The brand strives to "reflect more of the world that children see around them."
Barbie officially unveiled Chelsea, the first-ever doll with scoliosis symptoms. The initiative to create the unusual doll is part of a campaign to bring innovation to the world of children's toys.
The company strives to "reflect more of the world that children see around them. According to statistics, more than 100,000 cases of scoliosis are diagnosed in children in the United States yearly.
"Our Chelsea line provides infinitely more opportunities to create stories while giving children the opportunity to develop empathy and social processing skills through playing with dolls," Barbie commented.
According to the concept, Chelsea is Barbie's little sister. The press release noted that she also likes to see herself in various guises, from a pilot and a doctor to a pop star.
When creating the Chelsea doll, the designers consulted with board-certified neurosurgeons and scoliosis specialists to ensure accurate reproduction of the condition. Barbie calls their brainchild "a fantastic example of representing young children and adolescents diagnosed with scoliosis or wearing a spinal corset.
The doll is already on sale at major retailers, including Target and Walmart, and on Amazon for $8.