Bald Barbie to Debut after Viral Campaign (VIDEO)

It may sound like an April Fools gag, but this is really happening.

The “Bald Barbie” is going to be made by Mattel after all, after an online campaign went viral and racked up over 150,000 “Likes” on Facebook.

Mattel spokesman Alan Hilowitz confirmed that the doll got the green light, complete with wigs, hats, scarves, and additional accessories.  She will be dubbed a “friend” of Barbie.

He added that it would give “a traditional fashion play experience” and that there would be the option to remove the wigs and head coverings.

You may recall that the “bald and beautiful” campaign was begun on Facebook back in January by two moms whose daughters lost their hair during cancer treatment.

The idea behind the campaign was to lessen the stigma for kids undergoing treatment or for those suffering from conditions like alopecia and trichotillomania .

Jane Bingham, one of the co-founders of the viral campaign, said she never thought the campaign would gather the momentum it did to help those who have lost their hair.

“We thought it would be popular with plenty of people, but we did not expect it to balloon the way it did across the world and throughout the media,” she said.

“It’s been great, we couldn’t have done it. They wouldn’t have heard us if it was just a couple of people writing to them.”

After meeting Rebecca Sypin, another mom in a similar situation, in an online chat room, the duo came up with the idea to help children.

They say they hadn’t tried to force Mattel into action, but rather sought to underscore a condition from which many children suffer.

“We are not demanding; we are not asking people to boycott,” Sypin said when the idea was conceived.

“That wasn’t our goal at all. We’re just trying to raise awareness.”

Mattel said that the new “Bald Barbie” the dolls wouldn’t be sold in stores, but would instead be donated to hospitals and the U.S. National Alopecia Areata Foundation.

The company said in a statement: “Through a thoughtful approach, we made the decision not to sell these dolls at retail stores, but rather get the dolls directly into the hands of children who can most benefit from the unique play experience.”

Related articles

• BALD BARBIE: Facebook Campaign Puts Pressure on Mattel (blippitt.com)
• Bald Barbie in the works for kids w/ cancer – Mattel says (abclocal.go.com)
• A Bald Doll Friend of Barbie Being Created For Children With Hair Loss (laughingsquid.com)
• Barbie’s Friend Will Soon Be Bald and Beautiful [Bald Barbie] (jezebel.com)