Images courtesy of Esquire UK

Since 1961, Ken has played loving boyfriend to his female plastic counterpart, Barbie, and over the years we've seen him stand willingly and supportingly in her shadow - watching her play a supporting role in Toy Story 2 & 3, be made into art by none other than Andy Warhol, walk the catwalk at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and even sign a contract with Christian Louboutin. After waiting so patiently, it seems Ken's time has come to shine as the plastic heartthrob is not only following his girlfriend's lead with a role in Toy Story 3, but he also appears in an editorial for Esquire UK.

According to the magazine, Ken enjoyed the shoot - "It was beyond personal shopper, and each designer was highly sensitive to my masculinity. Quality design really suits me!" Quality design indeed, Ken models some of the latest designs from Burberry Prorsum, Prada and Gucci in the shoot, which was styled by Catherine Hayward and shot by Matthew Donaldson. Editor in chief Jeremy Langmead joked that working with Ken was great as there were "no tantrums," although his plastic body meant there wasn't much variety between shots.

See more of Ken's dabble in the modelling industry after the jump