Kelsey Plays Malibu Barbie in The Sims 4 (more commonly known as the Perfect Sim Challenge or the Barbie series) is the fifth The Sims let's play created and produced by Kelsey Impicciche. It premiered on the BuzzFeed Multiplayer YouTube channel on August 2, 2019 and ended on November 15, 2019.[4][5]
Inspired by The Sims YouTuber Deligracy's Barbie Challenge, the series follows Kelsey as she tries the Perfect Sim Challenge in The Sims 4, featuring the expansion pack Island Living and game pack Realm of Magic. In the Perfect Sim Challenge, the player maxes out the level of every career and skill available, while playing as Malibu Barbie, a Mattel fashion doll debuted in 1971. Additionally, however, Kelsey clarified in the first episode that the series is in no way connected to the toy company.
Production[]
According to an interview in August 2019, in this series, Kelsey said she implements what she likes to call, "sneaky feminism," which is her term for subtly inserting progressive ideologies such as introducing LGBTQ+ characters in the gameplay and attempting to defy the machismo-based stereotypes that are associated with Barbie and the color pink:[6]
I've loved pink ever since I was a kid. I had a pink phase when I was younger and was just fully in love with the colour. However, at one point, people started to make assumptions about me because I was a blonde girl who loved pink. They didn't think I was capable of doing certain things, and it affected how I felt about myself. I started consciously avoiding the colour in my wardrobe and steered clear of it until I got to college. At one point, I decided that I didn't care about the unspoken ideas that people carry with them about pink. I wanted to look like Elle Woods, and but I was being treated like she was [in] Legally Blonde. However, in that same spirit, I let go and embraced my pink obsession. I can be bold and love to wear pink and it doesn't affect any other part of me. I think the colour has a significant social impact. It comes with the work of others' assumptions, but can ultimately be empowering. With the Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse series, I wanted to challenge the heteronormative assumptions that come along with Barbie and the colour pink. In the same way that I've always loved gaming and the colour pink, I love Barbie. I took a course on her while I was in school, and I've seen all of the Barbie movies. She has her own YouTube vlog channel, where she tackles some difficult topics. I want Barbie to be able to do whatever she wants, while still staying true to the Barbie fandom. I want her to have every career and to max out every skill.
List of episodes[]
The following lists the episodes of the BuzzFeed Multiplayer Barbie Challenge:
| V • T • E | |||
| Episode | Thumbnail | Title | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Designs a Malibu Barbie Dream House | August 2, 2019 |
| Kelsey downloads and remodels a Barbie dream house from the Gallery. | |||
| 2 | 
|
Creates Malibu Barbie | August 9, 2019 |
| Kelsey creates Barbie Roberts and her sisters in The Sims 4. | |||
| 3 | 
|
Malibu Barbie Goes Exploring | August 16, 2019 |
| Barbie joins the conservationist career and proceeds to explore Sulani. | |||
| 4 | 
|
Digs for Trash With Barbie | August 30, 2019 |
| Barbie and her sisters work together on cleaning the beach. | |||
| 5 | 
|
Tries the Perfect Sim Challenge | September 6, 2019 |
| Tater rides in his spaceship to the moon. | |||
| 6 | 
|
Kelsey Picks a Lover | September 13, 2019 |
| Kelsey picks a bunch of Barbie characters in the Gallery to add to her game. | |||
| 7 | 
|
Fights in a Wizard Duel | September 20, 2019 |
| Barbie and Skipper travel to the Magic Realm and become spellcasters. | |||
| 8 | 
|
Has 2 Kens Fight for Barbie's Love | October 4, 2019 |
| Barbie goes on a date with both Blonde and Brunette Ken. | |||
| 9 | 
|
Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | October 18, 2019 |
| Kelsey decides to move the Roberts household to a new house. | |||
| 10 | n/a | Unreleased Barbie Challenge 10th episode | n/a |
| 11 | 
|
Gets Barbie a Promotion | October 25, 2019 |
| Kelsey starts shipping Skipper Roberts with Sydney Tulip. | |||
| 12 | 
|
Completes the Perfect Sim Challenge | November 15, 2019 |
| Barbie attempts to reach the top of her career. Later, she gets married to her fiancé. | |||
Featured builds[]
The following lists the builds featured in the BuzzFeed Multiplayer Barbie Challenge:
| V • T • E | ||||
| No. | Thumbnail | Lot name | Creator | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Sulani Waterfront Mansion | KateEmerald | 
|
| Featured in Designs a Malibu Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 2 | 
|
Barbie DreamHouse | sujung0026 | 
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 3 | 
|
Barbie Dreamhouse | CeCeMcQueen |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 4 | 
|
The Barbie Dreamhouse | Deligracy |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 5 | 
|
Barbie dreamclub | emmarose12345 |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 6 | 
|
★Contor Modern Home★ | TinyDevelopments |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 7 | 
|
Oasis Springs Mansion | SarahAmina |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 8 | 
|
Earlham Mansion | dj_demi_1983 |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 9 | 
|
Celebrity Mansion 2.0 | Grolgosh |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 10 | 
|
Barbie Boat House | lduchess |
|
| Featured in Kelsey Chooses a Barbie Dream House | ||||
| 11 | 
|
Beach church pink wedding | piopio5360 |
|
| Featured in Completes the Perfect Sim Challenge | ||||
| Icon | Label |
|---|---|
|
Selected |
|
Featured |
| V • T • E | |
Notes and references[]
- ↑ Sims swimming in the ocean will find more marine life, while non-mermaid Sims will be able to call and play with a dolphin
- ↑ 50% boost to painting and photography skill gains; 50% boost to handiness skill gain while woodworking; Sims receive an inspired moodlet while painting
- ↑ 50% boost to cooking, gourmet cooking, baking, mixology, handiness, and gardening skill gains; Sims will receive an additional happy moodlet
- ↑ Designs a Malibu Barbie Dream House
- ↑ Completes the Perfect Sim Challenge
- ↑ Astorga, M. (2019, August 23). Kelsey Impicciche Talks Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse, Elle Woods, And Growing Up With The Sims. Retrieved from http://www.pinkthingsmag.com/people/kelsey-impicciche-talks-malibu-barbie-dreamhouse-elle-woods-growing-up-with-the-sims
