Mary Portas, the same age as Barbie herself, ventures into the world of the blonde bombshell to find out how she’s managing to survive in today’s increasingly gender-neutral world. Global sales are down by 14%. They’ve been falling steadily for the last three years. Barbie’s crown is threatening to slip. So how will Mattel’s decision to introduce a Plus Size Barbie in 2016 and ever more realistic versions in 2017 play out? Will it recharge the global brand or could Barbie’s days as an icon be numbered?