07/10/09 I’m not sure what I was expecting today at the 2009 National Barbie® Doll Collectors Convention (it ends tomorrow and is being held at the Marriott Wardman Park). I suppose I was hoping for scads of women who looked like Barbie®.  I arrived in time for a “photo op” that never happened. The pr flack from Mattel told me that a planned fashion show was closed to the press and public. There was a showroom of items for sale but I was not allowed in without an escort and one would not be on hand for a half hour. Men in Barbie® pink shirts reading SECURITY prevented my entry. I peeked in the room anyway but it looked deserted. I wound up in conversation with a woman (she looked nothing at all like Barbie®) who had driven up FROM TEXAS to attend the event. I asked her if this was her first time at one of these things and she said that no it was her 10th. She also told me everybody was at lunch. Indeed, the only people who were hanging around when I showed up were a couple of guys from Milan who made Madonna looking Barbies®.

Their company is called Magia 2000 if you ever find yourself in need of a Madonna Barbie®.

[Gianni Grossi holding a Madonna Barbie© wearing a Givenchy costume “from her last concert.”]