Viral Now: Moschino Barbie ad breaks gender stereotype

The latest campaign of Moschino-styled doll line features a young boy for the first time in a Barbie ad.

Breaking the notion that dolls are for girls, Italian fashion brand, Moschino's latest campaign for the Mattel-owned brand, Barbie, features an adorable young boy. Executed on the lines of 1980s styled commercials the 30-second ad is for the company's new Moschino Barbie. It's the first Barbie ad ever to feature a boy playing with the doll. The limited edition of the Moschino Barbie retailed for $150 online.

The ad features a young boy sporting a Mohawk hairdo playing with two girls and then looking at the camera and declaring, "Moschino Barbie is so fierce!" He is shown playing with the doll and winking at the camera as he hands the iconic doll a toy phone and tells her "it's for you, Moschino Barbie."

The spot has drawn praise for featuring a boy playing with Barbie as a step towards eliminating gender stereotypes. Moschino has collaborated with Mattel to create a collector's edition of the iconic toy wearing an eight-piece ready-to-wear brand collection, designed by Jeremy Scott, the creative director of the fashion brand. The campaign features the doll wearing a range of fashion pieces including a T-shirt with a slogan, logo-trimmed mesh leggings, quilted faux leather bomber jacket and a pencil skirt. Accessories include jewellery - with mismatched earrings, layered necklaces and a gold chain Moschino-emblazoned belt.

The ad posted on Moschino's official YouTube channel, on October 30, has garnered over two million views so far.