-
A silhouette of Mattel's new Curvy BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
-
A silhouette of Mattel's new Curvy BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
-
Mattel's new Curvy BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
-
A silhouette of Mattel's new Tall BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
-
Mattel's new Curvy BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
-
A silhouette of Mattel's new Petite BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
-
Mattel's new Curvy BarbieKenji Aoki for TIME
TIME commissioned Japanese photographer Kenji Aoki to photograph Barbie for this week’s cover. Toymaker Mattel gave Barbie three new bodies—tall, petite and curvy to keep up with America’s changing beauty ideals. It’s the most dramatic shift in the iconic doll’s 57 year history. Aoki captured the changes in a series of photographs exclusively for TIME.
The dolls arrived in Aoki’s New York City studio after they were flown in with a stylist, from Mattel’s California headquarters for TIME’s shoot. He specializes in still life photography and is known for his masterful lighting. With his unique perspective, he finds beauty in every day objects and elevates them to art.
See a video of TIME’s Barbie Cover shoot and meet Mattel’s stylist.
Read the full TIME cover story on Barbie’s new bodies
- Employers Take Note: Young Workers Are Seeking Jobs with a Higher Purpose
- Signs Are Pointing to a Slowdown in the Housing Market—At Last
- Welcome to the Era of Unapologetic Bad Taste
- As the Virus Evolves, COVID-19 Reinfections Are Going to Keep Happening
- A New York Mosque Becomes a Refuge for Afghan Teens Who Fled Without Their Families
- High Gas Prices are Oil Companies' Fault says Ro Khanna, and Democrats Should Go After Them
- Two Million Cases: COVID-19 May Finally Force North Korea to Open Up