The traditionally ripped Ken Doll has gotten a makeover from the company who created the "Normal Barbie" doll. Artist Nickolay Lamm revealed "Normal Ken" on Wednesday, having created the doll using the average proportions of a 19-year-old male, which has a BMI of 28.6.
Like Ken's female doll counterpart, the male Lammily doll was designed to create a realistic body for young men to look up to. Kens BMI means that he is slightly overweight and has both a shorter neck and legs than the traditional Ken doll. His waist is even wider, while his biceps are smaller and his abs are almost nonexistent.
"What I hope it can do is show boys realistic of versions of men," Lamm said of his creation. "It is one small step to take a focus on men's body image issues."
"I feel a realistic male doll can influence boys in its own small way, before boys start comparing themselves to their peers, what they see in the media, in the movies, and on social media," he continued.
Lamm is currently trying to raise funds for his doll to cover manufacturer tooling and molding costs in a crowdfunding campaign.
"He may not have a six-pack abdomen, but he has a fantastic sense of humor," reads the doll's description on its Kickstarter page. "He may not have the roundest biceps, but he has his own trendy style. He may not look like a runway model, but he values himself for who he truly is, and always makes sure to pay the same respect to others!"
Lamm debuted his "normal" version of the Baribe Doll in 2014. The female Lammily doll was also based off the normal body of a 19-year-old female and is even available with zits, cellulite, and stretch marks as well as menstrual pads.
"Women face relentless beauty standards, and I launched Lammily dolls to show that real is beautiful. Men also feel pressure in the form of not being tall, not having enough hair, or not having enough muscle," Lamm said. "I think those are things which few talk about because, as a guy, you're expected not to worry about your appearance."
While the crowdfunding campaign was only launched on Wednesday, it has already gone on to raise over $12,000. Lamm said that if the online campaign goes according to plan, he plans on making the Normal Ken doll available for purchase in November.
