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Barbie's fat ankles

Friday, October 16, 2009
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Does Barbie have fat legs? This might sound like a ridiculous question, but according to shoe designer Christian Louboutin, the answer is "yes".

In pictures: Barbie through the ages

The designer is adding three Barbie dolls to the blonde bombshell's range but has had their legs reshaped to give Barbie's famous physique a more formed calf muscle and ankle, after Louboutin deemed them "too fat" for his famous shoes.

His shoes — characterised by the height of the heel as well as a red sole — are a popular favourite with celebrities and retail for up to $3000 (try Net-a-Porter.com).

In pictures: Celebs weight loss journeys

"They're completely wild and even come with mini Louboutin boxes for the shoes," a Louboutin spokeswoman told UK daily Metro "He [Louboutin] found her ankles were too fat."

Your say: What do you think? Do you think Barbie needs a redesign? What kind of message do you think this sends to young girls? Which is your favourite Barbie? Tell us below.

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User comments
This just goes to show, how immorture and unrealistic the world of fashion has gotten. As nearly every sane person knows everyone is differant and everone is beautiful to someone. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. This fashion designer has just showen the world how shallow and rediculouse they can be. Mattle need to stand up to Christian Louboutin. I bet he'd be a one those over powered, self-impressed designers who think the only perfect person is the one they create themselves.
I wrote my comment on a doll not being a role model regardless, but after reading through some of the other foolish comments, I'd like to state a few more points. While Barbie's body is disproportioned, people here are demonizing thin women. I do recall someone telling skinny girls to... eat a sandwich? I am a size 6 with proportioned curves in the right places, so I believe. Many of my friends are naturally thin. Some even have been distressed at taunts of being 'anorexic' not everyone is built with your body. Some people cannot help it. While I eat ridiculous amounts of food every day, some junk some healthy, my weight doesn't seem to change. To be perfectly honest, I rarely exercise either. Should I 'eat a sandwich' because of this? Am I a 'bad role model' for having a good body?Some little girls are bound to be thin, and God forbid, blonde just like some older women and most possibly their role models, can be the same. Healthily. Not everyone needs to kill themselves to be thin.
First of all, a doll is not a role model. Children who play with dolls are more interested in 'playing families' and 'dressing her up.' A serial doll-player myself, I never once wanted to be a doll. She was just fun to play with, so no, the bit of plastic was never a role model- people are. If girls want to be thin and 'pretty' its because of the media and real women who appear like that, not toys. That said, the designed must a real idiot to care what a DOLL, keyword DOLL's ankles, or feet look like. Has he-she not got anything better to do with his-her life? Pathetic. You know what else is pathetic? Blaming a childs desire to be conventionally beautiful on a toy. Grow up.
First of all to whoever is saying they should make barbie larger, get a grip. Barbie looks just fine and why should she change just to make other people happy? I am a small girl and I get called anorexic or stick thin which is actually ridiculous because I eat healthy. This is my body shape and I will not put on weight so people can say that I have a "real" body shape like "real" women. Barbie should not change at all, there is nothing wrong with her. She doesn't need to be larger. If you think she will influence your child (which I doubt as being good looking is mainly to attract males) then don't get her the doll.
To me, the focus should be less on what barbie looks like, and the spotlight put on the egotistical, imperfect (what human is perfect?) pig and his counterparts who think they are so wonderful as to be able to set the standards for those equally egotistical, imperfect, unfortunate people who are caught up in looks and knock themselves out to comply to current ideals.. Shame on mattel if they pander to his demands. Surely they don't need the money that badly..not to mention their wounded pride if it appears they are admitting that their product is indeed not up to scratch. I wonder who will win this battle, which is all about making the rich richer and nothing about bettering humankind.
I don't want my daughters to grow up to be obese and unhealthy, nor do I want them to grow up super thin and get boob jobs. A doll is not going to teach your kids to be true to themselves. That is a parents job. Teaching them about being healthy, to have inner beauty and self confidence is the PARENTS ROLE. Don't expect a doll to do your work for you!
"I'm with you Real woman - If anything, Barbie is TOO UNREALISTIC and girls are already thinking they are TOO "FAT", They don't need more Expectations... Look at the Food Disorders they are already having... I'm Very ANGRY AND SHOCKED that PEOPLE DON'T THINK OF THE CONSEQUENCES it has on the GIRLS... " What about all these overweight people costing millions a year in health care??? The 'real women' label is insulting and rude and it provides unhealthy people with an excuse.
It's a pity some little girls don't have responsible mothers who explain to them that Barbie is a TOY. Stop relying on retailers, manufacturers, television, and even shcools to raise your children. Take some responsibility and have a conversation with your child about life, love, sex and body imagine. Not give them excuses for being unhealthy, by using labels like 'real'!!!!!! We are all real and come in many different shapes. Healthy is what matters!
no wonder their are so many unhealthy overweight people getting around (size 22 up) there are sooooo many excuses for them to be overweight like calling them 'real sized'. Now they want to blame A DOLL for their self confidence issues! Geez, people grow up! Teach your kids self confidence and inner beauty and don't give them excuses for not being healthy!
I can't believe that people are turning this into a discussion about 'real size' women and using it to insult thinner people. Grow up, barbie is a toy! Any woman dumb enough to try and model herself after barbie is deluded! And that is their problem. Just because people are thin doesn't mean they wish to look like barbie! I am thin (55kgs, 164cm tall, i don't diet etc) and I never liked my barbies, I cut her toes, fingers, hair, nose and ear lobes off. So my mum stopped buying me barbies and brought me lego, and motor control cars like I wanted. Any girl blaming their low self esteem on a toy has a problem too! Stop finding excuses for looking the way you do and learn to accept it or change it. Too many women these days have excuses for being unhealthy and overweight. You should be healthy! If that means you are a healthy size 14 then so be it! I'm sorry but size 22 etc is not healthy and people should not be providing excuses for that sort of weight.

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