Ashley Graham recently talked about her involvement in the Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge and the importance of having a Barbie doll that reflects diverse body types on the Today Show. Graham, known for her body positivity activism, spoke on how it affected her own self-perception and mental health.
Graham proudly presented the Barbie doll made to resemble her features, such as her round butt, thick thighs and lower belly fat. She did, however, admit that her request for cellulite representation was not fulfilled, highlighting the ongoing need for inclusivity in toy design.
She emphasized the significance of representation for young girls in her response to the Graham-inspired Barbie. Graham said that having a Barbie doll with a figure like her own as a child would have positively impacted her self-worth and stopped the feelings of comparison and trauma. Graham said, “If I would have had a Barbie that looked like my body shape growing up, I think my mind would have not been as traumatized.” She added, “And I wouldn’t have looked at myself in the mirror and thought, ‘Why do I have this and she has that?’”