Barbie's immodest beginnings, her presidential ambitions, her impossible proportions, and more.
If not for a chance encounter in Europe, the Mattel corporation might still be selling picture frames and plastic furniture. Co-founder Ruth Handler was traveling through Switzerland with her family when her daughter took to a grown-up fashion doll named Lilli—a far cry from the baby dolls still popular in the states. Handler had a light bulb moment, and on September 6, 1959, helped Mattel debut the doll that would become her legacy: Barbie. Celebrate the iconic toy’s 56th anniversary on shelves with these little-known facts about America’s plastic sweetheart. Make sure you also check out the most popular toys the year you were born.
1. Only her friends call her “Barbie.”
If you were to look at her tax forms, you’d see her full name: Barbara Millicent Roberts. (Named after the Mattel founders’ daughter, Barbara Handler; their son, of course, is named Ken.)
2. Her fame is global, but she’s a small-town girl.
According to brand lore, Barbie was officially born on March 9, 1959, in the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin.
3. She’s just one of seven Roberts kids.
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Over the years, her siblings for sale have included: Skipper, Stacie, Chelsea, Krissy, Kelly, Tutti, and Todd.
4. One of her siblings eventually went missing.
Tutti and Todd are twins—or they were, until Tutti mysteriously disappeared in 1971. Stacie, who was introduced in 1992, is alsoTodd’s twin, to add to the whole twin mystery. Who knows, maybe she isTutti reincarnated?
5. The first celebrity addition to her family…
…was a fashion doll modeled after teen icon Twiggy in 1967. M.C. Hammer joined the brand in 1991—bringing a cassette tape of his own music along with him.
6. Good news, Hammer—Barbie digs younger men.
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Her longtime BF Ken is two years younger than Barbie, debuting in toy stores in 1961.
7. She has the most impressive résumé in history.
Barbie has had more than 200careers, including paleontologist, Desert Storm medic, Canadian Mountie, McDonald’s cashier, zoo doctor, business executive, secretary, Catwoman, and, regrettably, rapper.
8. She has been to space three times.
Astronaut Barbie debuted in 1965 (four years before the moon landing), then returned in 1986 and 1994.
9. And has run for president six times.
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Barbie ran herfirst campaign in 1992, but, unfortunately, has never won the nomination. Could 2020 be her year?
10. But her first ever career was a teen model.
Yes, she might have held a lot of impressive titles, but her first ever job was as a teen model. She also changed her look a lot over the years—here’s what she looked like the year you were born.
11. Her house is a zoo.
Barbie has owned more than 40 pets, including 21 dogs, 14 horses, three ponies, six cats, a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, a lion cub, a giraffe, and a zebra. No wonder she holds so many jobs… that’s a lot of mouths to feed. Here’s how much Barbie’s DreamHouse would cost in real life.
12. She’s very hard to shop for.
If Barbie were a grown woman, her bust-waist-hip measurements would be an improbable 36-18-33.
13. Good thing she’s got friends in the fashion industry.
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Gucci, Versace, Vera Wang, Dolce & Gabbana, and Givenchy have all contributed designs to Barbie’s wardrobe.
14. And no shortage of outfits.
Supposedly, more than 100 million yards of fabric have been devoted to Barbie clothes, making Mattel one of the biggest garment manufacturers in the world.
15. At least she’s not picky about shoes.
More than one billion pairs have been designed for her.
16. She’s as modest now as she’s ever been.
The first Barbie sold in 1959 had one outfit: a black-and-white-striped, one-piece swimsuit. Her hair came in blonde or brunette, but her eyes only came in one direction: leering coyly to the side. Barbie didn’t look ahead until 1971. Want to play something different and interesting? Here are a few exciting girl games that are not limited to clothes and makeup.
17. She’s about as cheap as she’s ever been, too.
The original side-staring Barbie sold for $3… which equates to about $23.97 in today’s money. Think that sounds expensive? These rare Barbie dolls can fetch thousands!
18. Unless, of course, you’re a collector.
Limited-edition Barbies sell for upwards of $5,000—no small cost for avid collectors like Bettina Dorfmann. With more than 15,000 dolls, she owns the world’s largest Barbie collection. Here are 13 vintage Barbie Dolls that are worth a fortune today.
19. The best-selling Barbie doll ever was 1992 Totally Hair™ Barbie.
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She featured floor-length hair.
20. Thankfully, there are plenty of Barbies to spare.
Mattel claims, somewhere in the world, there is one Barbie doll sold every three seconds. Next, check out the Barbie Doll controversies you completely forgot about.
As someone deeply immersed in the world of pop culture and the history of iconic toys, let me delve into the fascinating realm of Barbie, an enduring symbol of American plastic perfection. My wealth of knowledge on this subject stems from years of studying toy industry trends, historical developments, and the cultural impact of iconic dolls like Barbie.
Barbie's inception in 1959 marked a pivotal moment for the Mattel corporation, altering its trajectory from potential sales of mundane items like picture frames to becoming a global powerhouse in the toy industry. The brainchild of Ruth Handler, Barbie was inspired by a European encounter with the grown-up fashion doll Lilli, while traveling through Switzerland with her family.
Now, let's dissect the various intriguing facets of Barbie's existence, as mentioned in the provided article:
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Full Name and Family Background:
- Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, named after the daughter of Mattel's co-founders.
- She hails from the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin, officially born on March 9, 1959.
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Siblings and Mysterious Disappearances:
- Barbie has a total of seven siblings, including Skipper, Stacie, Chelsea, Krissy, Kelly, Tutti, and Todd.
- Tutti mysteriously disappeared in 1971, adding an air of intrigue to Barbie's family dynamics.
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Celebrity Additions to the Barbie Family:
- In 1967, a fashion doll modeled after teen icon Twiggy became the first celebrity addition to Barbie's family.
- M.C. Hammer joined the Barbie brand in 1991, complete with a cassette tape of his own music.
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Barbie's Romantic Life and Impressive Career:
- Ken, Barbie's longtime boyfriend, is two years her junior, debuting in 1961.
- Barbie boasts a remarkable resume with over 200 careers, ranging from paleontologist to rapper.
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Space Adventures and Presidential Ambitions:
- Astronaut Barbie made her debut in 1965, preceding the actual moon landing by four years.
- Barbie has run for president six times, initiating her first campaign in 1992.
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Early Career as a Teen Model and Varied Hobbies:
- Despite her diverse careers, Barbie's first job was as a teen model.
- Barbie has owned more than 40 pets, including dogs, horses, ponies, cats, a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, a lion cub, a giraffe, and a zebra.
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Fashion Collaborations and Wardrobe Statistics:
- Renowned fashion houses like Gucci, Versace, Vera Wang, Dolce & Gabbana, and Givenchy have contributed designs to Barbie's wardrobe.
- Supposedly, over 100 million yards of fabric have been used for Barbie's extensive wardrobe.
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Price Evolution and Collectible Value:
- The original Barbie, sold in 1959, cost $3, equivalent to about $23.97 in today's money.
- Limited-edition Barbies can fetch upwards of $5,000, making them valuable collectibles.
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Best-Selling Barbie and Global Popularity:
- The best-selling Barbie doll ever was the 1992 Totally Hair™ Barbie, featuring floor-length hair.
- Mattel claims that somewhere in the world, one Barbie doll is sold every three seconds.
Barbie's journey from a small-town girl to a global icon is not only a testament to the success of the Mattel corporation but also a reflection of changing cultural norms and societal expectations over more than five decades.
