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Barbie is getting a makeover - to bring her more in line with reality

The nigh-on 60-year-old doll is a global icon. Unfortunately, experts have never seen her proportions as being humanly possible.

barbie1 From left: petite Barbie, tall Barbie, curvy Barbie, original Barbie Mattel Mattel

FOR NEARLY 60 years Barbie has been something of an icon.

The original blonde children’s doll (first launched in 1959) with the unfeasibly long legs is now set for a makeover however according to its makers Mattel.

Three new doll templates are set to be introduced in order to make Barbie a little more representative of reality as part of this year’s collection, which has been given the very 2016 hashtag #thedollevolves.

The three new figure-types will be: ‘curvy’, ‘tall’, and ‘petite’. The classic Barbie will still be an option however.

Several new skin tones and hair colours are also set to be added to the roster to showcase the doll’s new-found diversity, according to Mattel.

Barbie / YouTube

All told the new line will feature:

  • 4 body types
  • 7 skin tones
  • 22 eye colours
  • 24 hairstyles
  • Countless “on-trend fashions and accessories”
  • barbie4 Mattel Mattel

    barbie2 Mattel Mattel

    barbie3 Mattel Mattel

“Girls everywhere now have infinitely more ways to play out their stories and spark their imaginations through Barbie,” the company says in a statement on its website.

Along with more overall diversity, we proudly add three new body types to our line.

The creation of new ‘body-type templates’ is possibly something of a belated acknowledgement that in her original guise, Barbie would struggle to live if she were in fact human due to a lack of body fat.

With her proportions extrapolated into the real world the original Barbie would be 5’9″ in height and weigh roughly 110 pounds. By contrast the average height and weight of American women in 2013 was 5’4″ in height and a weight of 166 pounds according to the New York Daily News.

Watch: Leonardo DiCaprio met the Pope and chatted to him in Italian

Read: Police probe Irish link to mystery man found dead on the moors near Manchester

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33 Comments
    Glen
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    Mute Glen
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    Mar 4th 2015, 6:21 AM

    He needs to be replaced with a judge who will refuse to use the words “suspended sentence” and learn the words “life imprisonment”.
    Same goes for his liberal colleagues.

    709
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    Mute Hermes
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:52 AM

    H.S.B.C. 350 ?

    57
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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Mar 4th 2015, 12:37 PM

    I agree the Wayne O’Donoghue case was a particularly lenient sentence for a child killer – especially considering his actions after he killed young Robert. However Wayne seems to be enjoying his new life now in the UK so that’s a happy ending (not).

    210
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Sep 24th 2015, 10:24 PM

    “Carney’s decision in 2006 to hand Wayne O’Donoghue a four-year sentence for killing his 11-year-old neighbour Robert Holohan was upheld by the Court of Criminal Appeal following an appeal for ‘undue leniency’ from the DPP.
    In its 33-page judgement, the three-judge court said Carney’s ruling had been the correct one.
    Prior to imposing that sentence, following a verdict of manslaughter, the judge had warned the victim’s mother to prepare herself – saying the sentence he would be imposing would be upsetting for her, before explaining the reasoning behind his decision.”

    25
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    Mute Francid Dooley
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:13 AM

    Judges need to be re educated. And get with the real word. From their privileged position and privileged past.they seem to live in a different world then the rest of us .

    340
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:04 AM

    Judges also need to be replaced from time to time. There’s still no sign that an apolitical appointments process has been put in place.

    148
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Sep 24th 2015, 9:59 PM

    “Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland, said he was “one of Ireland’s’ greatest ever criminal judges”.
    “He did society’s dirty work,” Murphy added.”

    For 24 Years!
    Despite my original comment above, I wholeheartedly agree with Ken Murphy.

    22
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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Mar 4th 2015, 6:50 AM

    IMO, he was as inept as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. The entire judicial system in this country needs to be overhauled and brought into the 21st century. I know some of this may need referendums, well if that’s the case do it, stop putting the criminal first and the victim second.

    340
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    Mute Steve McMahon
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:25 AM

    A judge that would jail the person for not paying their bills but suspended sentence for the real criminals

    261
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    Mute John R
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    Mar 4th 2015, 8:05 AM

    The article focussed on the issues of controversy in the long career of a man who dealt with some of the worst crimes in the history of the State and with a cohort of vicious criminals. It did not focus on the many routine decisions made by the Judge. Any Judge dealing with the complex criminal cases this man dealt will inevitably attract criticism. Strangely the article focuses on appeals where his sentences were increased and not on the cases where his sentences were actually reduced on appeal; a source of public complaint by this Judge and a reason, ironically, why some of his sentences were subsequently perceived as lenient by the Appeals Court. This is how our judicial system works in common law countries with Appeal Courts often establishing the guidelines for sentencing. There is too much ignorant populist commentary on the Journal about Judges from people who clearly haven’t a clue how any judicial system works and don’t actually have any facts beyond newspaper headlines at their disposal. This man dealt with cases and sat though evidence which would most of us in prolonged psychotherapy. He deserves praise and not the ignorant criticism he is attracting from “the usual suspects”.

    213
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    Mute mammysdinners
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    Mar 4th 2015, 8:43 AM

    Agreed, to dedicate his working life to considering the details of the most savage acts to be committed in the state is indeed to do the state a great service. He could have simply lined his pockets and become a developer. Hope he enjoys his retirement.

