Fijivillage
21 February, 2026, 12:30 am
Central - 24°C Clouds
21 February, 2026, 12:30 am Central - 24°C Clouds

The first Indian Barbie is about to change the world

The first Indian Barbie is about to change the world

By Cecilia Matanatabu
08/07/2022
Deepica Mutyala with her doll[Image: Vogue]

The last couple of years have been relatively revolutionary for brown skin people. Seeing more brown faces on mainstream television, and even better, storylines featuring lead characters with decidedly south Asian themes and actors of south Asian origin.

From Simone Ashley’s engaging Kathani ‘Kate’ Sharma in Bridgerton season 2 to Iman Vellani’s Kamala Khan in Ms Marvel, it’s been a refreshing upgrade. And a part of the success has been because of people like Mutyala.

It’s a high seeing your brand created with brown skin tones in mind, not segregated but displayed up front, next to the big bestsellers in stores like Ulta.

It gets even better when there’s a Barbie doll created in your image, definitely in your skin tone, holding your product, that’s going to influence millions of 8-9-year-old humans beings across the world.

Mutyala says she cried when they mailed it to her.

She could not believe it took 32 years to see this as an adult. With this doll, it feels very different from any other, accolade or award, because it feels like it’s making a cultural shift and a little bigger impact.

[Source: Vogue]

FEATURE NEWS
Drua suffer second bonus point defeat in Sydney
The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua suffered their second bonus-point defeat of the season, going down 36–13 to the Waratahs tonight. The Drua display...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
PM confirms independent investigations into allegations against Saukuru and Gilbert Vakalalabure
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that he met Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru, and informed him that an independent investigation ...
4 hours ago

Rabuka to meet Sports Minister over Fiji Sports Council concerns
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirms he will meet Sports Minister Jese Saukuru today in relation to the Fiji Sports Council issues. The issues ...
5 hours ago

Electricity restored in Central and Western divisions after 132kV circuit fault
Electricity has been fully restored across the Central and Western Divisions following a fault on the 132kV Wailoa–Cunningham Circuit.Energy Fiji ...
7 hours ago

Police yet to respond if they will appeal Vakarisi's suspended sentence
Police are yet to confirm whether they will appeal Jone Vakarisi's three months sentence, suspended for two years.Vakarisi was earlier found guilty ...
7 hours ago

Severe Thunderstorm Warning in force for parts of Viti Levu
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Heavy Rain is now in force for the northeastern and interior parts of Viti Levu from Ba through Rakiraki to ...
9 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
14 days ago

Malimali and others filed for judicial review into COI
The application for leave for the judicial review has been made by former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney General Graham Leung ...
15 days ago

Malimali’s legal battle against President, PM and AG
Another legal battle starts today as sacked FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali takes her matter to court against the President, Prime Minister and ...
15 days ago

TOP