The Kira face mold—originally known as the Oriental/Miko/Kira sculpt—is one of those delightful treasures in Barbie history that instantly catches a collector’s eye. Released in 1980, this beautiful face mold was Mattel’s early attempt to bring more diversity into the Barbie world, featuring lovely Asian facial characteristics like soft almond-shaped eyes, delicate cheekbones, and a gentle, serene smile. The very first doll to debut this sculpt was the Oriental Barbie from the 1981 Dolls of the World series. Soon after, the mold gained even more personality through Barbie’s friend Miko, who appeared in several fun lines throughout the 80s. But it wasn’t until the 1990s—especially with fan-favorite releases like Wet ’n Wild Kira—that collectors truly fell in love with this face and began calling it the “Kira” mold.
Over the years, this sculpt has shown up on many Barbie friend dolls, including Dana, Miko variations, Kira dolls in beach lines, fashion lines, and special editions, each one showing off the mold’s versatility with new makeup styles, hair colors, and fashion themes. Whether she’s rocking crimped 90s hair, bold neon eyeshadow, or soft pastel looks, the Kira face mold always brings a sweet, expressive charm that feels timeless. Up next, I’ll be sharing photos of my own dolls with this iconic mold—each one a unique spark of nostalgia from this unforgettable era in Barbie history! If you’d like a closer look, just click the link under each photo.
1985 Barbie and The Rockers Dana and 1980 Oriental Barbie
1987 Island Fun Miko and 1985 Tropical Miko
1994 Polynesian Barbie and 1989 Wet ‘n Wild Kira
Kira Face Mold Barbie Dolls
