Barbie facts for kids
The current Barbie logo
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| Type | Fashion doll |
|---|---|
| Inventor(s) | Ruth Handler |
| Company | Mattel |
| Country | United States |
| Availability | March 9, 1959–present |
| Materials | Plastic |
Barbie is a famous fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler. The toy company Mattel started making Barbie dolls on March 9, 1959. Barbie was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli. For over sixty years, Barbie has been a very important part of the toy world. Mattel has sold over a billion Barbie dolls, making it their most successful product. The Barbie brand has grown into movies, TV shows, video games, and even a live-action film.
Barbie and her friend Ken are known as two of the most popular dolls worldwide. Mattel earns a lot of money from Barbie through things like accessories, clothes, and other dolls that are Barbie's friends and family. Barbie has shown qualities of independence and an exciting lifestyle.
Contents
The Story of Barbie
How Barbie Was Created
Ruth Handler watched her daughter, Barbara, play with paper dolls. She noticed Barbara liked to imagine her dolls as adults. At that time, most toy dolls looked like babies. Ruth saw a chance to create a new kind of doll. She suggested the idea of an adult-looking doll to her husband, Elliot, who co-founded Mattel. At first, he and other Mattel leaders were not very excited.
In 1956, Ruth traveled to Switzerland with her children, Barbara and Kenneth. There, she found a German toy doll called Bild Lilli. This doll looked exactly like what Ruth had imagined. She bought three of them, giving one to her daughter and taking the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular comic strip character. It was first sold in West Germany in 1955, mainly to adults. However, children also loved dressing her up in separate outfits.
When Ruth returned to the United States, she redesigned the doll with help from designer Jack Ryan. The doll was named "Barbie" after her daughter, Barbara. Barbie first appeared at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. This date is celebrated as Barbie's official birthday.
Barbie's Big Debut
The very first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white striped swimsuit. She had her hair in a high ponytail. You could buy her with either blonde or brunette hair. She was advertised as a "Teen-age Fashion Model." Mattel's fashion designer, Charlotte Johnson, created her clothes.
Some people thought the doll might not sell well because she looked like an adult. Early surveys showed that some parents were unsure about the doll's chest. However, Ruth Handler believed Barbie's adult look was important.
Barbie sold about 350,000 dolls in her first year. This was much better than expected! For the first three years, Mattel couldn't make enough Barbies to meet the demand. During this time, Barbie dolls were made in Japan. Japanese workers hand-stitched her clothes.
In 1961, another company, Louis Marx and Company, had a disagreement with Mattel. They claimed Barbie was too similar to the Bild-Lilli doll. Mattel eventually bought the rights to the Bild-Lilli doll in 1964. This settled the issue.
Barbie's Evolution Over Time
Barbie's look has changed many times. In 1971, her eyes were changed to look straight ahead instead of to the side. This was one of the last changes Ruth Handler made to her creation. Later, Ruth and her husband left Mattel.
Barbie was one of the first toys to use a lot of television advertising. Many other toy companies copied this idea. By 2006, over a billion Barbie dolls had been sold in more than 150 countries. Mattel said that three Barbie dolls were sold every second!
Sales of Barbie dolls went down from 2014 to 2016. However, the 2023 Barbie movie brought a lot of new excitement to the brand. This movie also started a fashion trend called "Barbiecore."
Meet Barbie: Her Story and Friends
| Barbie | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | March 9, 1959 |
| Created by | Ruth Handler |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | Barbie |
| Occupation | See: Barbie's careers |
| Family | See: List of Barbie's friends and family |
Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. Her parents are George and Margaret Roberts. They live in the made-up town of Willows, Wisconsin. In books from the 1960s, Barbie went to Willows High School. Later books in 1999 said she attended Manhattan International High School in New York City.
