Anne Curtis, actress and Tatler Asia’s Most Influential 2022 honouree, chooses the Audrey Hepburn collection as her favourite.

“My favourite Barbie [dolls] are my Audrey Hepburn collection Barbies,” she says. “It’s no secret I am a fan. So, they were a must-have for my precious collection.”

Kaye Tinga, on the other hand, reminisces about the Barbie dolls with dresses designed by Filipino designers at a local auction in 2010.

“My favourite was a Filipiniana Barbie designed by Pepito Albert. I was truly captivated by the doll’s ensemble, which beautifully captured the essence of our rich cultural heritage. It left such a lasting impression on me that I asked Pepito to recreate the design for a Filipinana ensemble I wore for the SONA (State of the Nation Address),” she says.

She adds that “through collaborations with designers or showcasing diverse backgrounds, Barbie is so powerful in promoting inclusivity and representing the beauty of different cultures around the world.”

More from Tatler: Filipiniana goes Hollywood: Ana Cruz Kayne wears Philippine terno on Barbie’s ‘pink’ carpet

Western Barbie was released as a Pink Label Barbie by Mattel in the year 1980. Her mouth and smile are recognisable as a “superstar” even while the rest of her head mould was unique due to her winking eye. 

The doll came with a white, silver, and black cowgirl pantsuit, a white cowboy hat, and white boots embossed with the word “Barbie”. A much more recent version of this doll is Margot Robbie’s—in which she wears a pink version of the Western outfit. 

Joey Mead King holds this version of the Barbie doll close to her heart. “I loved her cowboy boots and how she wasn’t as femme as the other Barbies. She had that cowgirl swag. I eventually was gifted with a Barbie Palomino horse and we went on many adventures in the backyard garden. Growing up alone, Barbie, along with my Starwars collection, kept me and my vivid imagination company.”

The Barbie Jam n’ Glam from 2001 was an inspiration for creativity to many girls. Blonde by day, the doll gets outrageous at night with its two-tone hair twisting from blonde to purple. The option to add pink, green and blue hair extensions is also available. 

Bea Evardone Gothong, 2023 Gen.T honouree, picks this as her favourite. “I’d have her sing Britney Spears’ songs and pretend to have concerts with her. I think playing with the Barbie Jam n’ Glam growing up helped me realise my love for performing and being onstage.”

Read more: Style evolution: Margot Robbie’s stylish moments through the years

The latest line of Barbie Fashionistas dolls includes seven body types, nine skin tones, seven eye colours, 11 hair colours, 12 hairstyles, and more. The doll wears a black and white polka dot dress with cut-outs and bows, pink strappy heels, and a golden bangle to complete the look.

Its signature, however, is its long blonde hair styled straight for a trendy look.

“When I was a child, my favourite Barbie dolls were the ones with long blonde hair,” shares Linda Ley. “I always pretended that I was a hairdresser in a salon styling my doll’s long and flowy hair. I would also cut my Barbie’s hair to give her a chic new look!”

Ley adds, “My daughter’s favourite Barbie is Mulan because it resembles her. Another favourite is Ariel Barbie because she loves the movie.” Barbies represent a form of expression and representation, so for young children to be using them is a bonus. 

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