Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj Respects Hard-working Barbie

Nicki Minaj Respects Hard-working Barbie

Nicki Minaj says Barbie is a great role model for young girls because she has "tons of different jobs".

The 'Check It Out' rapper is obsessed with the toy doll - often criticised for re-enforcing negative stereotypes about women - and insists the pneumatic blonde is a thoroughly modern women with her various careers.

She said: "I feel like Barbie is great because it doesn't only focus on beauty - you have Barbies that work, they have tons of different jobs now.

"And they come in different shades, which I love, and different hairstyles. So I think that they've gotten to the point where they're making girls feel like it's OK not to look like or be like the traditional Barbie."

Nicki, 29, is quick to dismiss the criticisms of Barbie's unrealistic body shape and insists all dolls are made to look more perfect than their real-life counterparts.

In an interview with Wonderland magazine, she said: "Now in terms of a body image, even male action figure dolls are cut up more than the average man - it's just how people make dolls!"

A Barbie doll is 11.5 inches tall and when calculated to scale she would measure in at 5 ft 9 ins with a 36 inch chest, 18 inch waist and 33 inch hips.

She would weigh 110 lbs and due to her BMI rating would medically be considered anorexic.

Toy company Mattel has released numerous different Barbies over the years which have seen the blonde take on a multitude of jobs, including being an aerobics instructor, a palaeontologist, a cheerleader and a SCUBA diver.