Barbie will release in theatres across the world on July 21. It features Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Kate McKinnon, and Will Ferrell. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the film focuses on Barbie and Ken’s journey of self-discovery after being expelled from the utopian Barbie Land. As the film is all set to hit theatres alongside Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, here’s a look at Barbie’s evolution so far
The 11-inch plastic figure Barbie, whose full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, was launched onto the American toy market in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll. Handler was inspired by the German fashion doll Bild Lilli. The first-ever Barbie doll sported a black-and-white striped bathing suit, with red lips and a blonde ponytail
Ruth Handler saw the Barbie as a reflection of Hollywood legends of the 1950s—Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Around 3,00,000 Barbie dolls were sold in the first year. The first Barbie doll was sold for merely $3
Barbie’s longtime boyfriend Ken Carson was introduced in 1961, two years after Barbie entered the scene
Amid criticisms that Barbie was only a sex symbol, Mattel introduced her best friend Midge Hadley in 1963 and her little sister Skipper Roberts in 1964
In 1967, supermodel Twiggy was the first celebrity to get a Barbie modeled on her. She was joined by the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Cher, Diana Ross and JK Rowling
The first African American Barbie doll—Barbie’s friend Christie-- was introduced in 1968. An official African American Barbie was created alongside a Latina Barbie in 1980
Barbie hit the US Presidential campaign trail for the first time in 1992 and has campaigned at least seven times since then. She also launched a campaign team in 2020
Barbie and Ken made news once again in 2004 when they decided they were better off as friends. Barbie and Ken, however, reunited after seven years in 2011
Photo: Mattel
Barbie got her own runway show in 2009 in the New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on the occasion of her 50th anniversary. The show featured original creations by 50 designers
Among other innovative Barbie dolls are Drag Queen Barbie (Blonds Blond Diamond Barbie designed by Phillipe and David Blond); Ella (the first Chemo Barbie doll designed for cancer patients) and Barbie doll with Down’s Syndrome
In 2016, Mattel introduced the Barbie Fashionistas line, which featured Barbie dolls in four body types, seven skin tones, 22 eye colours and 24 hairstyles
Mattel in 2018 released the ‘Inspiring Women’ collection of dolls which featured Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo and Katherine Johnson. Earhart was the first woman to fly solo from Hawaii to the US mainland whereas Kahlo was an acclaimed painter and activist who influenced women’s rights movements. Johnson, on the other hand, was a physicist, space scientist and mathematician at NASA’s Langley Center
On the occasion of its 60th anniversary, Mattel introduced a new Barbie body type comprising a smaller bust, less defined waist and more defined arms
Barbie has had more than 200 careers since her existence. Barbie went to the Moon in 1965, 4 years before Neil Armstrong. Since then, she has been everything from a doctor to a rock star to a politician to a computer engineer