Barbie, the OG influencer, hits up Grand Canyon, Instagrams her way around Arizona
She's one of the world's original influencers, known for her on-trend style, countless professions and carefree life. And this week, Barbie — the iconic Mattel doll — is Instagramming her way across Arizona.
The @BarbieStyle Instagram account, with more than 2 million followers, has partnered with Visit Arizona to showcase travel in the Grand Canyon State.
According to Mattel, the @BarbieStyle account was created in 2014 to "celebrate Barbie as a global icon in the digital age" with a "real-life narrative and playful point of view." Pictures and videos reflect Barbie's timeless fashion sense, epic travels and entertaining stories about her adventures.
The account has previously partnered with the Sundance Film Festival, Glamour, Forbes and Diane von Furstenberg.
So, where has Barbie's Arizona adventure taken her?
Her post on Wednesday shows her and a pal visiting Antelope Canyon, a slot canyon on the Navajo Reservation just east of Page in northern Arizona.
Beyonce takes over Havasu Falls: How her 'Spirit' video shut down remote Grand Canyon waterfalls
A post shared by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Jul 17, 2019 at 11:43am PDT
Before that, she posed at the internationally famous Horseshoe Bend, a dramatic curve in the Colorado River that can be seen from an overlook a few miles south of Page.
Barbie's first stop in Arizona was the Phoenix area, where she lounged by the pool at Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley.
Skyler Scott, spokeswoman for Mountain Shadows, said the Barbie photo taken there was not Photoshopped. A crew came to the resort and Scott said it was fun to watch the detail and planning that went into the post.
A post shared by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Jul 13, 2019 at 8:43am PDT
“We love partnering with the Arizona Office of Tourism because they do a great job at truly showcasing the state and all it has to offer. When they mentioned that they were looking for a scenic resort for Barbie to be photographed, we couldn’t pass up on such a fun opportunity," Scott said.
If you care to replicate Barbie's best life, know that Mountain Shadows is on our list of resorts offering staycation deals this summer.
Then Barbie headed north to Sedona. And if you're familiar with Barbie's freewheeling style, you know she wasn't going to come to Arizona and miss taking a Pink Jeep Tour.
Did someone say @pinkjeeptours? We're in! 💞#VisitArizona #VisitAZPartner #barbie #barbiestyle
A post shared by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Jul 15, 2019 at 9:47am PDT
As hinted, Barbie wrapped up her adventure Friday in "grand" style at Grand Canyon National Park, which marks its 100th anniversary this year.
A post shared by Barbie® (@barbiestyle) on Jul 18, 2019 at 2:51pm PDT
“We often work with influencers to market Arizona to niche travel audiences," said Debbie Johnson, director of the Arizona Office of Tourism. "Barbie is an iconic global brand and this was a serious marketing opportunity for us. Her 2 million Instagram followers represent a young demographic we want to introduce Arizona’s beauty to."
Meanwhile, here's some unsolicited advice to Barbie for surviving the summer months traveling in Arizona: Stay hydrated and avoid getting too much sun — it could literally melt you.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Barbie Instagrammed her way around Arizona, including the Grand Canyon
