Barbie, the world’s most famous doll, has a new boom thanks to the release of the Warner Bros. film, with Margot Robbie as the iconic blonde and Ryan Gosling as boyfriend Ken.
The furor that the film has unleashed has exceeded all expectations. It’s not uncommon to see more people wearing pink in movie theaters, or fans fighting over commemorative glasses in movie theaters.
The Mattel doll became a cultural icon of the 20th century and in this century all the generations that grew up with a Barbie go out of their way to see the film.
Here we tell you the history of the iconic doll and some curious facts that you may not have known.
What is the story of Barbie?
The Barbie story begins in 1959, when Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, watched her daughter, Barbara, playing with paper dolls, giving them adult roles and imaginative personalities. Ruth realized that there were no dolls on the market that would allow girls to project their dreams and imagination through play.. It was then that she had the idea of creating a three-dimensional doll that would embody a young, independent woman with her own style.
Handler pitched the idea to her husband Elliot, who was the co-founder of Mattel, and together they developed the concept of a sophisticated adult doll. On a trip to Europe, Ruth discovered a German doll called Bild Lilli, which was based on a comic strip character and had a slim figure and glamorous appearance. They were inspired by this doll for the design of Barbie.
On March 9, 1959, Barbie made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York. She was the first teen doll with an adult figure, in contrast to the baby or little girl dolls that dominated the market at the time.
Although some retailers were initially skeptical about the acceptance of Barbie, it quickly became a smash hit with girls and young women. Sales soared, and Barbie became a cultural phenomenon and an iconic figure in fashion and style.
Over time, Barbie took on a wide range of professions and roles, from nurse to astronaut, allowing girls to dream of all they could be in the future. Numerous lines of Barbie-related clothing, accessories, toys, and movies were also launched, further expanding her popularity and reach.
However, over the years, Barbie has also come under fire due to the unrealistic expectations that her figure conveyed to girls and the lack of diversity in her initial portrayals. Mattel has tried to address these concerns over time, releasing Barbie dolls that are more diverse in terms of ethnicities, bodies, and professions, seeking to reflect reality and promote a more inclusive image.
Despite the criticism, Barbie has managed to remain one of the most iconic toy brands in the world and has left a significant impact on popular culture over the years. Her legacy lives on and continues to inspire generations of girls through the power of play and imagination.
Who was Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie?
Ruth Handler was an American businesswoman and co-founder of Mattel, Inc., one of the largest and best-known toy companies in the world. She was born on November 4, 1916 in Denver, Colorado, and passed away on April 27, 2002 in Los Angeles, California.
In 1959, Ruth Handler and her husband Elliot Handler, along with their friend Harold Matson, founded Mattel, Inc. The company specialized in toys and games, with its greatest success coming with the launch of the Barbie doll that same year. The Barbie doll was a resounding success and became a cultural phenomenon and one of the best-selling dolls in history.
In addition to being a visionary in the world of toys, Ruth Handler was also a successful business leader. During her time at Mattel, she held various executive positions and contributed significantly to the company’s growth and success. She was also the first woman to serve as chair of Mattel’s board of directors.
Ruth Handler’s influence in the toy industry and her creation of the Barbie doll made her an iconic and prominent figure in the world of business and entertainment. Her legacy lives on through the Barbie brand’s enduring and lasting impact on popular culture and the imaginations of generations of girls around the world.
What was the first Barbie doll like?
The first Barbie doll had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a tall, slender figure. Her presentation outfit was a black and white striped bathing suit, inspired by the bathing suits of the time.
The Barbie doll broke with the tradition of children’s dolls that dominated the market at the time and became the first adolescent doll with an adult figure. This innovation allowed the girls to project their aspirations and dreams onto a toy that offered them the chance to imagine a future full of possibilities.
The first Barbie doll was an immediate success and paved the way for the brand to become a cultural phenomenon and one of the most iconic and enduring toy brands in history. Over the years, Barbie has evolved and adapted to changing trends and values, but has always been a symbol of imagination, creativity and empowerment for girls around the world.
What is Barbie’s name in real life?
