When I grew up, I always had an image of what I “should” look like. I was never a skinny girl. I didn’t develop DD boobs to compliment my tiny waist. I didn’t have long legs or perfect hair. My eyes weren’t huge and my face required makeup in order to fit society’s version of pretty. I did not live up to the impossible standards of Barbie, but I’m sure you didn’t either.

I can remember growing up and imagining these fabulous lives for my Barbie’s—story lines that I yearned to live out myself. These dolls were perfect in a child’s eyes. At eighteen, my Barbie’s were successful, in love, and most importantly: beautiful. I grew up with a false sense of reality due to my fascination with Barbies. I could never achieve all that Barbie could. I would never grow up to look like my Barbie. As many times as you could create different lives for your Barbie, you could not change her physical appearance—her utter perfection.

Earlier this week, Mattel announced their significant change to Barbie’s image. This “new” Barbie is long overdue. In an age of quickly advancing technology, Mattel had to do what they could in order to compete with the digital market. Who wants a $20 doll when you can get an app for that and create a virtual world in a matter of seconds? But, this image revamp comes just a bit too late.

This next generation of girls might have a chance. A chance to understand that there is no single perfect body type. A chance to realize that just because they don’t look like the traditional Barbie, they are no less beautiful. A chance to be themselves and not worry about societal standards. My generation on the other hand was completely shaped by the image of Barbie. And, after years of complaints and critiques to Mattel, our voices have finally been heard—just a bit too late.

There are people out there that are so messed up that they have undergone multiple plastic surgeries in order to fit the image of Barbie. It’s a scary thought that someone would be so impacted by a doll that they would go under a knife in order to feel beautiful.

Now, Barbie will include dolls that are petite, curvy, and tall. This Mattel’s attempt to please their customers and also appeal to more types of girls. Gone are the days where people believed that there was one specific type of perfect body type. Now, women are fighting for more just representation, because no one looks like a Barbie. Although they may attempt to help girls achieve a positive body image in the future, there is nothing they can do about all the girls their standards have affected in the past. I will never look like a Barbie, and you will never look like a Barbie. It may have taken until I was twenty, but I’ve realized just how okay that is.