Celebrity4 min(s) read
‘Real-life Barbie’ who transformed her appearance with 43 plastic surgeries looks completely unrecognizable in old photos
A woman dubbed the "real-life Barbie" after undergoing 43 cosmetic surgeries looks unrecognizable in her old photos.
Dalia Naeem is an Iraqi actress, television presenter, and social media personality who has drawn international attention for reportedly trying to resemble the iconic Mattel doll.
The Baghdad native has undergone dozens of cosmetic procedures over the years, with old photographs revealing how much her appearance has changed.
Who is Dalia Naeem?
Naeem began working as a television presenter on the Iraqi MPC channel before making the move into acting and appearing in several productions, including Watermelon on Mars and An Egyptian Inheritance, as well as the 2023 television series Emergency.
Her work also earned her acclaim as one of Iraq's leading television personalities, including an award for Best TV Host.
However, it was her cosmetic transformation that eventually brought her international attention.
Before-and-after photos reveal her transformation
In 2023, Naeem shared an Instagram video documenting her appearance following a cosmetic procedure.
She also posted before-and-after photos highlighting the changes to her facial features, including her fuller lips.
The Iraqi Barbie appeared in the clip alongside her makeup artist, who praised her appearance, saying: "You look so beautiful, my dear. Like Barbie."
Naeem responded with a compliment of her own, saying: "Your make-up is Barbie."
Reports suggest that lip fillers and breast augmentation are among the cosmetic procedures she has undergone.
Reactions to her transformation on social media have been mixed. While some people have expressed admiration, others have left cruel comments criticizing her cosmetic work.
One person compared her appearance to a "Zombie," while another used the nickname "devil Barbie."
Naeem survived a terrifying kidnapping ordeal in 2024
However, away from her entertainment career and social media fame, Naeem experienced a terrifying ordeal when she was kidnapped in April 2024.
According to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, the television personality was abducted on April 7 after leaving a beauty center in the Al-Dawoodi neighborhood of Baghdad.
A car with tinted windows reportedly pulled up near her before she was forced inside and driven away.
Fortunately, Naeem managed to escape her captors by jumping from the trunk of a vehicle and was subsequently found injured on the Al-Radwaniyah Expressway.
Security forces transported her to Al-Yarmouk Hospital for treatment.
Images reportedly showing her injuries circulated on social media after.
Another 'real-life Barbie' has spent thousands on cosmetic procedures
Naeem is not the only woman to make headlines for pursuing a Barbie-inspired appearance.
Australian social media personality Tara Jayne McConachy became widely known after appearing on Channel 10's Mirror Mirror in 2021.
During the program, she spoke to presenter Todd Sampson about her ambition to "look like an edited photo in real life," per News.com.au.
By 2022, McConachy had reportedly spent $135,000 on five breast augmentation procedures alone.
She has also undergone several other cosmetic treatments, including rhinoplasty, buttock implants, veneers, Botox, and dermal fillers.
The Australian McConachy has previously said that her plumped lips were what she loved most, previously describing them as her "statement" feature.
"My lips are definitely my statement. I always make sure they’re nice and plump and get regular injections," she said, also adding that she has "lost count of how much product" she has had injected into them.