Barbie makeover

Valentine's Day has come and gone, but America's most famous couple remains broken up. It's been almost two years since the closely watched celebrity duo split, and many are hoping to see the 43-year romance rekindled. \nBarbie and Ken go together like movies and popcorn. But even moviegoers like a change of pace every once in a while and opt for a bag of Twizzlers instead. So no one was too surprised when Barbie split with Ken, flew to California and swapped love notes with an Australian boogie boarder named Blaine. \nUnfortunately for Barbie, the flirtation ceased before she could utter the words "PR stunt" and Barbie and Blaine were history. Sorry Mattel, but as any avid moviegoer knows, nothing beats a jumbo bucket of buttery popcorn. \nNaturally, Ken recently decided to win Barbie back. With Barbie's third-quarter global sales down, Mattel realized that at the end of the day, people want to see Barbie and Ken together. So what's a smart, well-liked guy like Ken to do? Isn't it obvious? It's makeover time.\nAccording to Mattel, fans might see "some big changes in Spring 2006." Ken's personal stylists would like to see a better tan, an eyelid surgery and a more lean, defined physique. To put it simply, the new Ken will be the Brad Pitt of the plastic world. \nBut perhaps it's not Ken who needs the makeover; it's Barbie. And maybe the split isn't the reason for Mattel's sales dip, but the fact that American's are becoming more aware of the harmful effect Barbie's unrealistic appearance has on young female collectors. Barbie, with her perfect blonde hair, long slender legs and fabulous wardrobe, has always been a symbol of the ideal woman to America. That needs to change.\nMattel had the right idea when the company introduced President Barbie in 2000. Dressed in a blue power suit and sporting a conservative blond bob, this Barbie was available in Latina, Caucasian and African-American versions. Her platform included "equality," "world peace" and "animal kindness" -- not the most intellectually challenging ideas out there, but important nonetheless. \nWhile the concept of President Barbie is empowering for young women, she is also somewhat of a contradiction. Her body size remains comparable to the traditional Barbie's proportions. Still, we must commend Mattel for making a step in the right direction. While President Barbie's physical appearance might be unrealistic, her brain is in tune with contemporary American goals: to someday see a female become president.\nWith the creation of international dolls like Moroccan Barbie and Leyla Barbie -- a belly dancer and Turkish sultan's slave doll -- Mattel has allowed Barbie to become highly politicized. Muslim girls prefer Razanne, a doll that promotes inner beauty and conservative clothes in contrast to flash and sex appeal.\nWhile Ken continues to reinvent himself from businessman to baseball player to rock star, why not give Barbie a makeover, too? With the average girl owning eight Barbie dolls in her lifetime, the only way to normalize culture is to go where the girls are. And if that means turning the dream house into the White House, lets start there.