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Barbie has traded her signature golden locks for a mop of slick, red hair after undergoing an otherworldly makeover.
A new limited edition doll pays homage to rock legend David Bowie’s 1970s alter ego, Ziggy Stardust, and comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of the release of Bowie’s hit song, “Space Oddity.”
The brains behind Barbie, toymaker Mattel, said the doll is designed to honor the “pioneer of sound and vision, English singer, songwriter and actor, whose dramatic musical transformations continue to influence and inspire.”
Barbie’s been through a lot of ch-ch-ch-ch-changes over the years, but the fashion icon’s latest incarnation may be one of her coolest ones yet.
No details have been spared in recreating Bowie’s alter ego look, down to the doll’s black nail polish and dangling, silver star earrings.
Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
David Bowie performs as Ziggy Stardust at the Hammersmith Odeon, London in 1973.
The doll wears a stripey, metallic “spacesuit” with trademark red platform boots. In true Bowie fashion, Barbie also flaunts the musician’s red, mullet-like hairdo, statement dusty eyeshadow, and, of course, the striking golden astral sphere symbol on her forehead.
The rock-glam Barbie joins a growing procession of special edition dolls, as the company seeks to remain relevant six decades after the release of the original model.
courtesy mattel
Barbie is introducing
dolls with wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs in its newest Fashionistas line, which aims to offer kids more diverse representations of beauty. Mattel is marking the 60th birthday of the iconic Barbie brand, which was launched on March 9, 1959. See how the doll has changed through the years.
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Teenage fashion model, 1959
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Registered nurse, 1961
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Astronaut, 1965
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Surgeon, 1973
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Olympic athlete, 1975
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Aerobics instructor, 1984
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Veterinarian, 1985
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Rapper, 1992
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Marine Corps sergeant, 1992
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Business executive, 1992
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Police officer, 1993
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Army medic, 1993
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Firefighter, 1995
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Dentist, 1997
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Airline pilot, 1999
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Ballerina, 2006
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Chef, 2007
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Soccer coach, 2008
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Swim instructor, 2008
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Race car driver, 2010
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News anchor, 2010
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Computer engineer, 2010
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Architect, 2011
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Presidential candidate, 2012
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Entrepreneur, 2014
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Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, 2014
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Super Sparkle superhero, 2015
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In 2015,
the Barbie Fashionista line represented eight skin tones, 14 facial structures, 22 hairstyles, 23 hair colors and 18 eye colors.
Courtesy of Barbie
Just ahead of International Women's Day last year, Barbie introduced a batch of new dolls
based on real-life figures. From left are Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo and Katherine Johnson.
Last year, Mattel released a stylish Iris Apfel doll, celebrating the then 96-year-old fashion icon. Earlier this year, the toymaker also released a collection of dolls with wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs.
Courtesy Mattel
The Iris Apfel doll, complete with black-rimmed glasses.
Lady Stardust’s androgynous appearance marks another iteration of the doll, replicating in a small way the reinvention that Bowie employed during his monumental career.