I got a full ‘Barbie’ makeover, but is living in plastic more fantastic?

Greta Gerwig’s ‘Barbie’ is gearing up to be one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year. Starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, at first glance it might seem like a live-action movie of the classic childhood toy. But we’ve come a long way since the doll was first seen on store shelves in 1959, and this “Barbie” movie challenges everything that’s sold us before.

In addition to Robbie, the movie’s trailer teases Dua Lipa, Sharon Rooney, Issa Rae, Nicola Coughlan, and Alexandra Shipp, among others, who play the versatile Barbie, proving that all sizes and races can and should be represented in the form of a leading lady. . Without this diverse cast, I never would have agreed to do my own Barbie makeover.

Like many people, I have had a complicated relationship with the doll in the past. Barbie was sold to many of us as the “perfect” woman and was the epitome of one specific ideal of beauty. White, tall and slender, this blonde plastic toy reaffirmed a belief of what it meant to be beautiful, and this look was only underlined in pop culture. Cher from “Clueless,” Regina George from “Mean Girls,” Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde,” and even Sophie from “Mamma Mia” all mirror Barbie in similar ways. So it’s not surprising that at the age of 13 I was measuring my own body against a life-sized Barbie chart, heartbroken that only my feet fit the mold.

Now, almost twice her age, the attraction to looking like Barbie is gone, but not completely gone. Although I have lost hope of growing an extra four inches and understand that a 16 inch waist would leave room for only half a liver and only a few inches of gut (for reference, a UK size 6 measures a 25.5 inch waist ), I can’t help but wonder if growing up with Barbie means the aesthetic is ingrained in my subconscious. Maybe, deep down, that’s why I balayage my hair blonde and just love the look of my hands with long, painted nails, my skin when it’s tanned, and my feet when I’m wearing high heels.

Being white, slim and with that balayage blonde hair I am well aware that I look more like the OG Barbie than many and I can’t claim to understand the layers of unease for those who don’t see themselves in the blonde hair , model with blue eyes at all. Mattel diversified the doll in 1980 with both a black and a Hispanic barbie, and in 2016 it introduced several body-shaped barbies, and there are now over 170 different barbies ranging in race, size and ability.

But in many ways, the aesthetic continues to run through all iterations. Barbie is perfectly groomed, loves the color pink and she exudes unparalleled confidence in her own skin. So maybe Barbie, in all her forms, is on to something?

It’s hard not to get caught up in Barbiecore as the buzz builds around the film’s July 21 release. Still, as someone whose hassle-free wardrobe, minimal makeup, and basic routine couldn’t be further from glamorous pink-loving Barbies, I thought it might be fun to spend the day as the doll who plagued my childhood with unrealistic expectations. Would a Barbie look-the-look empower me or leave me alone?

Yes, the makeover was OTT. Yes, it is not sustainable daily. And yes, the cute dress code plays on gender stereotypes. However, the makeover emphasized the importance of taking the time to really focus on myself. Beauty is a form of self-care and as I eased into the routine of being pampered, the stresses of my real life on a short break, my mood shifted from nervous to quietly confident to truly enjoying the attention.

The accentuated result may have been cartoonish, but I felt like the main character in my own life again, not someone standing on the sidelines watching it blow by at a rapid pace. It meant taking time to focus on myself, putting me back in the driver’s seat instead of prioritizing work or what other people need from me. And I think that’s what Barbie is all about (with or without fake nails and blow dryers). Being a Barbie is a feeling, no longer just about one’s physical appearance, and we could probably all benefit from a little extra inner confidence to feel more fabulous. After all, who just wants to be Ken?

Whether you want to recreate the look for your “Barbie” parties or use elements of her aesthetic, keep reading to see how I became Barbie for a day.