Barbie has an on-again, off-again relationship with her boyfriend, Ken. His full name is Kenneth Sean Carson. Ken first appeared in 1961. In 2004, Mattel announced that Barbie and Ken had split up. But in 2006, they hoped to get back together after Ken had a new look. Mattel even launched a campaign in 2011 for Ken to win Barbie back. They officially reunited on Valentine's Day 2011. In recent TV shows like Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (starting 2018), they are often shown as just friends or neighbors.
Mattel has created many friends and family members for Barbie. She has three younger sisters: Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea (who was called Kelly until 2011). Her sisters have been in many Barbie movies. Other family members included her twin brother Todd, baby sister Krissy, and cousin Francie. Barbie's friends include Hispanic Teresa, Midge, African American Christie, and Steven (Christie's boyfriend).
Barbie has had over 40 pets, including cats, dogs, horses, and even a panda. She has owned many vehicles, like pink convertibles, trailers, and Jeeps. Barbie also has a pilot's license and has been a flight attendant. Barbie's many careers show that girls can be anything they want to be. She has been Miss Astronaut Barbie (1965), Doctor Barbie (1988), and Nascar Barbie (1998).
Barbie's Impact and Inspiration
Cultural Milestones
Barbie has become a true cultural icon. She has received special honors that are rare for a toy. In 1974, a part of Times Square in New York City was even named Barbie Boulevard for a week! The Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris at the Louvre museum held a Barbie exhibit in 2016. It showed 700 Barbie dolls and art inspired by her.
In 1986, the famous artist Andy Warhol painted a picture of Barbie. This painting later sold for over a million dollars. In 2015, the Andy Warhol Foundation and Mattel even created an Andy Warhol Barbie doll.
The "Barbie Café" opened in Taiwan in 2013. It was the first restaurant with a Barbie theme.
The Economist magazine highlighted how important Barbie is for children's imaginations. From her start as a fashion model, Barbie has been an astronaut, surgeon, athlete, doctor, and even a presidential candidate. When Barbie first came out, most dolls were babies. By creating an adult-looking doll, Mattel helped girls imagine themselves in many different grown-up roles.
Inspiring Girls in Music
On September 7, 2021, after the movie Barbie: Big City, Big Dreams came out, Barbie teamed up with music producer Ester Dean and Girls Make Beats. This organization helps more girls become music producers, DJs, and audio engineers. The goal was to inspire more girls to explore careers in music production.
Fun at Mattel Adventure Park
In 2023, Mattel started building a theme park near Phoenix, Arizona. The park opened in 2025. It features many Mattel toys, including a Barbie Beach House, a Thomas & Friends ride, and a Hot Wheels go-kart track. The theme park is part of the VAI Resort complex.
Celebrating 50 Years of Barbie
In 2009, Barbie celebrated her 50th anniversary. A special fashion show was held in New York for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Fifty famous designers, like Vera Wang and Calvin Klein, created outfits for Barbie.
The Barbie Dream Gap Project
In 2019, Mattel started the "Barbie Dream Gap Project." This project helps girls believe in themselves. Research shows that around age five, girls sometimes start to doubt their own intelligence more than boys do. This can stop them from pursuing certain careers. To help with this, Mattel released a Judge Barbie doll in different skin tones and hairstyles. This showed that girls can be judges, even though only a small percentage of judges in the U.S. are women.
Thank You Heroes Dolls
In May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mattel released a new line of Barbie dolls. These dolls looked like first responders and essential workers. For every doll bought, Mattel donated a doll to the First Responders Children's Foundation.
Barbie and Habitat for Humanity
In February 2022, Mattel celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Barbie Dreamhouse. They partnered with Habitat for Humanity International. Mattel promised to support 60 projects, including building new homes and helping to fix up neighborhoods.
Barbie's Journey Towards Diversity
"Colored Francie" came out in 1967. Some people consider her the first African-American Barbie doll. However, she used the same head mold as the white Francie doll, just with darker skin. Christie, who debuted in 1968, is usually seen as the first African-American doll in the Barbie range with distinct features. Black Barbie, designed by Kitty Black Perkins, launched in 1980.
