First Barbie doll with Down syndrome released

In April 2023, Mattel released its first Barbie doll with Down syndrome, marking a significant milestone in the brand's ongoing efforts to expand representation of people with disabilities. The doll was developed in consultation with the National Down Syndrome Society to ensure that its physical features accurately reflected the characteristics commonly associated with Down syndrome, including a rounder face shape, almond-shaped eyes, and a flattened nasal bridge.

The doll's design also included details intended to resonate with the lived experience of individuals with Down syndrome and their families, such as a pink, orange, and yellow dress adorned with a butterfly print, since butterflies are widely used as a symbol of Down syndrome awareness, and a pair of ankle-foot orthotics represented within the doll's design, reflecting a common mobility aid used by many individuals with Down syndrome.

This release represented the culmination of decades of gradually expanding disability representation within the Barbie line, beginning with the introduction of Becky, the first wheelchair-using doll, in 1997, and continuing through the 2019 expansion of dolls with prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs. It was widely covered by international media and praised by disability advocacy organizations as an important step toward ensuring that children with Down syndrome, and their peers, could see this form of representation reflected in mainstream popular culture.

The doll's release reflected Mattel's stated commitment to ensuring that all children could see themselves represented within the Barbie brand, reinforcing the doll's continuing cultural relevance and evolving social mission more than six decades after her original 1959 debut.