Mother shares powerful body-positive message after five-year-old daughter rejects Curvy Barbie

'I don't like her, her legs are too big'

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A mother had the perfect response when her five-year-old daughter rejected Curvy Barbie for being too big.

Allison Kimmey, a stoic body positivity campaigner from Florida, is used to talking openly with her little girl and previously made headlines when she shared a conversation that explained stretch marks as “glitter stripes” to the youngster.

But, Kimmey wasn’t prepared for just how moved she would feel when she found her daughter’s Curvy Barbie had been relegated to the rubbish bin.

Taking to Instagram, Kimmey shared the moment her daughter, Cambelle, admitted to throwing away the doll, but when she asked her why, her child’s response felt brutal.

“Because I don't like her. Her arms aren't right. Her legs are too big. She doesn't look like my other Barbies,” the youngster replied.

“And she doesn't fit into any of the clothes except this one outfit.”

In a state of shock, the mother-of-two suddenly related to the inanimate object.

'I paused. I was speechless. I honestly felt some tears start welling in my eyes,” she wrote.

“It was as if curvy Barbie's life was a reflection of the way I felt for so long being a plus size woman in a thin woman's world.

“I always felt like my arms weren't right, my legs were big, and anywhere I went, nothing fit. For a very long time I allowed those perceptions and the constricts of society make me feel as if I was the trash. Much like myself, Curvy Barbie is still living in a thin Barbie world.”

Instead of shying away from a difficult conversation, Kimmey explained to her daughter that Curvy Barbie shouldn’t be treated any differently just because of the way she looked.

Eventually the little girl agreed, and decided to wash and dress her doll before continuing to play.

The mother concluded, “Each time I am put in a position where I can ignore these early signs for body image issues and pass them off as 'Oh she's just a kid playing with her Barbies, maybe she really just doesn't like this one, it doesn't really matter', or I can make a conscious effort to help her dissect how she's feeling, allow her to explain her discomfort, and give her a new loving perspective.”

Unsurprisingly, the post went viral immediately with nearly 8,000 likes and hundreds of comments from supportive parents applauding her for addressing the issue with her daughter.

“Good parenting. Instead of ignoring the situation you took this opportunity and used it as a teachable moment and you let her express herself,” one person wrote.

“This is so important for young children. Give yourself a pat on the back”

Another added: “As both an early childhood educator and a plus size woman, I love that you had this conversation with your daughter, amazing!”