And trust us, once you get one in your hands, you'll understand - it really does feel like a squishy marshmallow. “Naming something can be challenging, but in this case, the unique one-of-a-kind feel of the plush toy gave us the name! It is super squishy when you hug it and reminds people of a marshmallow when you feel it! The combination of the two ultimately gave us the name Squishmallows.” Runken explains. If you ever wondered how the name came to be, it actually makes a lot of sense when you hear the story. “Squishmallows are one of those things that have struck lightning, and it all came together to strike a chord for everyone from eight 108!” “Squishmallows were developed to bring joy to fans of all ages with relatable personalities and squads that are super fun to collect and hunt,” Runken tells PEOPLE. Curious to learn more, we spoke with Gerhard Runken, Senior Vice President of Brand & Marketing, to learn everything about the adorable plush toys, like how the name came to be, how the brand amassed such a big following, and which Squishmallows are predicted to be the most popular of 2023. Currently, there are over 500 characters to choose from. Each character has a super distinct personality and even has an in-depth backstory, which is what makes them so covetable and relatable.The collective toys have been seen all over TikTok and been favored by celebrities ranging from Lady Gaga to Kim Kardashian and Jessica Simpson, to name a few. Squishmallows are super soft plush toys that have been touted as Gen Alpha’s version of the iconic Beanie Beanies, and rightfully so. The cozy and cuddly plush toy has amassed a gigantic following and has become a global phenomenon since debuting in 2017. It’s pretty impossible to be looking for a children’s toy and not come across the über viral Squishmallows.

Barney squishmallow