A study analyzes the body proportions of recent Barbie and Ken dolls and finds they are increasingly similar to those of real people. Researchers examine four recent Barbie dolls and the latest Ken doll, looking at how the dolls’ proportions compare with human measurements.
The outlets report that the “Curvy Barbie” model shows the closest match to the average woman’s proportions in the study’s comparisons. Both sources describe the findings as a sign that some doll designs are shifting toward more realistic or representative body shapes.
While both articles focus on the same university analysis and highlight the “Curvy Barbie” comparison, they do not provide additional methodological details beyond the basic description of what was measured and which dolls were included. The overall emphasis is on the direction of the change—greater resemblance to real-world proportions—rather than on broader conclusions about the industry or consumer impact.
