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An icon turns 65: Barbie’s changing style showcased in London exhibition

As doll’s fame hits a new high, Design Museum will explore the impact her changing appearance has had

The exhibition, which opens on 5 July, will explore Barbie’s changing appearance in relation to evolving cultural shifts around diversity and representation. They pay attention to different details like painting baby hairs on the hairlines of afro dolls which is a recent innovation but shows they are thinking of accuracy. Kim Culmone, senior vice-president of design for Mattel, said Barbie had become an “international icon” and that the doll had been leaving a mark on culture for 65 years.

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