Creator of the 'realistic Barbie' has a new version for boys, too
Nickolay Lamm, the creator of Lammily, the self-proclaimed "realistic Barbie," has another challenge for Mattel: a realistic Ken doll.
Simply dubbed "Boy Lammily," this average-proportioned doll takes a page from Lamm's original creation, the Lammily doll, which became a viral sensation in 2013.
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Lamm launched a crowdfunding campaign on March 9 to help manufacture the Boy Lammily, with a goal of $70,000. So far, the campaign has raised more than $10,000.
Since the original Lammily's first manufacture in 2014, Mattel has launched a new, more diverse line of Barbie dolls with three different body types, seven skin tones, 18 different eye colors and 24 hair styles.
Lammily only comes in her original design, with brown hair, hazel eyes, Caucasian skin tone and one body type. Boy Lammily has similar features, except he has blue eyes.
One thing that wasn't included in Mattel's new, diverse doll design were new Ken dolls. Therefore, when placed side-by-side with Ken, Boy Lammily comes a lot closer to body diversity -- despite some limits on customization.
Lamm notes in the fundraising video (above) how men also struggle with body image, drawing from his own experience. "Back in high school, I decided I really wanted a six-pack. I exercised myself to exhaustion and got so skinny that I just didn't recognize myself anymore. And I know I'm not the only one," he said.
Boy Lammily, like original Lammily, is designed based on the "proportions of the average 19-year-old male." Lamm cites Dr. Reed from the University of Michigan for his data.
Boy Lammily, once manufactured, will come with his casual shorts and plaid shirt, an online passport and story pamphlet in which you can name the doll yourself and choose his "job" (he can be anything from an athlete to an entrepreneur).
Retail price for Boy Lammily will be set at $17. The project's crowdfunding campaign will end on April 8, with an estimated delivery of perks (including Lammily dolls) by November 2016.
More information can be found on the project's campaign page on Tilt.
Andrea Romano -- comedy writer, craft enthusiast, lady -- was a Watercooler Reporter. She worked as an intern at Mashable beginning in January 2014. Andrea recently completed her Masters degree in Media Studies and Film from The New School and writes sketch comedy at Upright Citizens Brigade and The People's Improv Theatre. She once watched three Paul Rudd movies in a row on a bicoastal flight and didn't realize it until she landed. She does things like that a lot. Twitter: @theandrearomano
