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First Prototype of Barbie
The first Barbie prototype, created by Ruth Handler and introduced in 1959, was inspired by the German Lilli doll. It featured a black-and-white striped swimsuit, a signature ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. -
Ken
Barbie Boyfriends Is Introduced -
Barbie With Bendable Knees
The first barbie doll knees that can bend and sit down. -
Twiggy
Twiggy (1967): The original celebrity Barbie, featuring iconic Twiggy makeup, a yellow, green, and blue vertical-striped mini dress, and yellow boots. -
First Black Barbie
Christie, the first Black doll in the Barbie universe, debuted in 1968, during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Her arrival was more than just a new toy on the shelf it was a cultural milestone, offering children a doll that celebrated Black identity and culture. -
Malibu Barbie
This wonderful reproduction of the 1971 doll authentically recreates Malibu Barbie in her aqua blue bathing suit. A yellow towel and sunglasses complete the beach ensemble, which is updated with an accompanying "sunscreen" bottle. -
Campaign For We Can Be Anything
The famous Barbie doll is stereotypically perceived with negativity because of its unrealistic representation of the female appearance and standards of beauty. Thus, Mattel created a new campaign titled You Can Be Anything (YCBA) to encourage young girls to be ambitious and aim toward their aspirational selves. -
First Fashion Partnership
Barbie's first fashion partnership was with Oscar de la Renta in 1984, marking the beginning of a long history of collaborations with fashion designers. -
CEO Barbie
Celebrating the workplace evolution of the era, Day-to-Night Barbie broke the glass ceiling as a CEO. Being able to run the boardroom in her pink power suit and also to have a fun night out on the town, CEO Barbie showed girls they could have it all. -
Andy Warhol Painting
Warhol made this portrait of Barbie, his first, for his close friend Billy Boy* owing to his “Nouveau Théâtre de la Mode” Barbie, a project Warhol was 'excited about'. This was the first designer Barbie, and it was the first time that a designer's name appeared on a Barbie doll box. -
First Barbie Movie
The first animated Barbie movie, and widely considered the first in the franchise, is "Barbie in the Nutcracker -
Chemo Barbie
Mattel produced a limited number of bald Barbies named Ella, specifically designed to help young girls with cancer understand the effects of chemotherapy and hair loss. -
Diverse Barbie
Mattel launched the Barbie Fashionistas line, featuring a diverse range of dolls with different body types, skin tones, hairstyles, and disabilities, aiming to better reflect the world kids see today. -
Barbie x Habitat for Humanity
Barbie Teams Up with Habitat for Humanity to Commemorate 60 Years of the Barbie Dreamhouse