WASHINGTON: She’s short, brunette, has an average body shape and can even be given cellulite and acne: the ‘anti-Barbie’ doll is ready to go on sale in the United States.

The brainchild of 26-year-old graphic designer Nickolay Lamm, the “Lammily” doll will begin shipping next week with the sales pitch that “average is beautiful”.

Lamm told AFP he came up with the idea after searching for a doll to buy as a gift and discovering that “all the dolls looked like supermodels”.

“There’s nothing wrong with being a supermodel but I just had the impression that the wall of supermodels suggests that something is wrong with you if you don’t look like one,” Lamm explained.

“I created an alternative to suggest that it’s okay to not look like a supermodel, it’s okay to look like a normal person.”

Lamm based the physique of his doll from statistics provided by the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calculating that the “average” 19-year-old was five feet, four inches (163.3 centimetres) tall, weighed 150 pounds (68 kilograms) and measured 33.5 inches (85 centimetres) around the chest.

He contrasted those vital statistics to a Barbie, which is skinnier, taller and more blonde.

Lamm raised money for mass production of his doll by crowdfunding. So far, he has received some $225,000 worth of advance orders for the doll, which will sell at $25.

Starting in January, a clothing line will be available as well as stickers depicting acne or cellulite.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2014