    88
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    Mute Mike Brennan
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    Mar 4th 2015, 11:18 AM

    Very well said.

    22
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    Mute leslie skinner
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:04 AM

    He should take the judge, that sent the woman by taxi, from Donegal to Mountjoy, for not having a TV licence, with him.

    184
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    Mute Harold
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:21 AM

    The judge had nothing to do with the taxi

    96
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    Mute Hermes
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:54 AM

    The judge should be informed enough to know that it would happen – that is the point !
    Wasting tax-payers money while feeding from the same pot and all that !
    Judges will become figures of ridicule when certain insider information is revealed within the coming weeks !

    50
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    Mute Peter Nolan
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:33 AM

    I was actually a juror on a murder trial Justice Carney presided over. He seemed fair and professional. I did, though, love his summing up where, as the defendant scowled in the dock, he reminded us that just because the defendant was an unpleasant, even despicable, person, it was not a basis for conviction of murder.

    144
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    Mute mary carey
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    Sep 24th 2015, 8:08 PM

    Was he found guilty?

    27
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    Mute Alan O'connor
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:47 AM

    Never knew there were so many legal experts on the Journal. The usual Journal commenters. Opinions on everything and answers to nothing.

    127
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    Mute little jim
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:49 AM

    I see no answers here either, just your opinion.
    We’re all guilty.

    45
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    Mute Hermes
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:55 AM

    The ultimate legislators in the State are the citizens – through the ballot – you should understand this Alan !

    20
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    Mute TheDoctor
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    Mar 4th 2015, 10:09 AM

    I’ve an answer. Stop giving out suspended sentences. You don’t need to be a legal expert to read the papers.

    38
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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:06 AM

    Judging by some of his judgement’s which is difficult to do because there may be thing’s he know’s and we don’t at the time ,he was pretty well off the wall with some of his decisions

    92
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    Mute trickytrixster
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    Mar 4th 2015, 7:06 AM

    Judge fudge

    45
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Mar 4th 2015, 11:07 AM

    He was complete out of touch with the wishes of the people he was supposed to serve and protect. Good riddance.

    39
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    Mute Chris O Neill Cabra
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    Sep 24th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Off course he made mistakes but thats part of the human condition. Let the man rest in peace.

    30
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    Mute kevin
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    Sep 24th 2015, 8:34 PM

    -When anyone decides upon a career in the legal profession they must accept that in exchange for their 200k + salary and pension , prestige, security , short working hours and long holidays that there are some disadvantages.
    -One such disadvantage is that they may have to listen and make judgement on some horrific cases.
    -Another disadvantage is that they have a huge responsibility to dispense justice.
    -another disadvantage is that they are in the public eye. If they consistently made bad judgements then the public will be outraged.
    -Anther disadvantage is that if their peers and friends try to paint a picture of a great legacy of professionalism then just maybe some of the public will be outraged again.
    -I don’t wish to dance on the man’s grave. If there is a maker up there then i expect he/she is judging him now not just for some good work but also for those outrageous decisions where he allowed rapists to walk free. A purgatorial sentence would be a fair judgement imo with no suspended sentence and no 100 euro bail.

    19
    Meow
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    Mute Meow
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    Sep 25th 2015, 12:32 AM

    Mistakes that had a huge impact on people (victims and their familys lives.) !

    14
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    Mute Kane Abel
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    Sep 24th 2015, 11:04 PM

    If Wayne O’Donoghue went through a proper justice system with a competent Judge he’d be in a small grey cell somewhere now in my opinion. Carney was born and died an utter idiot, I never read of court proceedings he had a bizarre hand in without feeling shock and dismay – this passing is no loss to Irish Society…..

    23
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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    Sep 24th 2015, 11:18 PM

    a three judge court ruled that it was a correct one .

    12
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    Mute Peter Nolan
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:54 AM

    For those eager to pile on to Carney on the basis of the couple of worst decisions he’s made, this article from a couple of years ago probably gives a better, rounder picture of his achievements and faults over a quarter century on the bench.

    http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/grumpy-justice-is-not-blind-to-victims-plight-220770.html

    22
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    Mute john kinsella
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    Mar 4th 2015, 11:45 AM

    A judge is supposed dish out justice every time presides. His bad decisions have ruined lives.

    41
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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:17 PM

    A judge is simply a banker for the court corporation.

    17
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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    Sep 24th 2015, 8:54 PM

    He wasn’t exactly a ‘hanging judge’. Let’s hope his replacement has a pair! I note there was no mention of him criticising Joe Duffy when callers to the live line criticised his sentencing of O’Donoghue!

    18
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    Mute Steve McMahon
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    Sep 24th 2015, 11:48 PM

    Good riddance

    16
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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Mar 4th 2015, 9:21 PM

    http://ancailinrua.com/2013/08/12/a-womans-worth-reporting-and-sentencing-of-violent-crimes-against-women/

    A Woman’s Worth …. reporting and sentencing of violent crimes against women.

    14
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    Mute Kathleen Henderson
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    Sep 29th 2015, 10:12 PM

    Judge Paul Carney RIP was also the Patron of VSAC…..victim support at court. This is an organisation run in the main by volunteers….and these volunteers give support to victims of crime during their time in court. Wonderful organisation much needed and appreciated by Victims of crime.Judge Paul Carney called these volunteers an empathetic benevolent group of people.We were at his funeral Mass today.RIP Judge you’ll be very missed.

    3
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