She’s everything. He’s just Ken.

My first introduction to Barbie was when I was very little. My aunt used to bring me DVDs every time she visited, and I used to hoard them like a little dragon.

I had amassed quite a collection but alas, my parents ended up giving it away when we moved. But even so, Barbie shaped my childhood in magical & creative ways that I still carry with me now.

The first Barbie movie I ever watched was Mermaidia.

We used to visit my father who was abroad for work in the summer holidays. And the house where we lived was a standalone villa - not exactly ideal for a kid with a lot of energy & free time with no where to put it.

And although my mom didn't believe in giving your kids screentime to distract them, she too was tired and I distinctly remember making a deal with her to watch cartoons. Coincidentally, the DVD I chose was Barbie: Mermaidia gifted to me. And that started my saga of my first 'fan experience'.

I Loved the creativity in Barbie. The freedom, the whimsy. It felt like I had a friend who was All of these amazing things, a fairy, a mermaid, a fashion icon, and actor and if I tried I could be one too.