The story of Barbie, from a Bild Lilli doll to Margot Robbie's blockbuster movie
The first Barbie doll created in 1959 and debuted at the American Toy Fair In New York. Photo: Getty Images
Most of us have cherished fond memories of playing with Barbie dolls and watching enchanting Barbie movies. With the recent success of the Barbie movie, curiosity about the history of this beloved doll has grown. From its origins as a German doll called Bild Lilli to the introduction of various comic characters, let's delve into the captivating history of Barbie.
First things first, Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. She was named after Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot's daughter, Barbara, who later became the co-founders of Mattel Inc.
History of Barbie
Barbie, an 11-inch (29 cm) tall plastic doll with adult-like features, made its debut on March 9, 1959, courtesy of the American multinational toy manufacturing company, Mattel Inc, founded by Ruth and Elliot Handler.
Their vision and efforts led to the creation of this iconic doll.
Ruth Handler's inspiration to create Barbie stemmed from observing her daughter play with paper dolls portraying adult women. She recognized the need for a doll that could fill the gap, allowing girls to imagine their future beyond traditional roles.
The physical appearance of Barbie was modeled after the Bild Lilli doll, originally produced in West Germany as a risqué gag gift for men. The German doll was based on a cartoon character featured in Bild Zeitung, a West German newspaper. Ruth Handler acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll and, drawing inspiration from it, Mattel created their version, which became one of the most beloved playthings for children for generations to come.
March 9, 1959, holds significance as Barbie's official birthday, the day she was introduced to the world at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. In her inaugural year, 300,000 Barbie dolls were sold at a price of $3.00 each. The first Barbie exemplified the style and fashion of that era. She came in two versions, one with blonde hair and one with brunette, both featuring a ponytail with curly bangs. Her attire included a black-and-white striped, strapless swimsuit, along with gold hoops and black heels.
Barbie's companion, the long-time boyfriend Ken Carson, also known as the Ken doll, made his appearance in 1961 and was named after Ruth Handler's son.
Barbie was not alone in her world. In 1963, Mattel Inc. introduced her friend, Midge Hadley, and a year later, they introduced her younger sister, Skipper Roberts.
Evolution of Barbie
Since Barbie's introduction, she has continuously adapted to reflect the cultural revolutions of her time. With over hundreds of careers to her name, Barbie has embodied roles such as a doctor, astronaut, rock star, pilot, athlete, and computer engineer, among others.
Ready to make waves? 🌊🕶️ Dip into new #Barbie Fashion Dolls – our most diverse and inclusive doll line, offering a variety of skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashions, to inspire even more stories! https://t.co/k2mKw8VhG8 pic.twitter.com/voglMMZgvE
— Barbie (@Barbie) May 11, 2022
Mattel Inc. has also made significant strides in introducing an inclusive and diverse range of Barbie dolls. The company now promotes body acceptance and realism, offering Barbie dolls with features like Down syndrome, hearing aids, physical disabilities, prosthetic legs, vitiligo, and body positivity.
They have expanded the collection to include diverse ethnicities, including Asian, Black, African-American, Latin, and 'Desi' Barbies, as well as a Barbie wearing a hijab.
Controversies surrounding Barbie
Over the years, Barbie has faced various controversies. Criticisms were raised regarding her unrealistic body proportions and how she contributed to imposing unrealistic beauty standards worldwide.
Additionally, Barbie was accused of promoting materialism with her focus on dream houses, cars, and fashionable clothes. However, in response to these concerns, Mattel Inc. introduced Barbies with diverse body types and even a Barbie promoting body positivity.
Mattel's introduction of Barbie Fashionistas celebrated diversity, offering Barbies with four different body types, various skin tones, different eye colors, and more than twenty hair styles.