In 1990, Mattel worked with African-American children, parents, and experts. They created new molds for Black Barbie dolls. This meant new facial features, skin tones, hair textures, and names. The body shapes looked different but had the same proportions. This made sure clothes and accessories could still be shared. In 2009, Mattel introduced the "So In Style" range. This line aimed to show African-American people more realistically.
Starting in 1980, Mattel also made Hispanic dolls. Later, dolls from all over the world were created. For example, in 2007, "Cinco de Mayo Barbie" wore a dress with colors of the Mexican flag. Hispanic magazine noted that Barbie became more multicultural. She was released with many different costumes, hair colors, and skin tones. This helped her look more like the girls who loved her. Barbie also has close Hispanic friends, like Teresa.
Mattel has listened to feedback about needing more diversity. In 2016, Mattel expanded the "So In Style" line. It included seven skin tones, twenty-two eye colors, and twenty-four hairstyles. This change was partly due to falling sales. Today, the brand offers over 22 skin tones, 94 hair colors, 13 eye colors, and five body types.
In 2001, Mattel released Barbie Oreo School Time Fun dolls, in both white and black versions. Some critics pointed out that "Oreo" can be a hurtful term in the African American community. It means someone is "black on the outside and white on the inside." This caused some discussion.
In May 1997, Mattel introduced Share a Smile Becky, a doll in a pink wheelchair. A high school student named Kjersti Johnson noticed that the doll would not fit into the elevator of Barbie's Dream House. Mattel announced they would redesign the house to fit the doll in the future.
In April 2023, Mattel released the first Barbie with Down syndrome. This was done with the National Down Syndrome Society. Also, MINISO started to sell Miniso-Barbie products, launching over 100 items by July 2023.
In July 2024, Mattel released the first blind Barbie. This was in collaboration with the American Foundation for the Blind. They also launched a black Barbie with Down syndrome.
In July 2025, Mattel introduced a Barbie with Type 1 diabetes. This doll came with an insulin pump, a glucose monitor, and a phone to check her blood sugar.
In January 2026, Mattel introduced an autistic Barbie. This doll has noise-cancelling headphones, a fidget spinner, and a tablet computer for communication. Her eyes have a slightly shifted gaze, and her wrists and elbows can simulate stimming. Her dress is a loose fit. This doll was developed with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network.
Role Model Barbies
In March 2018, for International Women's Day, Mattel launched the "Barbie Celebrates Role Models" campaign. This line of 17 dolls, called "sheroes," featured extraordinary women from different backgrounds. Mattel created this collection because mothers wanted their daughters to have positive female role models. Dolls in this collection include Frida Kahlo, Chloe Kim, Nicola Adams, Ibtihaj Muhammad, Bindi Irwin, Amelia Earhart, Misty Copeland, and Katherine Johnson.
In 2020, new "shero" dolls were announced. These included Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario and world sabre champion Olga Kharlan. In July 2021, a Naomi Osaka Barbie doll was released as part of the 'Barbie Role Model' series. A month earlier, a Julie Bishop doll honored the former Australian politician. A doll for general practitioner Kirby White recognized her work during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. In August 2021, a Barbie modeled after European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti was released.
Collecting Barbie Dolls
The standard Barbie dolls and their accessories are made to about 1/6 scale. This is also known as playscale. The standard dolls are about 11.5 inches (29 cm) tall.
Mattel believes there are over 100,000 serious Barbie collectors. Most are women, around 40 years old, who buy more than twenty Barbie dolls each year. Many spend over $1000 a year on their collection.
Older Barbie dolls from the early years are the most valuable at auction. The original Barbie sold for $3.00 in 1959. A new Barbie from 1959 sold for $3552.50 on eBay in 2004. In 2006, a Barbie doll set a world record at auction, selling for £9,000 (US$17,000) in London. This was a Barbie in Midnight Red from 1965.
