Barbie Fan Calls for Doll With a Stoma Bag

A Barbie enthusiast who has been collecting the dolls since she was two is calling on toy manufacturer Mattel to create a Barbie with a stoma bag.

Imali Chislett, from Bourne94dcv.   

,   mouth, has lived with a stoma since 2024. T

he 25-year-old is campaigning for what she describes as an “Ostomy Barbie”, saying the doll could help children better understand what a stoma is and how it helps people live their lives.

“It would be nice if children had a better understanding of what a stoma is and what it allows people to do,” Imali said.

Mattel already has an inclusive range of Barbie dolls representing people with different physical and neurological conditions. The company has been asked for its views on the idea of creating a Barbie with a stoma bag.

What is a stoma?

A stoma is a surgically created opening in the abdomen that allows waste to leave the body and be collected in a special bag.

More than 200,000 people in the UK live with a stoma. They may be needed for a variety of medical reasons, including bowel cancer, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other conditions affecting the bowel or bladder.

“It has opened my world up enormously”

Imali says living with a stoma means she is often more aware of her surroundings, particularly where the nearest toilet is.

However, she says having a stoma has also given her a greater sense of freedom and allowed her to travel and enjoy activities she could not do before.

“I can do so many more things because I'm not tied to the bathroom anymore,” she said.

“Although I have a bag and although that can seem quite restrictive, it has actually opened my world up enormously.”

Imali believes a Barbie with a stoma would help children understand that a stoma is a medical tool that can help people recover and improve their quality of life.

She said some people avoid having a stoma because of misconceptions about it, which can sometimes mean they remain unwell for longer.

“It’s really important that children have that understanding that it’s a good thing, it’s a positive thing,” she told the BBC.

Barbie's inclusive range

In January, campaigners welcomed the launch of the first Barbie designed to represent autistic people, featuring characteristics intended to reflect experiences that some autistic people may relate to.

Mattel said the doll “invites more children to see themselves represented in Barbie.”

Imali already owns several dolls from Barbie’s inclusive range, including a Barbie with Down’s syndrome, a Barbie who uses a wheelchair and an autistic Barbie.

She now hopes Mattel will consider adding an Ostomy Barbie to the collection, helping children understand that living with a stoma does not have to prevent someone from enjoying life, travelling or achieving their goals.