We are all well aware of the bizarre proportions of Mattel’s “Barbie” doll. Last year, artist Nickolay Lamm became internet famous for creating this correctly-proportioned “Barbie” doll concept. Building on this publicity, Lamm refined his “real Barbie” prototype and created “Lammily”, the beautifully average doll. And now he wants to crowd fund her into existence.
How does Lammily reflect the average woman?
Lammily’s body proportions are based on data taken from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control – a resource which is typically used to track the American obesity epidemic – and represent on the average measurements for a 19-year-old woman. … The doll also wears minimal make-up and comfortable clothes (including denim shorts and white trainers). Lammily promotes a healthy lifestyle. She has articulated wrists, knees, elbows, and feet.
Nice kicks, Lammily.
Lamm states that the Lammily doll “promotes realistic beauty standards.” Ok sure, because Barbie is obviously ridiculous in comparison. Lammily’s uncomfortable tagline, as it stands on the website, is “Average is Beautiful”. But as Rachel Feltman points out, she still is still “representing an unfortunate standard of beauty—just a brunette one, with a butt.”
I’m of the belief that everything else in media (TV, movies, magazines, internet, etc) probably holds more weight than some doll in shaping the body image issues that develop in young women. Still, Lammily seems to a be a net positive over the status quo.
Photos by Nickolay Lamm.
