Geek-Chic Barbie Forces Us to Look Beyond Her Plastic Exterior

As we all know, Barbie has worked hard to be recognized for more than her bodacious bod, amassing a resume longer than War and Peace.  And she shows no signs of stopping, as Mattel recently announced the 125th and 126th careers for Barbie based on an Internet vote.

The winner of the popular vote was Computer Engineer Barbie, whose geek-chic look was achieved with trendy rectangular glasses — because if movies such as The Princess Diaries and She’s All That have taught us anything, it’s that glasses on a pretty girl = smart dork just waiting to be unveiled as a PYT — a cellphone earpiece, a shirt featuring binary code and a hot pink laptop.

I’ve worked with engineers before, and let me assure you none of them looked like that.  Except for the figure-hugging binary code shirt, of course.  They were all wearing that.

Okay, okay.  I know you’re waiting with bated breath to find out career #126, which is:  News Anchor Barbie, the winner of the girls’ vote, featuring a doll with side bangs, a pink blazer and skirt ensemble and a microphone for conducting interviews.  (See also:  Diane Sawyer.)

Both Barbies are part of the doll’s “I Can Be” series and will hit toy shelves in the fall.

Also new to the Barbie line is Barbie Video Girl. The doll features a working video camera embedded into her necklace that projects live color images to a screen on her back. The $50 doll will hit stores in the summer; footage from her camera can also be uploaded and edited on a computer.  How… convenient.  Obviously, Barbie has learned nothing from Paris’ and Kim’s sex tape scandals.

With thanks to everyone who sent me this story!