Aussie Barbie fan Kayla LaVende takes TikTok by storm
From her pink house to her Barbie convertible, this Sydney social media star is living her dream. Here’s what inspired her.
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She’s the real-life Aussie Barbie girl living her best life inspired by the iconic Mattel doll that’s taking the world by storm again due to Margot Robbie’s blockbuster movie.
TikTok sensation Kayla LaVende’s passion for Barbie knows no bounds — she dresses like the iconic character, lives in a pink-themed house filled with Barbie memorabilia and drives a pink convertible.
The Sydney woman, who now lives in Las Vegas after moving to the US to work as a costume designer, has amassed 83,600 followers on TikTok and 28,700 on Instagram.
The bubbly social media star, who says she’s in “Barbie heaven” due to the global hype around the movie, bears such a striking resemblance to Aussie star Robbie she has even been mistaken for the stunning actress.
It’s been an incredible journey for the Aussie expat, who styles herself on social media as Weight Loss Barbie after dropping a whopping 136 kilograms following bariatric surgery.
She opted for breast implants and a “mummy makeover” including a tummy tuck after her rapid weight loss.
“So many people hate where they are but I never hated who I was,” she said.
“If Barbie has taught me anything, it’s taught me just to be yourself, be happy and positive.
“I never wanted to change as a person. I knew I would lose weight but I just never wanted to lose my character or who I was.”
Ms LaVende, who regularly returns to Sydney to visit family, said growing up in the 1990s as a child struggling with weight issues was difficult.
It was then that she started making her own clothes, inspired by Barbie’s love of pink and bright colours.
Long before her recent body transformation, Ms LaVende was rocking her own beautifully handmade plus-sized versions of iconic Barbie outfits.
“Growing up, my earliest memories are Barbie,” she said.
“I never looked at her and went ‘Oh, she’s skinny. I want to be her.
“I looked at her and I thought ‘She’s beautiful, she’s fun, I love the way she dresses. She can have it all, I want that’.
“With Barbie sometimes people see the negative side, that she’s portraying a certain body image.
“Barbie has inspired me to literally be who you are. I am a big manifester and a big positive thinker.”
Ms LaVende said playing with Barbies as a child fuelled her imagination.
“My imagination evolved through Barbie and that’s how I’ve lived my life, like a really creative imagination.
“You create the life through Barbie — so why can’t you create the life for yourself?”
Ms LaVende admitted her Barbie passion could be costly, but said it was all worth it.
“I don’t drink, smoke or gamble and I do a lot of thrifting in charity stores for my outfits,” she said.
Her real-life Ken doll, her husband of 13 years, supports her dream “glittery” lifestyle.
The Aussie social media star now works as an ambassador and content creator for the plastic surgeon who performed her weight loss surgery and regularly travels to Mexico, where she is often inundated with selfie requests.
On a recent trip to Miami, Ms LaVende was mobbed at a nightclub.
“Walking down the main street, there was photographers snapping photos and people asking for autographs,” she laughed.
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Originally published as Aussie Barbie fan Kayla LaVende takes TikTok by storm
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