Deals & Steals: Clothes, accessories and more

Open menu

  • Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • GMA3: WYNTK
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • Copyright © 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. All Rights Reserved.
  • Living

This grandma made ‘quarantine Barbies’ and they are too relatable

Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.
1:35
Reuters
National headlines from ABC News
Reuters
PHOTO: Shannon McLellan
ByShannon McLellan
June 11, 2020, 4:04 am
•4 min read

A California grandmother’s super relatable “quarantine Barbies” are going viral on Instagram.

Tonya Ruiz, 56, started posting Barbie parodies to her @grandmagetsreal Instagram account as a fun hobby to do with her granddaughters.

Ruiz said she used to travel as a speaker on positive body image and would often use Barbies as props to portray unrealistic beauty standards. When she retired, she placed the Barbies in her attic, where her granddaughters found them years later and asked if they could play with them.

MORE: Mattel honors workers leading fight against COVID-19 with special edition #ThankYouHeroes collection

Ruiz said she didn’t want the girls to grow up with the same unrealistic beauty standards that she did, so she had an idea. She took the girls to the store and had them pick Barbies that looked like realistic members of their family.

"I heard Mattel came up with a new line of Barbies that look more like real people so I wanted to find them," Ruiz said.

Editor’s Picks

Mattel honors workers leading fight against COVID-19 with special edition #ThankYouHeroes collection

  • Apr 29, 2020

American Girl's 2020 girl of the year is 1st doll with hearing loss

  • Dec 31, 2019

Barbie teams up with GlamGlow for a limited-edition mask and moisturizer

  • Jun 01, 2020

They started photographing the Barbies with different props and put them on Instagram for fun. Soon, to her surprise, she had a following.

“I wanted to show my granddaughters Barbies are not just about the shoes,” Ruiz said. “It’s more about real life and family and realistic things.”

MORE: Barbie helps children of COVID-19 1st responders

When the novel coronavirus pandemic hit and people began quarantining at home, Ruiz decided to do what she does best – make a real-life quarantine Barbie and post it to her Instagram.

Ruiz bought Barbies from the store but made them her own with miniatures that she collects from thrift shops and garage sales.

Her first post was “Curvy Barbie in stretchy pants,” but after inspiration from her family and requests from her Instagram followers she started making others.

MORE: 2-year-old with spina bifida has sweetest reaction to Barbie that's 'just like her'

Binge watch Barbie, bread baking Barbie, Zoom Ken and other hilarious quarantine Barbies came after. Ruiz even made a health care hero Barbie and said she’s working on a grocery store worker as well.

“So many people said – finally a Barbie I can relate to,” Ruiz said. “I love that because that has been my message for the years I spoke about body image. You can’t look like a Barbie. You’re a real woman.”

Ruiz said she was shocked by how many people asked if they were for sale or on Amazon, but she insists they're just her “comedic commentary on the quarantine.”

Related Topics
  • Coronavirus

Editor’s Picks

Mattel honors workers leading fight against COVID-19 with special edition #ThankYouHeroes collection

  • Apr 29, 2020

American Girl's 2020 girl of the year is 1st doll with hearing loss

  • Dec 31, 2019

Barbie teams up with GlamGlow for a limited-edition mask and moisturizer

  • Jun 01, 2020
Up Next in Living—

Broadway actor gets last-minute 'magic carpet ride' to 'Aladdin' show

September 20, 2023

Reunite with your cash: How to find out if you have unclaimed money

September 18, 2023

As more schools switch to 4-day weeks, will teachers stay?

September 18, 2023

Hispanic Influencers reflect on their impact, untapped potential

September 16, 2023

Up Next in Living—

Broadway actor gets last-minute 'magic carpet ride' to 'Aladdin' show

September 20, 2023

Reunite with your cash: How to find out if you have unclaimed money

September 18, 2023

As more schools switch to 4-day weeks, will teachers stay?

September 18, 2023

Hispanic Influencers reflect on their impact, untapped potential

September 16, 2023

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

Copyright © 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

Copyright © 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures. All Rights Reserved.