Lyst(NEW YORK) — Barbie isn’t the only one with a new look.
Just days after the announcement of Barbie’s newly expanded “Fashionista” line, which includes tall, curvy and petite dolls, the U.K. based e-commerce website Lyst released a photo of their version of a modern-day Ken doll collection, which shows Ken re-imagined with different heights, skin tones, hair textures and body types.
Lyst decided to create their Ken doll “Fashionisto” collection after noticing a demand for an updated Ken doll on Twitter following the release of the new Barbie dolls.
“Twitter users demanded to see Ken’s matching makeover, so fashion shopping site Lyst decided to bring body-positive Ken to life, embracing a more realistic version of manhood in 2016,” the company said in a press release.
The “Fashionisto” Ken lineup includes “Beach DadBod Ken, Bearded Hipster Ken, and Balding Ken, alongside black, Asian and petite Kens,” according to the release.
Katherine Ormerod, editorial director at Lyst, told ABC News that although the “Fashionisto” line of Ken dolls is just a visualization right now, consumers have flocked to the idea and are enthusiastic about the production and sale of the dolls in real life.
“We’ve been inundated with requests for us to produce and sell the dolls, which gives a real insight into the appeal of the more diverse Kens,” Ormerod said. “Hipster Ken seems to be the favorite by a long way…. It’s clear from the response that the world needs more Kens.”
Ormerod noted that the company used the new Barbie lineup as a starting point and attempted to mirror some of Barbie’s changes, while adding in some “distinctly male realities” in order to create their realistic and body-inclusive “Fashionisto” line.
“Real men don’t all look like Ken, just as real women don’t all look like Barbie — so it’s about time the doll was more reflective and a bit more body positive,” Ormerod said. “Men need plastic role models too. Ken has been a top menswear influencer for over 50 years, but like Barbie, he needs a makeover every now and again.”
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