Social media and artificial intelligence (AI) have reunited once again for a trend where users are transforming themselves into Barbie dolls.
Using ChatGPT, users are transforming photographs into AI dolls depending on the instructions they provide.
This comes after social media was taken over by the Ghibli-style AI frenzy.
Here we explain what the trend is, how it started and how to turn yourself into a Barbie doll.
AI Barbie doll trend
The "Barbiecore" aesthetic's lasting appeal is expanded upon by the most recent wave of AI art creation.
This time, people want to replicate the toy-like stylisation of action figures in boxes, along with all of their accessories.
With its glossy, staged commercial air, the images are reminiscent of Barbie advertisements from the 1990s and 2000s, which frequently featured logos, taglines, and made-up characters.
Similar to a recent trend in which people employed AI to transform themselves into artwork inspired by Studio Ghibli, the style relates to interest in Barbie dolls.
Although the movement has no one creator, it gained popularity in the first part of 2025. Some TikTok users have used the hashtag #BarbieBoxChallenge to highlight the boxed avatars in their videos.
With the increasing availability of generative AI tools, you could be one prompt away from being an action figure.
How to turn yourself into an AI Barbie doll
First, go to ChatGPT and create an account or log in. Either the website or the app can be used for this.
Next, submit a photo of yourself that you would like turned into an action figure by clicking the Add button. A crisp, full-length photo that shows off your entire outfit is ideal.
Fill in the blanks by copying and pasting the prompt below the picture: “Create a realistic action figure (Barbie doll) of the person in this photo. The doll should be full figure and displayed in its original clear plastic box packaging. At the top of the box is the name of the toy "-". In the packaging, next to the figure are the toy's accessories including ...”
Your Barbie doll image will appear when you send the message to the chatbot. Now, be patient, because it can take a while.
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If you don’t like what you see, continue entering more information and ChatGPT will alter the doll to your liking.
It will become more specific if you include extra information, like the box's colour or a phrase you would want to see at the bottom. Use your imagination!
Attempt to use a different image if the one you're using isn't clear enough or the doll doesn't look like you.