Twiggy was the first celebrity to have a doll in her likeness. It takes a professional staff of top fashion designers, makeup artists, and the most elite couturiers–more than 100 people in all–to create a Barbie doll and her fashions.īarbie has been a muse to many artists over the past six decades, including Andy Warhol and Peter Max. To encourage more girls to explore the STEM field, Barbie has been a computer engineer, video game developer, Mars explorer, and robotics engineer. In 1985, she took to the boardroom as “Day to Night” CEO Barbie, just as women began to break the glass ceiling. In 1973, Barbie saved lives as a surgeon, at a time when very few women were in the operating room. In 2016, she ran with the first all-female ticket. In 1992, Barbie ran for president for the first time and has run in every election year since.
The best-selling Barbie doll ever was 1992 Totally Hair™ Barbie, which featured floor-length hair.īarbie has had over 200 inspirational careers including astronaut, pilot, firefighter, journalist, and entrepreneur to name a few.īarbie traveled into space in 1965, four years before man walked on the moon. The first Barbie commercial aired during the Mi c key Mouse Club in 1959.īarbie doll’s signature color is Barbie Pink (PMS 219).
The first Barbie doll was sold for $3.00. She is from (fictional) Willows, Wisconsin, where she attended high school.īarbie’s official birthday is March 9, 1959, the day she was unveiled to the toy industry during New York Toy Fair.īarbie first appeared in her iconic black-and-white striped swimsuit.
Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.īarbie was named after Ruth Handler’s daughter, Barbara, and Ken after her son, Kenneth.