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Funny Barbie Sports Illustrated Cover
I just can’t help myself, guys. I was telling my friend Nicole this morning that doodling on photos and magazine covers is gonna be my new life’s work. So without any delay, may I present a funny Barbie Sports Illustrated cover?
I saw the hubbub over this cover last week, and we chatted about it on this week’s episode of Work Life Branding.
The Cliff’s Notes version if you haven’t heard – Barbie and Sports Illustrated teamed up for this year’s swimsuit edition cover, and both are using the hashtag #unapologetic now in reference to accusations that each objectifies women. I’m still a little weirded out over this whole thing, like I am having problems forming an actual coherent sentence that really sums up my thoughts on it in any sort of really well-worded way.
Like… one part of me is “who cares”.
But the other part of me, the mom part of me, is like “why is this little kid’s toy being featured on the cover of a men’s magazine that’s all about the sexy ladies?”
I think that’s the part that weirds me out the most, y’all.
But also… the unattainable beauty that Barbie promotes probably isn’t all that healthy for little girls to grow up with, and the fact that Mattel’s adopted the #unapologetic hashtag in reference to that is kind of callous, too, isn’t it?
Or am I reading too much into it?
I mean, I had Barbies growing up… and I turned out okay. But like my buddy Nicole mentioned last night… weren’t the Barbies of the 80s more about empowering girls that they could grow up to be anything? I think that focus may have shifted over the years.
Here’s a couple of links if you want more of the Barbie Sports Illustrated cover story:
“Barbie strikes ‘unapologetic’ pose in Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition” on CNN
“Barbie stirs up frenzy with swimsuit issue debut” on Google News
“Episode 10 of Work. Life. Branding.“, discussing the Barbie Sports Illustrated cover
Create your own funny Barbie Sports Illustrated Cover
You know the drill – print out this pic and get to doodling! I’d love to see what you come up with either as a link in the comments, or as a post on my Facebook or Google+ page!
And what do you think about this cover, anyways? Are you into it, not into it, bothered by it, or what? Leave a comment with your thoughts!
Freelance illustrator Steph Calvert is an award-winning artist with 24 years of experience working as a creative professional. She is based in McDonough, Georgia, just south of Atlanta.
Steph Calvert has expertise as a children’s book illustrator. She is an expert surface pattern designer for art licensing and creates line drawings for publishing and product design. Steph has years of additional expertise as a mural artist, creating original art, and logo design for small businesses. She is currently querying literary agents with her first author/illustrator book projects.
Writing CLIENTS INCLUDE
Moonfrye.com
OC Weekly
Educational Highlights
National SCBWI Conference, 2023
Illustration Summer Camp – The Highlights Foundation, 2021
Make Art That Sells, 2017
BFA in Computer Art – SCAD, 1999
11 responses to “Funny Barbie Sports Illustrated Cover”
love it!
Ahahhahahha thank you!
Love the “Poot!”
That is kind of one my favorite parts, too 🙂
I saw the doll at Barbie in her iconic bathing suite and really did not have any impact other than thought it was cool to see up close.
Yeah I’m not bothered by Barbie in her bathing suit – it’s not scandalous, it’s not revealing… I’m just weirded out by the venue they chose to put her in.
Yeah, I’m a bit confused about the Barbie / SI partnership as well. I mean, do they think MORE men are going to pick up a copy with a Barbie on the cover? Or that young girls will pick it up and think it’s for them? And if so, what is the harm in that? Beautiful women in swimsuits are nothing to shield our children from, in my opinion. Of course, I live in San Diego, where we see women, and men, on the beach in bathing suits quite regularly so it’s nothing unusual for us.
It feels out of place for sure. And to me, a little creepy, a little in bad taste. Barbie is a doll lots of little girls play with – putting her on the cover of SI sends the message to little girls that see it that “hey you should aspire to be here on this magazine cover when you grow up.”
I’ve always kind of hated the swimsuit issue, just because the magazine is supposed to be about sports, not hot models. But this Barbie partnership just seems completely weird to me. Like, first we turn the sports magazine into masturbation material, now we’re adding a toy into it? #typeaparent
My daughter wants to know why my sports magazine has Barbie and half naked ladies. She offered to use her arts and crafts to dress them. Now that I have read your post I wonder how many girls/women are struck with the same urge.
Thanks for the comment, Jack! A blogging friend of mine actually took last year’s Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover and photoshopped some clothes onto her!
You can check it out here: http://www.nosleeptilcollege.com/girl-stuff/stop-sexualizing-my-grocery-shopping/