The reason is that, despite having an adult appearance, Barbie’s soul is that of a child.
The image of a child playing with a Barbie represents a connection between a girl’s inner child and her higher self. Clearly, Barbie focuses solely on two aspects: “How do I look?” and “What am I doing?” This is evident in how a little girl tends to Barbie’s appearance—choosing outfits, changing hairstyles—and then has Barbie engage in various activities like working, socializing, doing housework, and entertaining. Both the looks and behaviors mirror the adult world, but Barbie is controlled by a child, which is why she always wears a smile, radiating cheerfulness.
Each Barbie represents an idealized adult version that young girls aspire to become. However, as these girls truly mature, they often lose the perpetual smile of a Barbie, possibly due to a disconnection from their inner child. The real world is not always as rosy as Barbie’s, but hopefully, one day, when the girl has matured enough, she will rediscover how to embrace happiness like Barbie.
(*) Disclaimer: This post is a creative story inspired by a corporate brand and is not authentic.