FULL REPRESENTATION: Mattel’s anchor toy range Barbie has created a one-of-a-kind doll honoring Type 1 diabetes advocate Lila Moss, ahead of the worldwide release of its first dolls living with the same medical condition later this summer.
Appearing in the U.K. launch campaign, the daughter of Kate Moss holds a Barbie created in her likeness featuring a circular white Continuous Glucose Monitor on her arm, a square white Insulin Pump pod attached to the top of her leg, and a device in her handbag to monitor insulin levels.
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“I am proud to use my platform to educate around Type 1 diabetes and show that being different is cool,” said Moss, whose doll donned a sleek black ensemble inspired by the model’s personal style.
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“Receiving messages from people who see my patches and feel represented means everything to me. To be able to now see Barbie dolls with T1D, and to receive a Barbie doll that visibly looks like me, even wearing her patches, is both surreal and special,” she added.
Upon the campaign release, Mattel U.K. also unveiled a partnership with Breakthrough T1D, a global Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization, donating 20,000 pounds to continue to fund T1D research, education and support.
The retail version of the Type 1 diabetes Barbie doll will go on sale on Aug. 23. It wears a polka-dot top and matching skirt, and comes with an insulin pump on the arm, a continuous glucose monitor on the waist, and a device in her purse that tracks blood sugar levels.
The Type 1 diabetes Barbie doll is part of the 2025 Barbie Fashionistas range, which encompasses more than 175 looks across various skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, and disabilities, such as a blind Barbie doll, a Black Barbie doll with Down Syndrome, a Barbie doll with hearing aids, a Barbie doll with prosthetic limbs, a Barbie doll with vitiligo and Barbie dolls in wheelchairs.
Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and global head of dolls, said the introduction of a Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes marks an important step in the brand’s commitment to inclusivity and representation.
“Barbie helps shape children’s early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love,” added Berger.