BARBIE ANNOUNCES PLAN TO TURN THE WHITE HOUSE PINK WITH A RUN FOR THE OVAL OFFICE

Barbie doll formally threw her pink hat into the presidential campaign ring by unveiling the new 2012 Barbie I Can Be…  President doll. The global icon will represent girls of all ages on her road to the “Pink House,” serving as the “B Party” candidate. Barbie will hit the campaign trail with a full-scale “glam-paign” alongside her longtime political advisor – The White House Project. With a designer pink power suit and a new Tumblr blog, Barbie® stands on her own (literally) as this campaign’s sole female candidate.

As the unwavering, encouraging voice of the “B Party,” Barbie’s campaign platform calls for girls of all ages to “B inspired,” “B informed,” and “B involved.” To further deliver her message, Barbie will continue to partner with The White House Project – a national, nonpartisan women’s leadership development organization – from the presentation of the “Barbie I Can Be Award” to a young girl at the organization’s annual awards gala to a “Take Your Daughters to the Polls” movement in November.

“The Barbie brand’s career-focused line of I Can Be… dolls often shine a pink spotlight on professions that are historically underrepresented by women,” said Cathy Cline, Vice President of U.S. Marketing, Mattel Girls’ Brands. “We hope that Barbie will inspire girls to be leaders – be it in their schools, classrooms, or communities – with the President doll. We know that role play often becomes real play….and when better to plant the seed of leadership in a girl’s mind than during play time.”

A Doll That Stands on Her Own
With more than 130 careers, Barbie doll has always been both a career trailblazer and a trend-setting style icon. Now, in her fashionable pink wedge shoes, the Barbie I Can Be… President doll literally stands on her own without support or the need for a doll stand.

“We are ecstatic that for the first time Barbie will stand on her own two feet, as all powerful leaders do– and the Barbie for President doll has the perfect platform to debut this feature” said Tiffany Dufu, President, The White House Project. “This new feature goes well beyond the toy aisle with a message for girls across the world.”