Strictly Champion Rose Ayling-Ellis Launches New Diverse Range Of Barbie Dolls

Strictly star and EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis has helped launch new diverse additions to Mattel’s Fashionista range of Barbie dolls. They include a Barbie doll with a behind-the-ear hearing aid, a Ken doll with vitiligo, a new Fashionista doll with prosthetic leg and a wheelchair Barbie doll. Rose, who is deaf, modelled the hearing aid doll, alongside Jamie, a 17-year-old student with vitiligo, Renee, a model and paraplegic wheelchair user, and Faisha, a yoga teacher and model with a below-the-knee prosthetic limb. Rose said: “It’s so important for children to be able to see themselves represented in the toys they play with. When I was little, I would draw hearing aids onto my Barbie dolls to make them look like me, so I am thrilled that Mattel is releasing more dolls that encourage kids to celebrate and embrace their differences!” Mattel consulted with experts in their fields to ensure the new dolls accurately portrayed people's experiences, like educational audiologist Dr. Jen Richardson who said she is “beyond thrilled” her patients will be able to play with a doll that reflects their lives.