Weird Things Everyone Ignores About Barbie And Ken's Relationship

We've seen Barbie's hair take on all different shapes, lengths, colors, textures, and styles; her makeup is always au courant. Ken's appearance, on the other hand, underwent a limited amount of changes over the course of the first few decades of his existence. Sure, his hair went from flocked to plastic to synthetic, but beyond that? Reworking Ken's overall look was not exactly the top priority. As former Mattel VP Michael Shore told GQ, "Ken was really viewed as more of an accessory in Barbie's world, to support the narrative of whatever was happening with the girls." 

In 2017, the Ken line got what The Guardian called its "biggest aesthetic update since 1961." "Evolving Ken was a natural evolution for the brand and allows girls to further personalize the role they want him to play in Barbie's world," Mattel exec Lisa McKnight said in a statement at the time, per The Dallas Morning News. This makeover included new body types, new skin tones, and nine new hairstyles. In 2021, Mattel introduced a Ken who uses a wheelchair. The following year, a Ken doll with vitiligo was unveiled.

As Barbie continues to be more inclusive, Ken is now following in her footsteps. According to senior Barbie designer Robert Best, there's much more Ken-novation on the way. "People want to see themselves in product, which is why being inclusive and diverse is so important," he told USA Today, adding that Ken is "definitely continuing to evolve and grow."