Nickolay Lamm

Nickolay Lamm

A young American artist, creator of a very unusual model of the famous Barbie doll.
Country: USA

Biography of Nickolay Lamm

Nickolay Lamm is a young American artist and creator of a very unusual version of the famous Barbie doll. He gained recognition for using a 3D printer to create a Barbie doll with the proportions of an average American woman. He named his creation the "Normal" Barbie, aiming to challenge the unrealistic beauty standards associated with the original doll.

Nickolay Lamm

Lamm's version of Barbie features widened hips, shortened legs and neck, increased waist size, and reduced bust. The doll's head became smaller and more realistic, while her shoulders widened. The thighs and buttocks of the doll were enlarged, and her legs were slightly shorter. However, her trademark blonde hair and wide-open eyes remained largely unchanged. Lamm based the proportions of his doll on the average measurements of 19-year-old American women.

Lamm's intention with his "Normal" Barbie was to bridge the gap between beauty standards and reality, ensuring that young girls do not develop unrealistic ideals of beauty from a young age. However, his opinions sparked controversy, with many Americans, particularly women, expressing their disapproval and urging him to leave the beloved Barbie alone.

Interestingly, Lamm has Russian roots, as evident from his name and email address, which includes the words "NickFromRussia." He currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011, where he studied business.

While facing criticism, Lamm also gained supporters who believed that if there is a global wave of criticism regarding overly thin models, then dolls such as Barbie should also change their sizes. It was calculated that if Barbie's proportions were applied to a real woman, she would be severely underweight. Despite the backlash, Lamm remains confident in his project's significance and its role in influencing beauty ideals, as Barbie is seen as a symbol of America.

However, many people believe that the "Normal" Barbie is unlikely to overshadow the classic Barbie. Ultimately, Lamm's creation is just a model, and only time will tell if such dolls will find demand in the toy market.

When asked if he plans to modify and make Barbie's famous boyfriend, Ken, more realistic, Lamm responded negatively. He believes that, while he respects Ken, the doll does not shape male beauty standards, so no interesting modifications are expected for Ken.

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