Entertainment

Barbie's Boyfriend Ken Just Got A Diversity Makeover

Mattel has added 15 new Ken dolls to its Barbie Fashionistas line. They have different body types, skin tones and hair colors.

Barbie's Boyfriend Ken Just Got A Diversity Makeover
Mattel
SMS

Barbie's longtime boyfriend Ken just got a massive makeover.

Meet the newest additions to the Barbie Fashionistas line — 15 contemporary and diverse Ken dolls.

Mattel says the new Kens come in three different body types: slim, original and broad.

And they feature a variety of skin tones, hair colors and "modern fashion looks," like the ever-so-trendy man bun.

Why Inclusive Toys Are About More Than Play Time
Why Inclusive Toys Are About More Than Play Time

Why Inclusive Toys Are About More Than Play Time

Toys that reflect real-life differences in skin color, hair, body type and more can help children feel more accepted, experts say.

LEARN MORE

The release of these new Ken dolls comes a little more than a year after Mattel introduced more diverse Barbies into its product line.

Around the same time, Lego unveiled a mini-figure that uses a wheelchair.

And American Girl started selling diabetes kits for its dolls and even added a boy doll to its collection.

All these new toys have been pretty popular. Mattel's Barbie division saw a brief boost in worldwide sales after introducing more inclusive dolls last year.

And researchers say these toys might even teach children to be more compassionate and empathetic toward people who are different from them.