Barbie introduces first doll with type 1 diabetes with advocate Lila Moss

Lila Moss stars in new campaign to mark the launch of the first ever Barbie dolls with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

This addition to the Barbie main line enables more children to see themselves reflected in Barbie and encourages doll play that extends beyond a child’s own lived experience, fostering a greater sense of inclusion and empathy – all pillars of the Barbie brand’s mission.

In the UK, Barbie celebrates the launch with Lila Moss, who as a role model and type 1 diabetes advocate is honoured with her very own one-of-a-kind Barbie doll made in her likeness. This unique doll features a circular white Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) on her arm, a square white Insulin Pump pod attached to the top of her leg, and technology in her handbag to monitor insulin levels. The Lila Moss Barbie doll is wearing a look based on Lila’s own look and style, featuring a black halterneck mini dress, tousled blonde hair, minimal gold jewellery, and her signature black biker boots.   

Lila Moss says “I am proud to use my platform to educate around type 1 diabetes and show that being different is cool. Receiving messages from people who see my patches and feel represented means everything to me. To be able to now see Barbie dolls with T1D, and to receive a Barbie doll that visibly looks like me even wearing her patches, is both surreal and special.”

To ensure the doll designs truly captures the community, Barbie partnered with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), the leading global type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organisation committed to accelerating life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent, and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. T1D is a chronic autoimmune condition that causes the pancreas to make very little insulin or none at all, leading to dependence on insulin therapy and the risk of short and or long-term complications.

Barbie worked closely with Breakthrough T1D to accurately reflect the medical equipment those with this condition may utilise, and the doll’s look, all the way down to the dress pattern:

• Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM): The doll wears a CGM on her arm to help manage her type 1 diabetes. CGMs are small, wearable devices that continuously measure a person’s blood-sugar levels. To keep her CGM in place, she uses heart-shaped medical tape – Barbie pink, of course – along with a phone that displays a CGM app to help track her blood sugar levels throughout the day.
• Insulin Pump: Barbie has an insulin pump, a small, wearable medical device that allows for automated insulin dosing as needed, attached to her waist.
• Blue Polka Dot Outfit: The doll wears a stylish polka dot top and matching skirt with ruffles. Both the colour blue and circle print are nods to the global symbols that represent diabetes awareness.
• Purse: The doll comes with a pastel blue purse, perfect for Barbie to carry any essentials such as type 1 diabetes supplies or snacks, when she’s on the go.

Knowing the power of representing real women’s stories when creating inclusive dolls, alongside Lila Moss’s one-of-a-kind doll, the Barbie brand has also honoured US type 1 diabetes advocate Robin Arzón.

“Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,” said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls. “Barbie helps shape children’s early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.”

“We were thrilled when Barbie approached us to collaborate on the development of the Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes,” said Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., CEO of Breakthrough T1D. “I have lived with T1D since I was 13, and my brother since he was 3, so this partnership is deeply personal – it means the world to be part of bringing greater visibility to a condition that affects so many families. It’s an honor to work with a brand that shares our commitment to showing children that a life with type 1 diabetes can be full, vibrant, and empowering.”

The Barbie Fashionistas line features more than 175 looks across various skin tones, eye colours, hair colours and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashion styles, including such as a Blind Barbie doll, a Black Barbie doll with Down Syndrome, a Barbie doll with Hearing Aids, a Barbie doll with Prosthetic Limbs, a Barbie doll with Vitiligo, Barbie dolls in Wheelchairs and more. In 2020, Barbie kicked off a multi-year study with researchers at Cardiff University on the short-term and long-term benefits of doll play. It has been found that doll play serves an incredible purpose during key developmental stages, as it may help set children on a course for success by fostering empathy and developing social skills needed to excel, all while imagining their futures on an equal playing field.

The 2025 Barbie Fashionistas dolls commit to a minimum of 50% ISCC-Certified bio-circular plastic (Mass Balance Approach), with all boxes made from FSC-certified materials. By incorporating ISCC-certified plastic into these dolls, Barbie aims to reduce reliance on fossil-based materials in support of a more circular economy.

On behalf of Lila Moss, Mattel UK is donating £20,000 to Breakthrough T1D this year, to continue to fund T1D research, education and support.