Barbie has gone through a number of changes over the past half-century. But Ken, with his shiny pecs and glassy eyes, has been just about the same for the longest time.

No, he's been 100% solid plastic, all the way to the roots of his hair, for as long as I can remember, with that shit-eating grin. And no wonder he looks so pleased, he's a lone man in a sea of silicon women!

But over time, his look has gotten, for lack of a better word - old. He's faced competition from other men, some with real, brushable hair.

But now his agents have announced that he's turning over a new leaf, to make him more of a hottie for his blonde bombshell, Barbie.

Mattel Inc., the world's No. 1 toy maker, said Thursday it has given Barbie's boyfriend a makeover, calling him "a changed man" who "exudes a new sense of his own personal style."

Mattel, which reported lower fourth-quarter earnings last month on slowing sales of its Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars, said that Ken now sports two new looks: the first aimed at making a love reconnection with Barbie, including torn rough jeans and a weathered motocross leather jacket, and the second, reflecting his beach-boy roots, complete with sun-kissed hair.

...

"Ken has gone through this transformation to show Barbie that he is a changed man," Mattel said in a statement. "The new Ken exudes a new sense of his own personal style."

Mattel said that Ken is now "more than arm candy -- he's spent time exploring the world and himself, so his look reflects that time spent on his own."

More At: MSN: Mattel Gives Barbie's Boyfriend a Makeover

And if that's not enough for the pink-loving blonde bombo, there's always Legolas...

Posted by sorsha on February 9, 2006 9:29 PM | Permalink