New Lammily doll, with average proportions and sticker accessories such as cellulite and acne

[____shawnee]

"I wanted to show that reality is cool," says the creator of the Lammily doll

 

 

It’s a month before the holidays and you’re grappling with a serious toy buyer’s dilemma: On the one hand, you kind of just want to get your kid a Barbie; on the other hand you’d rather not perpetuate the peddling of anatomical ideals that are so impossible to achieve — and impractical. (Were Barbie human, she’d have to walk on all fours because of her tiny feet and huge tits and because she would only have room for half a liver.)

 

That’s why graphic designer turned toymaker Nickolay Lamm created the Lammily doll — what the Barbie would look like if she actually had the measurements of an average 19-year-old woman’s body (based on CDC data). And brown hair. (She also comes with a sticker-extension pack, complete with cellulite, freckles and acne, but we’ll get to that later.)

 

What started as an art project in July 2013 became available for purchase and delivery Wednesday. “Parents and their kids were emailing and asking where they could buy the ‘normal Barbie’ — but they didn’t exist,†Lamm, 26, tells TIME. And so he decided to crowdfund his creation, raising $501,000 for his $95,000 target goal. “To be honest, I knew it was either going to bomb or blow up, there was no in between,†Lamm says.

 

Lamm also created a video that transforms a Lammily doll into a Barbie to really get his point across: â€œI wanted to show that reality is cool,†Lamm says. “And a lot of toys make kids go into fantasy, but why don’t they show real life is cool? It’s not perfect, but it’s really all we have. And that’s awesome.â€

 

But real proportions and movement weren’t enough. Before putting the $24.99 dolls on sale — 19,000 dolls are going to backers, but 25,000 more are ready to be shipped before the holidays — Lamm decided to take things a step further.

 

Enter the $5.99 sticker-extension pack, available in January. Lamm says it took four months to find the proper sticker material, that gives the doll’s face acne, freckles, moles and the ability to blush:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lamm also decided to include scrapes and bruises. “Some people were like ‘Oh my God,’ as if I’m promoting domestic violence or something,†says Lamm, before assuring TIME that that was far from his intention. “Look, we all get boo boos and scratches. Life isn’t perfect, we all sometimes fall down but we get back up.â€

 

 

 

 

 

Lamm’s aunt recommended he add scars, he says, “because, you know, some kids have scars and are really shy about them.â€

 

 

 

 

 

But then there’s the cellulite and the stretch marks:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unleashing a doll with stretch marks on the Internet is basically asking for trouble. But Lamm insists that it came from a sincere place, and that some people will welcome the option. “Demi Lovato even tweeted about it,†he says:

 

https://twitter.com/ddlovato/status/344219154531876864/

 

“You know, people were saying this whole project was a joke from the beginning, so I have no doubt some people will take it as a joke,†Lamm says. “But I hope there are enough people who believe what I believe. I think 25% to 30% will think the stickers are stupid and the rest will think it’s good.â€

 

The Lammily will have other fashion options in January:

 

“This is the doll people have been waiting for,†Lamm says. Stretch marks and all.

 

http://time.com/3593968/the-new-normal-barbie-comes-with-an-average-womans-proportions-and-cellulite-sticker-extension-packs/

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Lammily is an ugly name

 

 

 

[aaaaaa]

Why do things like these get pushed so much.. Like id rather play with a barbie

[KayKay]

That thing is terrifying.

 

Honestly I don't understand the big deal, I used to play with Barbies, but I knew that they were plastic dolls and not humans and didn't compare myself to them??? Because they were DOLLS. Idk man.

[denizen mars]

aw, I think it's a cute idea, so kids can have a doll that looks like them, but they should offer dolls with different skin tones and hair colors and such

[a(mber)]

 

[elolery]

Hmm...not a bad idea

[abra]

nobody wants acne 

[KaniPi]

I think its good to diversify the range of dolls for children. Barbie is marketed as the perfect girly girl. Of course this doesn't mean all children think Barbie is real, but I think the whole point of the new one is to promote the idea that nobody is perfect. Girls especially have low esteem because they're always shown ladies with no imperfections.

[twinky]

 

scary, i have trypophobia and this is triggering

[Guest Kami_removed]

that dolls weave is next level tho 

[DatFrackHead]

i would rather my sister wanna look like barbie

[......]

gross no thanks. 

 

If you had body image struggles...because the barbie doll you played with as a child was flawless and disproportionate....  i'm genuinely judging you.

This stuff is so unnecessary... i'm dead at the cellulite sticker. If they sell 500 of these.... 480 will be as jokes.

[SAUCY]

what an unnecessary creation 

[toothpaste]

I think it's interesting. It adds another field of customization.  And yes, perhaps it is not for everyone nor is everybody largely confused about a dolls imagery to their own, but I think there will be a group that appreciates this type of doll.  It's not bad to have this option open for that target audience.

The idea of stickers overall is a clever way of outfitting the doll and the clothing actually looks neat.

[Tzuyoncé]

Why would someone buy it tho its ugly ;s

[Meth Krystal]

eeeeeeeeew

[Symphonyâ„¢]

SJW strike again.

[PShell]

gross

 

 

Is this going to come in happy meals full of high fructose corn syrop and "be happy to be fat" stickers?

[PShell]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile

 

[mgl]

This is ridiculous and pandering to the current self-victimization culture. It's not dolls that will make people have body image issues.

 

Meanwhile boys' action figures

 

 

 

 

Honestly I feel people behind this whole anti-Barbie movement are basically saying women are mentally fragile, in need of constant coddling and protection from everything. It's sexist and I refuse to believe women are weak in any way.

[Sasshi]

Barbie has been butchered nowadays, she looks nothing like she used to when I was playing barbie....actually the face of this doll kinda remind of what barbie used to look like.

Also this video shows pretty good that children call tell very well what is real or not which shows that this doll is kinda pointless.