Barbie’s done a lot over the years. She’s been an astronaut, a president, a doctor, and—briefly—a mermaid. But now? She’s finally stepping into something a little more real: type 1 diabetes visibility. And we have Lila Moss to thank for that.
Ahead of the August 2025 launch of Barbie’s most inclusive lineup yet, the brand just unveiled a doll inspired by the British model and activist—complete with a glucose monitor, insulin pump, and that signature Lila-level cool-girl style. Yes, the doll actually has medical gear sculpted into her look, and no, this isn’t a drill.
Courtesy of Barbie
Lila, who’s been open about managing type 1 diabetes since her teenage years, called the collaboration a deeply personal moment. Because when one of the world’s most iconic toys shows up with a visible chronic condition? That’s not just a cute accessory. That’s representation. And yes, she said she gets messages from people who finally feel seen. Cue the happy tears.
Courtesy of Lila Moss
Now, in case you’re wondering—this isn’t just Barbie slapping a medical patch on a doll for diversity points. The detail work is precise. We’re talking wearable tech: glucose monitor on the arm, insulin pump on the leg, blood sugar kit in the handbag. Fashion meets function meets actual awareness. This is not your 2001 sparkle-fairy Barbie.
As part of the launch, Mattel is also partnering with Breakthrough T1D (the global org formerly known as JDRF), and has pledged a £20,000 donation to support education, research, and community programmes. Which honestly? Feels like a much-needed step for a brand that’s trying to walk the very thin, very glittery line between being iconic and inclusive.
The new doll joins the Barbie Fashionistas 2025 collection, which already includes dolls with hearing aids, prosthetic limbs, vitiligo, Down’s syndrome, and more. With over 175 variations in skin tone, body shape, and visible disability, the Fashionistas line is basically Barbie’s way of saying: “The world is not one-size-fits-all, and we’re finally catching on.”
Mattel’s SVP Krista Berger even said it herself—Barbie shapes how kids see the world. And for the millions of children growing up with conditions like type 1 diabetes, this doll might be the first time they see someone who looks, acts, and lives like them… on the shelf. In a tutu or not.
And let’s be honest: that’s how you change the game.
