MODEL Lila Moss is a Barbie girl, having inspired the first Type 1 diabetes doll.
Kate Moss’s daughter, who was diagnosed with the condition as a child, said she hoped the creation would help children feel proud of who they were.
Like Lila, her doll has a glucose monitor arm patch, an insulin pump on her leg and a bag for emergency snacks.
Lila, 22, said: “Receiving messages from people who see my patches and feel represented by me means everything to me.
“To see a Barbie that looks like me — even wearing the patches, is surreal and special.”
Lila has long been an advocate for sufferers of the disease, famously strutting down the catwalk at Milan Fashion Week in 2021 with her insulin pump on show next to her supermodel Mum.
Barbie maker Mattel teamed up with diabetes charity Breakthrough T1D to launch the doll as part of their new diversity-focused Barbie Fashionistas line, which includes Barbies representing a kaleidoscope of body types and disabilities.
Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls at Mattel, stressed the importance of representation: “It’s vital that children see themselves in the dolls they love.”
Over 30,000 children in the UK live with Type 1 diabetes — a lifelong autoimmune condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin, requiring daily injections or use of insulin pumps to prevent serious health complications.
Lila’s personal Barbie reflects her personal style, dressed in a black halterneck mini dress, chunky black boots, delicate gold jewellery, and tousled blonde hair — capturing the essence of her street-chic fashion.
