Strictly Come Dancing star Rose Ayling-Ellis said she was thrilled as Barbie unveiled its first doll with behind-the-ear hearing aids.
The EastEnders actress, who won the BBC dance competition alongside Giovanni Pernice in 2021, helped to launch the new doll. She was photographed alongside a cast of diverse models who reflect the new line of dolls, which includes the first Ken doll with vitiligo, one with a prosthetic limb and another with a wheelchair.
Rose, who has been deaf since birth, said: "It's so important for children to be able to see themselves represented in the toys they play with. When I was little, I would draw hearing aids on to my Barbie dolls to make them look like me, so I am thrilled that Mattel is releasing more dolls that encourage kids to celebrate and embrace their differences."
