Work for a cause, not for applause: life lessons from Hipster Barbie
Think of Barbie and you probably think of tiny clothing, long hair (not to mention even longer legs) and pink – LOTS of pink and Barbie definitely go hand-in-hand.
But over the last number of years, one particular doll has undergone a rather drastic transformation.
The result? The delightfully addictive Hipster Barbie Instagram account – which operates from the handle @SocalityBarbie.
Boasting some 1million fans, it offers the everyday gal oh-so aspirational locations – not to mention plenty of inspirational quotes.
Our favourites? "Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed just make your absence felt."
"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."
"Humble enough to know I'm not better than anybody wise enough to know that I'm different from the rest."
Hear, hear, Hipster Barbie. Hear, hear.
The woman behind the account, which was only set up at the beginning of this year, is a wedding photographer based in the painfully-hipster Portland, Oregon.
And although she wishes to remain anonymous – to preserve Socality Barbie’s authenticity – she did tell The Huffington Post: "I created SB purely for my and my friends enjoyment.
"It was a light-hearted and fun way to poke fun at all the people who used the 'Socality' and 'LiveAuthentic' hashtags.
"People were taking the same pictures in the same places and using the same 'inspirational' captions.
"How can you be authentic and inspiration when you follow the crowd? I thought using a mass-produced doll would be the best way to make that point."
In lieu of her usual bright and breezy California-inspired attire, Hipster Barbie wears thickly-rimmed glasses, a dark woollen hat, a grey utility jacket, and jeans.
She is seen enjoying the sights and sounds of nature, reading the New York Times while drinking espresso, and looking wistfully out at the rain.
She hasn't entirely forgotten her roots, however: one recent snap shows Socality Barbie hanging out with her blonde counterpart.
"Having coffee with this gem," she writes. "Can I just say how amazing this girl is?! She keeps me grounded and inspires me to live my best authentic life.
"So glad we are in community together. I just wish she didn't live all the way in LA."
