When I read in the syllabus that we had to post a blog about an alternative representation of Barbie, this woman immediately came to my mind. Her name is Valeria Lukyanova and she is known as the “human Barbie.” She has a super skinny waist, large breasts, and has had either plastic surgery or just uses make-up to make her face look, well, plastic. Lukyanova is an extreme case of someone thinking that Barbie is the ultimate symbol of perfection.
I find it interesting that Lukyanova is Russian and Barbie is essentially an “American” toy. I think it shows how much of an icon Barbie really is and how Barbie’s messages of “femininity” and “perfection” are relevant in other countries.
As I was looking for articles about Lukyanova, I stumbled across one from the Huffington Post, and there is apparently a “human Ken” as well.
Here are two articles pertaining to human Barbie/Ken: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2232466/Human-Barbie-Model-excessive-plastic-surgery-doll-like-shows-proportions-fashion-shoot.html
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