The Beauty Biz’s New Diversity

This week has been a banner one for the beauty industry. While Barbie has had friends of various ethnicities over her long existence, up to this point the blond and blue-eyed Caucasian doll has been the center of the franchise. But on Tuesday, Mattel launched the “So in Style” line, its first series of black dolls to feature varying skin tones. To add to that milestone, today marks the release of a Disney-commissioned haircare line inspired by the new movie The Princess and the Frog, Disney’s first animated feature to star an African-American princess. The four-piece Princess Tiana Magical Beauty Collection was created in collaboration with Carol’s Daughter and comes with inspirational messages, as in a shampoo called The Beauty Within and a conditioner aptly named Inner Shine. They join the Dream Big hair detangler and a Sharing Means Caring bubble bath. Both new lines add some much-needed color to the bigger picture.

Photo: Courtesy of Carol’s Daughter

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