Scary Is Sexy: Barbie Three Six on Horror, Fighting, and Refusing to Fit In
- Lily Lady
- 14 hours ago
- 5 min read
INTERVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY by LILY LADY
ART DIRECTION by MADISON MURRAY
Influencer and Boxer Barbie Three Six Chats Horror, Creative Writing, and Nonconformity
You might know Barbie Three Six by her screen name 6ar6ie6. The Australian boxer and influencer known for her goth getups has racked up 3 million followers on TikTok, where she posts videos with captions like “BARBIE BEATDOWN TIME” (>13 million views).
I recently caught up with Barbie on Muscle Beach, a free outdoor gym on the south side of the Santa Monica Pier. Akin to New York City’s Coney Island, the Muscle Beach boardwalk is known for its fabulous freaks. It’s a good place to people-watch, cruise and skate.
I immediately recognized Barbie among the crowd. She stood near the outdoor gym equipment, decked out in neon green spandex, a towering black wig and a painted white face. I observed her for a few minutes before approaching. Even amid the colorful atmosphere of Muscle Beach, people often gawked while walking by. Between punching faces and turning heads, I wanted to chat with Barbie about where her confidence comes from and whether she was always this way.
PETIT MORT (LILY LADY)
What’s it like getting recognized in real life?
[A passerby shouts at Barbie, “You’re so pretty it’s scary!”]
It’s happening right now! And, “You’re so pretty it’s scary” is perfect for this issue’s theme.
BARBIE THREE SIX
It’s definitely really cool when people compliment me in public. I know some people hate being recognized, but I love it. I love to meet all different people. People who recognize me or even just like my look and want to come up and talk to me. That’s been fun.
Were you always creative with your look, even as a kid?
Even in elementary school, I was always really into horror. I would wear these ruffled tops with corsets even when I was like, seven. My style has grown and evolved, [but] sometimes I look back and think, that outfit was way cooler than anything I’ve done recently!
What are some of your aesthetic influences from film and TV?
I’ve never had someone be a direct influence. I like such random things that I piece together. I think that’s why my style is unique. I run into a lot of hate because it doesn’t fit into a box. But I believe that everyone’s style should be unique and you should take inspiration from everywhere. I love harijuki and Nicki Minaj. When I was 12 that was my favorite thing, those styles and outfits. And then getting into actual Gyaru [a Japanese trend associated with flashy clothes, dyed hair and dramatic makeup] and influences from the goth, black metal, punk scenes…taking the little pieces and making my own style.