As a toy, she is still adored by children all over the world. Some find her a bit too sexy, while others think she’s too skinny to be a role model. This lady has often been the subject of controversy over the years but has always managed to maintain her popularity. How much do you actually know about Barbie?
10. An Old Lady
Barbie is already 59 years old but still looks as if she’s only 22 years young. Her ‘birthdate’ is marked by her introduction at the International Toy Fair in New York, which took place on March 9, 1959. Over the decades, only minor changes have been made to her appearance. Forty-one years later, thanks to ‘plastic’ surgery in the year 2000, she finally got a belly button. Who knows what other feminine and human additions her slender body might get in the coming decades.
9. Barbie’s Father
Jack Ryan, a former engineer and rocket designer for the Pentagon, was one of the creators of Barbie. He helped design Barbie and also created the talking doll Chatty Cathy, which never became as famous internationally as ‘daughter’ Barbie. After working for the Pentagon, Jack Ryan worked for the renowned toy giant Mattel. Thanks to Barbie, Mattel became one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world. Another fun fact: Jack Ryan was the sixth husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor (she had a total of 9), and their marriage lasted only one year. ‘Papa’ Jack Ryan passed away in 1991.
8. Of German Descent
In Barbie’s invisible veins flows German blood. Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler was traveling through Europe with her children when they came across the German doll Bild Lilli. Lilli was not designed for children; she was a rather sexy doll created from a comic strip character for adults and was a luxurious escort girl. The Bild Lilli dolls were primarily sold to adults in tobacco shops and sex shops. Mattel purchased the patent rights for $21,600 and modified the doll into the Barbie we know today.
7. The Name
Barbie is named after Barbara, the daughter of Ruth Handler. To maintain balance at home, Ken was later named after Ruth’s son, Kenneth. Ruth Handler later chose names for other dolls that were also derived from family members. This is how names like Skipper, Tutti, Todd, Stacie, Kelly, and Krissy, all friends and family of Barbie, came from Ruth Handler’s family.
6. Missing Family Member
Barbie’s family also included the twin dolls Tutti and Todd. In 1971, Tutti mysteriously disappeared. Todd remained. In 1992, Stacie appeared. Rumor has it that Stacie is the reincarnation of Tutti! Barbie’s family is full of drama and mysteries.
5. Plus-Size Barbie?
Barbie is made on a 1:6 scale. This highly unrealistic proportion is often used for action figure dolls. Her proportions are frequently debated, as many people believe they negatively influence young girls’ self-image and how an ideal body should look.
4. Barbie’s Diet Tips
In 1965, Mattel added fuel to the fire by releasing Slumber Party Barbie. This version of Barbie came with a ‘How to Lose Weight’ book, and one of the tips in the book was: ‘Don’t eat!’. She also came with a scale that showed just under 50 kilos. With the 1:6 scale used, this meant that Barbie was about 15 kilos underweight.
3. The Very First Barbie
The very first Barbies were sold for $3.00. If you’re lucky enough to own a Barbie from the first production line today, it’s worth about $27,450 to a collector. In other words, her value has risen from around €2.55 to approximately €23,580. Not bad for a 59-year-old lady with a constant 15-kilo underweight.
2. Barbie Celebrities
Over the years, Mattel has released several Barbie dolls that resemble celebrities, known as ‘celebrity dolls’. The first in line was Twiggy. Twiggy, or Lesley Hornby, was a famous model in the late 1960s. The Twiggy Barbie was soon followed by actress Lucille Ball, the well-known Elizabeth Taylor, of course, Marilyn Monroe, as well as singers Cher, Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry, Lindsay Lohan, and many others.
1. Barbie’s Career
Since her birth, Barbie has shown that she’s a jack of all trades. She’s had all sorts of careers, including model, ballerina, flight attendant, actress, Miss America, and she’s even been in the U.S. Air Force, worked as a surgeon, won American Idol, and run for president! In short, this lady is beautiful, intelligent, and has been suffering from underweight for 59 years, but… We love Barbie!
