worldwide. Q2. Who manufactures Barbie doll? A2. Mattel manufactures the Barbie doll.
News18
09-07-2025
- Health
- News18
Mattel Unveils First-Ever Barbie With Type 1 Diabetes In Push for Inclusivity
Last Updated: Type 1 Diabetes Barbie Doll: Mattel has launched a new Barbie with Type 1 Diabetes. The type 1 diabetes Barbie doll comes with a glucose monitor and insulin pump. Type 1 Diabetes Barbie Doll: Mattel has taken a major step toward fostering inclusivity and real-world representation by introducing its first-ever Barbie Type 1 diabetes (T1D) doll. Unveiled as part of the 2025 Barbie Fashionistas line, this ground-breaking doll is designed to reflect the lives of children managing the condition, showcasing medical tools like a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and an insulin pump, along with fashion inspired by global diabetes awareness symbols. This new launch underscores Mattel's growing commitment to diversity in its toys. Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, said, 'Introducing a Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation. Barbie helps shape children's early perceptions of the world, and through inclusive representation, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love." To ensure authenticity and relevance, Barbie collaborated with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), a leading nonprofit dedicated to Type 1 diabetes research, support, and advocacy. The doll's design incorporates a CGM placed on her arm and secured with heart-shaped pink tape, and an insulin pump fastened to her waist, details that resonate deeply with those living with T1D. She is dressed in a blue polka-dot ensemble, symbolising diabetes awareness and echoing international health campaigns. Aaron J. Kowalski, CEO of Breakthrough T1D and someone who has managed Type 1 diabetes since his early teens, celebrated the collaboration. 'It means the world to be part of bringing greater visibility to a condition that affects so many families," he shared. In addition to the doll, Barbie is spotlighting real-life T1D role models. Model Lila Moss and fitness trainer Robin Arzón (both of whom live with the condition) have been named ambassadors for the new doll. Their voices and advocacy efforts have been instrumental in raising awareness and fostering empowerment within the diabetes community. By blending imaginative play with meaningful representation, the latest Barbie offers both education and affirmation, allowing children to see their realities reflected in one of the world's most iconic toys. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Lila Moss stuns in pink dress as she poses with new Barbie doll which shares same medical condition
MODEL Lila Moss is a Barbie girl, having inspired the first Type 1 diabetes doll. Kate Moss 's daughter, who was diagnosed with the condition as a child, said she hoped the creation would help children feel proud of who they were. 6 6 Like Lila, her doll has a glucose monitor arm patch, an insulin pump on her leg and a bag for emergency snacks. Lila, 22, said: 'Receiving messages from people who see my patches and feel represented by me means everything to me. 'To see a Barbie that looks like me — even wearing the patches, is surreal and special.' Lila has long been an advocate for sufferers of the disease, famously strutting down the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week in 2021 with her insulin pump on show next to her supermodel Mum. Barbie maker Mattel teamed up with diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D to launch the doll as part of their new diversity-focused Barbie Fashionistas line, which includes Barbies representing a kaleidoscope of body types and disabilities. Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, stressed the importance of representation: 'It's vital that children see themselves in the dolls they love.' Over 30,000 children in the UK live with Type 1 diabetes — a lifelong autoimmune condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, requiring daily injections or use of insulin pumps to prevent serious health complications. Lila's personal Barbie reflects her personal style, dressed in a black halterneck mini dress, chunky black boots, delicate gold jewellery, and tousled blonde hair — capturing the essence of her street-chic fashion. Like Mother, Like Daughter: Fashion's Fabulous Families 6 6
