For nearly 70 years, Barbie and Ken have set the standard for an “ideal” adult body — one that’s been almost impossible to match in real life. Curvy Barbie came out on top as the closest match to today’s average female body proportions. “Barbie and Ken are among the most recognisable cultural icons globally, and for many children, they’re an early and influential representation of what bodies of adults ‘should’ look like,” she says. “Our study found that Barbie and Ken’s body proportions today have become markedly more realistic, albeit still below the typical female averages.” “There’s no doubt that today’s Barbie and Ken are still stylised, but they’re substantially closer to average human body proportions than earlier generations, and that’s a step in the right direction.”