The shark mascot suit is a popular and recognizable costume that is often used for promotional events or sports teams. The main idea behind the shark mascot suit is to create a memorable and engaging character that can interact with fans and represent a brand or team. A shark mascot suit typically includes a full-body costume that resembles a shark, complete with a large head, fins, and a tail. The suit is often made from durable materials such as foam or polyester to withstand frequent wear and tear. The design of the suit can vary, with some featuring a realistic shark appearance, while others may be more cartoonish or stylized. The main purpose of a shark mascot suit is to embody the spirit of a brand or team.
The toy company Mattel introduced the Earring Magic Ken doll in the early 1990s as one of six dolls in the Earring Magic Barbie collection. Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images/Julius Seelbach/Flickr/CC BY 2.0
It s assumed then that someone working for Mattel had seen a bunch shredded gay men wearing cock rings about their person and assumed that it was just a cool fashion accessory popular with tanned men who worked out a lot. Mattel absolutely hated this and vehemently denied in interviews that Ken was gay, responding to requests for comment from magazines and newspapers with a stock response about Ken being straight.
The main purpose of a shark mascot suit is to embody the spirit of a brand or team. The shark character is often associated with traits such as strength, power, and determination, making it an ideal choice for sports teams or organizations looking to convey these qualities. The mascot suit allows for interactions with fans, such as entertaining them during halftime shows or posing for photos.
That time Mattel accidentally made Ken gay
For decades Mattel has struggled to sell Ken dolls to little girls who’ve repeatedly had to explain to baffled Mattel executives that they simply don’t think he looks cool. When Mattel tried to address this in the 90’s they inadvertently made him look super gay. Much to amusement of the gay community.
Dubbed Earring Magic Ken, the doll was a failed attempt on behalf of Mattel to reinvent Barbie’s boyfriend after sales data indicated that nobody really gave all that much of a shit about him. The story goes that the company became somewhat desperate in the early 1990’s when they realised that little girls weren’t playing with Ken dolls even though they tried to market him as Barbie’s girlfriend. Which makes sense, why would little girls make Barbie date a loser like Ken when they could just raid their brothers toy box and have her date Cobra Commander or a stone badass like Action Man.
Did Ken have his own PlayStation game?
So Mattel asked a bunch of girls what they disliked about Ken and floated the idea of perhaps replacing him with another doll, in effect asking by proxy if Barbie should dump his ass. To Mattel’s surprise, little girls did like Ken, but most responded that they’d probably play the doll more if he looked, and we quote, “a little cooler“.
The problem was nobody working for Mattel at the time had any idea what 90’s era cool guys looked like, so they decided to remedy that by paying someone to do a little research. According to an oft repeated, possibly apocryphal story, this research involved attending a bunch of raves. Mattel would later deny this, but take a long hard look at Ken’s outfit and tell us he wouldn’t look right at home throwing shapes at a warehouse playing thumping techno music.
One thing in particular gay people singled out about Ken’s outfit was his necklace, which neither the box nor Mattel’s executives seemed sure of the function of at the time of the doll’s release. Gay people sure as hell did though and hundreds of gay commentators were quick to point out the the necklace was clearly a cock ring.
You see, it was en vogue back then for gay men to express their sexuality by wearing a cock ring on their clothes, there was even a subtle code gay men could use to express just what they were into in the bedroom. Before long a cock ring was the go-to fashion accessory in the LBGT community and nearly everyone was wearing one. It’s assumed then that someone working for Mattel had seen a bunch shredded gay men wearing cock rings about their person and assumed that it was just a cool fashion accessory popular with tanned men who worked out a lot. It wasn’t. It was a gay thing that made Ken look really, really gay.
Mattel’s primary audience for the doll were largely indifferent to Ken’s new look, which didn’t stop it from becoming the best-selling Ken doll ever produced. A fact that’s kind of impressive when you realise Earring Magic Ken was only in stores for 6 weeks. Gay men cleared out stock of the doll at every toy store in America and thousands more sent tongue-in-cheek letters of thanks to Mattel about how they were loving the new, more fabulous Ken.
Mattel absolutely hated this and vehemently denied in interviews that Ken was gay, responding to requests for comment from magazines and newspapers with a stock response about Ken being straight.
When pressed for comment, Mattel’s head of marketing and communications, Lisa McKendall got incredibly irate about the Ken’s new look, angrily telling an interviewer for the Chicago Reader:
“We’re not in the business of putting cock rings into the hands of little girls.”
Unwilling to endure the ridicule, Magic Earring Ken was quietly pulled from stores making it even more popular because in addition to being known as “the gay Ken” the doll was now a highly sought after collectors item. Hilariously, Mattel is still salty about everyone calling Magic Earring Ken gay and the company refuses to discuss how many of the dolls they sold. Presumably because they’d be forced to admit that Ken was more popular when everyone thought he liked fucking dudes.
Savage certainly doesn’t think Mattel set out to equip Ken with a cock ring: He initially suggests that in the quest for a fashionable party outfit, Mattel designers took pictures of people at nightclubs and translated their outfits into a doll design. “On closer inspection, Ken’s entire Earring Magic outfit turns out to be three-year-old rave wear,” he wrote. And he describes chrome cock ring necklaces — which is to say, necklaces exactly like the one on Earring Magic Ken — as “de rigueur rave wear” for the era.
In addition to sports teams, the shark mascot suit is also commonly used in advertising and promotional events. Companies may use a shark mascot to draw attention to their products or services, using the recognizable and attention-grabbing nature of the costume to create a memorable impression on consumers. Overall, the shark mascot suit is a versatile and popular choice for those looking to create a memorable and engaging character. Whether it's for a sports team or a promotional event, the shark mascot suit is sure to leave a lasting impression on fans and consumers..
Reviews for "Stealing the Show: The Entertainment Value of a Shark Mascot Suit"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I recently purchased the shark mascot suit for my son's birthday party, and I have to say I was really disappointed with the quality. The material was flimsy and ripped easily, and the stitching was coming undone after just a few hours of wear. Additionally, the suit was much smaller than expected and didn't fit my son properly. Overall, I was not impressed with this purchase and would not recommend it.
2. Mark - 1 star - The shark mascot suit was a complete waste of money. The design was poorly done and the colors were dull and faded. The suit itself was uncomfortable and the headpiece was too heavy and made it difficult to see out of. It was also incredibly hot inside the suit, making it unbearable to wear for extended periods of time. Do not buy this product if you're looking for a quality mascot suit.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I ordered the shark mascot suit for my school's pep rally and was very disappointed with the overall look and feel of the costume. The padding was uneven and lumpy, giving it a strange and unnatural appearance. The suit also had a strong chemical smell that was unpleasant and lingered even after airing it out. The sizing was also off, with the suit being too big in some areas and too small in others. I would not recommend this costume, especially for the price.