Barbie gets a bad rap because of her body shape and looks. Yes, there is no denying her body sends a not-so-great message to young girls, But, her messages should overlook that. She was never about looks, she was always about teaching girls valuable lessons they can use as they get older. I use these same lessons even 10 years after watching these movies. Barbie is a great role model for girls and boys alike, teaching us it is okay to be different and to stand out. It teaches us to understand that while independence is liberating, you will always have family and they will always be there for you.

1. Barbie The Princess and the Pauper

Barbie The Princess and the Pauper is based off of the book "The Prince and The Pauper." by. Mark Twain

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Barbie The Princess and The Pauper was one of my favorites. The songs were amazing and all I would do is sing and dance with my sisters. The premise of the movie was a Princess who was tired of her royal duties. She then switches places with her doppelganger who is a seamstress. The story shows us that everyone wants to escape their own lives and live differently once in a while. However, you have to embrace where you came from and accept who you are, whether that is a princess or a pauper. I will always remember where I can from and embrace it, even if I want to be someone else from time to time.

2. Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses

Barbie: 12 Dancing Princesses is based off of "The 12 Dancing Princesses" a fairy tale by. Brothers Grimm

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The 12 Dancing Princesses was about 12 sisters who are put through royal training with their cousin. Their cousin, however, is very strict and doesn't allow the girls to do what they love most: dancing. Soon, they discover a portal to another world that allows them to dance to their heart's content and put all their worries aside. When they put their minds together they find out what their evil cousin is truly up to and stop her, allowing them to dance freely forever. I used to never understand what this one was trying to teach me, but in recent years I have finally discovered the moral. It showed me that you should do what you love. Do not let anyone stand in the way of doing something that makes you happy, even if that person happens to be a family member.

3. Barbie Fairytopia

Fairies have always been a strong part of fairy tales, Barbie Fairytopia is an interpretation of what Fairies are.

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Barbie Fairytopia was one of the more fun Barbie movies. I never saw a lesson in this one, it was just fun. Of course, it is one of my favorites, with the premise being Barbie as a fairy that is trying to stop the evil fairy Laverna from taking over Fairytopia. This was always a fun movie, as was the sequel Barbie Fairytopia: Mermaidia. The whole purpose of the movie is that it doesn't matter if you are small or not popular, you can do anything and save anyone. It taught me that you have so much potential to be whatever you want to be. No one can stop you.

4. Barbie: The Island Princess

Island Princess is one of the only original Barbie movies that is not based off of a pre-existing fairy tale or story.

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This movie was very similar to the stories of Rapunzel and Tarzan. Barbie plays a princess who is stranded on an Island for the majority of her life, not knowing that she is royalty in the kingdom off the coast. When a prince comes and finds her, he takes her back and shows her what her life once was. This movie shows us that it is okay to be independent, but family and heritage will always be there for you. She may not have known her family, but once she meets them, they become a huge part of her life. It shows us it is okay to rely on the family from time to time, but it is also okay to be independent. This one applies to me a little bit more than the others in recent months, as I am going off to college in the coming months. I have to learn to be independent, though I know my family is still there for me to back to when I need help.

5. Barbie: The Nutcracker

Based on "The Nutcracker" music by Tchaikovsky and the choreography of Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov

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This last movie does not have much of a lesson but it makes it easier for children to understand classical music and the story that is continuously told through the years. While most of these stories teach us real-life lessons, this one gives us an academic lesson on classical music while making it fun for children to watch. This is the classic story of Clara and the adventures she goes on with her nutcracker. It is a fun story for everyone: one that everyone knows. I definitely would not be as into band and classical music as much as I am without this Barbie movie introducing the wonderful music of Tchaikovsky to me at such a young age.