20 Things You Didn’t Know About The Barbie Doll
Published -
- October 10, 2016
- 5:00 pm
Barbie: 20 surprising facts about everybody’s favourite doll!
Everyone loves Barbie. She’s one of the most-popular and best-selling toys ever created. Barbie has been a household name since being introduced to the world back in 1959. After her debut, 351,000 Barbies were sold that year. Pretty amazing, right? But how much do you really know about this iconic doll?
3) What message did Barbie’s creator, Ruth Handler, hope to promote with the creation of Barbie in 1959?
Barbie is an iconic figure that has been a part of the American culture since 1959. From her long blonde hair and an hourglass figure, Barbie has been a symbol of beauty, fashion, and enterprise. Her influence on pop culture and fashion is profound, and her impact has been felt around the world. Here are 20 things you didn’t know about the Barbie Doll that are worth knowing:
1) Barbie’s real name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, and she is from Willows, Wisconsin.
2) The inspiration for the Barbie doll came from Ruth Handler’s daughter, Barbara, who enjoyed playing with paper dolls.
3) The first Barbie sold for $3.00 in 1959.
4) Barbie’s first outfit was a black and white swimsuit.
5) Ken, Barbie’s longtime boyfriend, was named after Ruth Handler’s son.
6) Barbie’s first job was as a teenage fashion model in 1965.
7) Barbie has had over 180 careers, including astronaut, doctor, and veterinarian.
8) Barbie was the first doll to have bendable legs in 1965.
9) The first African American Barbie doll came out in 1968.
10) Mattel, the company that created Barbie, has sold over 1 billion Barbie dolls since 1959.
11) Barbie was created to promote female independence and empowerment.
12) In 2009, Mattel released a Barbie doll that was modeled after Audrey Hepburn.
13) The first Barbie dollhouse was created in 1962 and sold for $8.00.
14) Barbie has been in over 30 animated films and TV shows.
15) The first Barbie commercial aired during The Mickey Mouse Club in 1959.
16) Barbie’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts.
17) Barbie has had a variety of pets, including dogs, cats, horses, and even a lion cub.
18) Barbie has traveled all over the world, including to Paris, Hawaii, and even outer space.
19) Barbie has collaborated with famous fashion designers such as Versace, Diane von Furstenberg, and Tommy Hilfiger.
20) Barbie’s outfit inspired by the famous fashion designer Bob Mackie was sold for $3,000 in 1990.
In conclusion, the Barbie Doll’s cultural significance deserves recognition, not only for its contribution in the history of toys and fashion, but also for its representation of female empowerment and independence. Barbie, with all her controversies, remains an important figure in the 21st-century pop culture. Knowing some fun facts about her can help people appreciate her place in the world of toys and as a cultural icon.
