Photographs: Pawel Kopcz/Reuters
(Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Promoting the doll made by Mattel Inc, the house allows paying visitors to try on Barbie's clothes, play in her kitchen and have a go on her pink piano.
The exhibition will be open until August 25.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
A handful of protesters gathered outside the shocking pink house that has been erected in one of central Berlin's greyest areas.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters
A topless woman, a member of the Femen protest group, who had the slogan "Life in plastic is not fantastic" scrawled across her chest, set fire to a Barbie doll tied to a mini crucifix.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
"There's too much emphasis on becoming more beautiful and on being pretty and that puts an awful lot of pressure on girls as well as wasting capacities which they could use to simply be happy or for school," said Stevie Meriel Schmiedel, a founding member of the "Pink Stinks" protest group.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
"We're protesting because Barbie would not be able to survive with her figure and yet she is an idol for many girls and that's not healthy," she said.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
One placard read: "Dear Barbie - don't just bake cupcakes, eat them too!"
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
A male protester in a wig, pink shirt and shimmering skirt held a poster reading: "Do you like me now?"
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Christoph Rahofer, chief executive of Event Marketing Services, which organized the exhibition, similar to one that recently opened in Sunrise, Florida, said the Dreamhouse Experience was a positive thing.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
"It's basically about playing, being amazed and discovering - there are lots of hidden things to be found and it's an interactive exhibition."
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
The Barbie doll made its debut in 1959, and is named after the daughter, Barbara, of its inventor Ruth Handler, according to Mattel's website.
Click NEXT to see more images of the Barbie Dreamhouse...
Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Six year-old Lara (C) plays with a computer inside a "Barbie Dreamhouse" of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
A staff poses for the photographer next Mattel's Barbie dolls are pictured inside a life-size so-called "Barbie Dreamhouse" during a media tour in Berlin.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
Mattel's Barbie dolls on sale are pictured inside a shop of a life-size "Barbie Dreamhouse" during a media tour in Berlin.
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Topless protest disrupts opening of Barbie house in Berlin
Photographs: Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters
A giant shoe is pictured outside a life-size "Barbie Dreamhouse" of Mattel's Barbie dolls in Berlin.
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