EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Oct. 1, 2001 -- Recognizing the legion of Barbie(R) doll fans worldwide, Mattel's (NYSE: MAT) Girls Interactive Group introduces a captivating site for ninas (girls), BarbieLatina.com, a ground-breaking Spanish-language online destination for girls. Launched today, the site dedicated to girls inspires them to be creative and explore their individual interests through a variety of new interactive activities, while encouraging parents to be a part of their children's online experience.
Building upon years of research tracking girls' interests and the growing rate of Latin American Internet users, BarbieLatina.com is a natural extension of the Barbie brand. The site expands the ways Latin American girls can interact with Barbie doll and her world through creative and fun activities.
The fun and educational activities help make BarbieLatina.com an environment that parents can also enjoy and feel comfortable about their children visiting.
"With the launch of BarbieLatina.com, we are able to extend this empowering interactive experience to millions of girls," said Christina DeRosa, vice president Web site and media, Barbie/Girls Division. "This Spanish-language site is truly an unparalleled online experience for girls of all ages. The site offers a safe environment that helps girls develop their social and problem-solving skills, ultimately helping to build their self-esteem."
BarbieLatina.com focuses on areas of specific interest to girls including fashion, nurturing and fantasy. Upon entering the sites, girls are struck by the visually inviting designs filled with appealing color palettes and icons along with content focused on empowerment and building confidence. Especially important for online play is the intuitive navigation that offers girls an environment to explore. The site provides a safe online environment that meets girls' desires and needs. The site was designed with the help of the "Barbie.com Board of Directors," a rotating group of 26 girls ages 6-12 and their parents who serve as key consultants on every stage of the Web site's ongoing development.
About Mattel Girls Division
For more than four decades the Barbie(R) doll has remained the most popular fashion doll ever created. Mattel has maintained Barbie doll's popularity by adapting her look, lifestyle and fashions to meet changing times while evolving her world into an overall lifestyle brand for girls.
While the Barbie(R) Brand represents Mattel's initial roots in girls' toys, the girls division now dominates the market with several best-selling brands including American Girl(R), Diva Starz(TM), Polly Pocket!(R) and Cabbage Patch Kids(R).
A natural extension of the brands to the online world, Mattel's Girls Interactive Group provides girls of the 21st century a new way to interact with their favorite playmates. Mattel's Girls Interactive Group consists of Barbie.com, BarbieLatina.com, KellyClub.com, DivaStarz.com, WhatsHerFace.com, BarbieCollectibles.com and licensed Mattel-branded interactive software and video game titles. With headquarters in El Segundo, California, Mattel has offices and facilities in 36 countries and markets its products in more than 150 nations throughout the world.