Mattel now sells many Barbie dolls specifically for collectors. These include porcelain versions, reproductions of old dolls, and Barbies dressed as characters from movies and TV shows like The Munsters and Star Trek. There are also collector's edition dolls with different ethnic identities. In 2004, Mattel created a Color Tier system for collector dolls (pink, silver, gold, platinum) based on how many were produced. In 2020, Mattel released the Dia De Los Muertos collectible Barbie doll.
Competition from Bratz Dolls
In May 2001, MGA Entertainment launched the Bratz series of dolls. This was Barbie's first major competition in the fashion doll market. By 2004, Bratz dolls were selling more than Barbie dolls in the United Kingdom. However, Mattel said Barbie was still the top brand when counting all dolls, clothes, and accessories. In 2005, Barbie doll sales dropped by 30% in the United States. This was largely due to the popularity of Bratz dolls.
In 2006, Mattel sued MGA Entertainment. They claimed that Bratz creator Carter Bryant was working for Mattel when he came up with the idea for Bratz. After a long legal battle, a jury decided in 2008 that Mattel should be paid $100 million. Later, in 2011, a federal jury supported MGA. Mattel was ordered to pay MGA $310 million for legal fees and other claims.
In August 2009, MGA introduced a new line of dolls called Moxie Girlz. These were meant to be a replacement for Bratz dolls.
Barbie and Body Image
From the beginning, some people have worried that Barbie's body shape was unrealistic for girls. Critics often focus on concerns that children might see Barbie as a role model and try to look like her. One common concern is that Barbie promotes an unhealthy idea of body image for young women.
A standard Barbie doll is 11.5 inches (29 cm) tall. If she were a real person, she would be about 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) tall. Her measurements would be very small. In 1963, a Barbie outfit called "Barbie Baby-Sits" came with a book titled How to Lose Weight that said: "Don't eat!" Another outfit in 1965, "Slumber Party," included a bathroom scale set permanently at 110 pounds (50 kg). This would be underweight for a woman of Barbie's height. Mattel explained that Barbie's waist was made small so that her clothes, with their seams and zippers, wouldn't make her look bulky. In 1997, Barbie's body was redesigned with a wider waist to fit modern fashion better.
In 2016, Mattel introduced new body types for Barbie: 'tall', 'petite', and 'curvy'. These were part of the Barbie Fashionistas line. 'Curvy Barbie' received a lot of attention. She even appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Even though the curvy doll's body shape was similar to a US size 4 in clothing, some children reportedly thought she looked "fat."
Barbie has been criticized for her unrealistic body. However, Mattel has been offering more dolls with realistic body standards. This helps to promote a positive body image.
Cultural Representation
Scholars have looked at how Western media and consumer culture share ideas about beauty around the world. Since 1959, Barbie has become a global product. She both shows and helps spread Western ideas of beauty, like hair color, skin tone, and body shape. Mattel promotes Barbie as a symbol of female empowerment. However, some scholars note that this image can hide other issues.
Barbie's worldwide distribution allows Western beauty standards to be shared and seen as normal. This can influence how women and girls see themselves. It also affects how societies define womanhood. Even culturally diverse dolls, like those in Mattel’s Dolls of the World collection, have been criticized. Some say they simplify complex cultures into simple, stereotypical images that still fit mainstream beauty ideas.
Notable Designers
- Kitty Black Perkins, creator of the First Black Barbie
- Byron Lars, guest designer for Barbie
- Bob Mackie, guest designer for Barbie
- Carol Spencer, Barbie fashion designer from 1963 to 1999
See also
In Spanish: Barbie para niños
- Barbie (media franchise)
- Barbenheimer
- Creatable World
- Kitty Black Perkins
- Lammily - a doll created by Nickolay Lamm
- List of Barbie animated films
- List of Barbie video games
- My Scene
- Sindy
- Totally Hair Barbie
 | Audre Lorde |
 | John Berry Meachum |
 | Ferdinand Lee Barnett |
