What do you do besides music? LiFTED takes the long-loved afternoon talks at a dim sum joint in Asia to get the scoop of what artists enjoy besides making music in Dim Sum Down-low. This month, Hong Kong’s Hyperpop and Hip Hop artist BBVDOLL is eager to share her love for Barbie movies with us.

Beginning her musical journey a mere five months ago, Hong Kong’s BBVDOLL has already caught a lot of eyeballs with her over-the-top fashion style and cutesy, bubbly dance-Rap tracks like ‘Senseless.’ With two Bs and the word DOLL in her name, it’s hard not to associate BBVDOLL with the world’s most famous doll. For this Dim Sum Down-low, BBVDOLL gives LiFTED the scoop about her love for Barbie movies and some stories about why life in plastic is fantastic.

"I really loved Barbies as a child because of the wonders and the sense of magic they gave me. Barbie movies might sound childish, but other than being a movie-long ad for the brand, they did teach me about kindness and friendship. I always loved the concept of unconditional love between friends, and in any relationship, being real and doing your best at everything.”

Want to go for a ride in BBVDOLL’s Barbie universe? Jump in!

Barbie in the Nutcracker is the first Barbie film created in CGI-animation, and the first Barbie movie I watched. Frankly, this film ignited my love for Barbie. In kindergarten, my mom and I would go out and shop for movies to watch in CD stores, and she bought me the VCD of Barbie in the Nutcracker and that’s where everything started. It is adapted from the classic The Nutcracker and the Mouse King with Barbie as the protagonist. As a youngster, it was my first time experiencing such whimsical moments.

Barbie is the glue to my close relationship with my mom. She would spoil me with Barbie dolls as the only daughter, and my father was not happy with that. Truth is, we had a hard time and he was simply being responsible while bringing food to the table. I remembered my mom got me all 12 princesses from the movie, and we didn’t stop until we got all the clothes, animals, accessories, and even the dollhouse. After our little shopping trip to Toys“R"Us, we had to throw away the packaging and hide the purchases from my dad, but he obviously noticed, so he would purposely check the rubbish bin to catch us.

I might get some hate for this because people might argue that this was the worst Barbie movie ever made. The Barbie Diaries is a modern iteration of Barbie, portraying Barbie as a teenager going through high school like Mean Girls. As a child, chick flicks were a window for me to peek into high school lives, which I was really looking forward to.

But the real reason I put this film in my top three is that I have a love-hate relationship with this movie. Rewatching it now, it’s so meme-worthy and low-key cringy, but when you were a kid eager to be an adult, this film was everything. I loved the song from The Barbie Diaries so much I almost performed it at my schools’ talent show [emphasis on almost because I bailed because of stage fright]. Also, it’s really fun to watch people [even animated characters] get all giddy about their proms, dresses, and dates.

I love this because of the fanciful romance [yes I am a hopeless romantic] that could only happen in fiction, the magical elements [yes, I am an adult child], the extravagant outfits, and the catchy music. Everything about this film is so extra, I simply had to add it. I used to hate the villain’s daughter, but rewatching it now makes me realize she’s such a meme and I’m living for it. Yes, I still rewatch it all the time, and yes, people might say these kids’ movies are too much fantasy, but that’s the point. Reality is so stressful sometimes and we need our inner child to enjoy the little things in life.

I love any Rapunzel movie, even the Disney one. I just love Rapunzel’s character, how she’s always so curious, adventurous, and not like any spoiled princesses. To be honest, I think that’s why I have long blonde hair, just to live a little more like Rapunzel. I love the simplicity of the story and don’t even get me started with her purple dress. I want that for myself!

All and all, the Barbie dolls and movies have a special place in my heart. These movies may be considered outdated but they carry immeasurable, precious childhood memories for me. Without them, I would not be the Punk Barbie I am today. Nostalgia aside, Barbie is a beacon for my inner child, and everyone should let their inner child out once in a while!