Inspired by the Bild Lilli doll, Ruth Handler and her team at Mattel worked to create a three-dimensional version of the doll. She was given the full name of Barbara Millicent Roberts, after Ruth’s daughter.
What would Barbie look like if she were real?
Barbie doll, as presented in her iconic form, is a fantasy character with stylized proportions and physical features that do not reflect those of a real person. If the Barbie doll were depicted in the real world, she would look very different than she does in her toy form.
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A Barbie “in the real world” would have the following distinguishing characteristics:
- Body Proportions: In her toy form, Barbie has a tall, slender figure with a narrow waist and wider hips. If she were a real person, she would have a more proportionate waist and hips to match a more realistic body.
- Head Size: Barbie’s head is larger in proportion to her body than it would be on a real person.
- Feet and Hands: Barbie’s feet are designed to wear specific shoes, and her hands are smaller and more stylized than they would be in reality.
- Neck and Ankles: In her toy form, Barbie has a long neck and ankles that do not allow for realistic mobility.
- Facial Features: Barbie has large eyes and softer facial features, which contribute to her fashion-doll look.
It is important to remember that Barbie’s appearance was designed as a stylized, fantasy representation. Over the years, Mattel has introduced lines of Barbie dolls with more realistic and diverse bodies and features, seeking to promote a positive body image and reflect the diversity of girls around the world. These lines of dolls show a wide range of body shapes, sizes, skin tones and facial features, closer to reality so that girls can identify with them and find options that reflect their own diversity.
Is there a muscular Barbie?
There are Barbie dolls with a more muscular and athletic appearance. Mattel has launched several lines of dolls that represent a variety of body styles and physical characteristics to promote diversity and inclusion in its product line.
One of the notable lines is the “Barbie Fashionista” collection, which features dolls with different body types, skin tones, hairstyles and styles. In this line, you can find dolls with a more athletic appearance, with more defined muscles, that reflect a greater variety of body shapes compared to the more traditional Barbie appearance.
The inclusion of different body types in the Barbie line is part of the company’s efforts to represent and celebrate the diversity of girls and promote a positive body image in play. In addition to dolls with a muscular appearance, there are also dolls that represent different sizes, heights, and shapes to reflect reality and give girls more varied choices in their toys.
How many Barbie dolls have been sold in the world?
There is no exact number of how many Barbie dolls have been sold around the world, but it is estimated that around one billion units have been sold.
What does Barbie teach us about entrepreneurship and business?
The success of the Barbie doll provides us with several valuable lessons:
- Innovation and Entrepreneurial Vision: The creation of the Barbie doll was the result of an innovative entrepreneurial vision on the part of Ruth Handler. She teaches us that the ability to identify opportunities and think creatively can lead to the creation of successful products.
- Adaptability and Evolution: Over the years, Barbie has evolved and adapted to changing trends and values. This ability to adapt and renew is essential to stay relevant in a constantly changing market.
- Representation and diversity: Barbie’s continued success has been strengthened through the addition of dolls that reflect a greater diversity in terms of ethnicities, bodies, professions and styles. This teaches us the importance of representing diversity in products and media, and how this can connect with a broader and more varied audience.
- Empowerment and inspiration: Barbie has been a symbol of empowerment for girls, allowing them to imagine their futures and possibilities without gender limitations or stereotypes. It teaches us how a product can have a positive impact on children’s self-esteem and skill development.
- Cultivating an iconic brand: Barbie doll has transcended generations and become an iconic brand recognizable around the world. This highlights the importance of cultivating a strong and consistent brand over time.
- Focus on play and imagination: Barbie has been a tool for girls’ play and imagination, encouraging creativity and the development of social and emotional skills. This reminds us of the importance of products that promote play and learning through fun.
- Listening to consumers: Barbie’s continued popularity is due in part to Mattel’s ability to listen to its consumers and adapt the doll to society’s changing preferences. Listening and responding to customer needs is essential to maintaining long-term success.
- In short, the success of Barbie doll teaches us the importance of innovation, adaptability, diverse representation, and a focus on empowerment and imagination to connect with a broad and enduring audience.
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