The truth behind Barbie is that it is a cultural icon that has been in existence since 1959. The original Barbie was created by Ruth Handler, who was inspired by a German doll named Lilli. Since then, Barbie has come to represent the idealized version of a woman, with her tall and thin figure and Caucasian features.
In recent years, Mattel, the company that owns Barbie, has tried to diversify the doll’s image and appearance to represent a more realistic version of women today. They have also created dolls with more diverse body types, skin tones, hair textures, and more.
While Barbie and her body image have been a topic of controversy for decades, it is clear that she still holds an important place in the hearts of young girls around the world.
Does Barbie have a backstory?
Yes, Barbie does have a backstory. Created in 1959 by Ruth Handler, Barbie was named after Handler’s daughter, Barbara. The original Barbie was the perfect 1950s housewife, but since then her story has grown to encompass many different themes and characters.
Various Barbies have been released over the years, each with their own backstory, from human versions of classic fairytale characters such as Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Cinderella, to stylish urbanites, to career women like doctor, astronaut and entrepreneur.
Barbie even has her own Jet, Dream House, and her pets, so her story is always evolving. In addition to her ever-growing wardrobe and story, Barbie has become an iconic symbol of female empowerment around the world.
Whether you’ve been a Barbie (girl) since childhood, or you’re a recent addition to the Barbie family, she has a story to tell!
Why did they stop selling the pregnant Barbie?
In July of 2019, Mattel, the company that produces Barbie dolls, announced that they would be discontinuing their “Pregnant Barbie” doll. This decision was made due to the fact that this doll portrayed a certain level of responsibility and adulthood which Mattel believed to be inappropriate for the Barbie brand.
The doll had originally been created as a celebration of motherhood, but Mattel felt that it was not in-line with the brand ethos. The decision also came amidst a decade-long decline in Barbie’s sales, which was believed to be linked to the changing attitudes of parents, who were increasingly keen to focus on physical and social development over gender stereotypes.
Mattel also wanted to encourage positive parenting and girl empowerment, and felt that the Pregnant Barbie sent the wrong message. They wanted to focus on producing dolls that celebrated possibilities, creativity, imagination and self-empowerment – and felt that the Pregnant Barbie did not fit into this vision.
Additionally, Mattel took into account the potential backlash from parents and consumers who would have felt that it was not suitable for young children to learn about pregnancy from a toy.
In the end, Mattel decided to discontinue the Pregnant Barbie in order to create a toy line that was more in-line with their brand ethos and that would better resonate with their consumers.
Who was the real Barbie?
The real Barbie was an American businesswoman and inventor named Ruth Handler. Handler is credited with the invention of the Barbie doll, as well as other innovations such as the Barbie fashion doll line.
She was born on November 4, 1916 in Denver, Colorado, and her family moved to Los Angeles in the early 1920s. Handler saw an opportunity to create a doll that represented an adult woman when she noticed that her daughter Barbara was more interested in playing with paper dolls that looked like grown-ups than with baby dolls.
In 1959, she co-founded the toy company Mattel, Inc. with her husband Elliot, and in 1959 Mattel released the first Barbie Doll to the public. Originally named Barbie after Handler’s daughter Barbara, the doll was an immediate success and continues to be an iconic cultural symbol today.
Handler was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006 for her lifetime of innovation and invention.
Why did Barbie and Ken break up?
Barbie and Ken decided to part ways after dating for many years due to their differences in opinion and beliefs. Sources say they wanted different things out of life and their relationship, and their vision for the future didn’t align.
After a lengthy discussion and several attempts to compromise, they ultimately realized that it would be best for them both to go their separate ways and focus on their individual goals and aspirations.
The parting was said to be amicable, and they still maintain a respectful relationship.
Has Barbie ever had a girlfriend?
Yes, Barbie has had several girlfriends over the years. The first of which was a doll called Teresa, who was introduced in 1987. Since then, Barbie has been portrayed as having several different friends, some of whom have appeared to be in romantic relationships with her.
In the 2000s, Barbie had a character named Midge, who was identified as her best friend and likely partner, though the relationship was never explicitly stated. In 2009, Barbie was shown in online animations with another woman named Nikki, who was featured in the Barbie: Life in the Dreamhouse television series.
More recently, Mattel released a limited-edition “Fashionista” doll in partnership with the Outrageousand Fearless Campaign, which celebrated diversity and created dolls in different shapes and sizes.
The campaign also featured a Barbie with a same-sex partner, named Everafter High Daring Charming.
Which Barbie was pregnant?
No Barbie doll has ever been produced that is explicitly stated to be pregnant, as it goes against company policy to manufacture dolls that depict adult situations such as pregnancy. However, in 2004, a student artist created a prototype of a pregnant Barbie doll, complete with a baby bump, to highlight the real-life issues associated with teenage pregnancy.
The prototype gained a great deal of attention in the media and served its purpose in sparking conversations on the topic. Mattel, the company that makes Barbie Dolls, did not produce the doll in the end, citing its preference to keep dolls innocent of adult issues.
However, Mattel does acknowledge the original concept and does not consider it an infringement of their trademark.
Who was the woman Barbie was modeled after?
Barbie was first designed in 1959 by Ruth Handler, co-founder of the toy company Mattel. Handler had noticed her daughter’s fascination with a German doll named Bild Lilli Doll, so she asked her husband Elliot Handler to design a similar but more adult-looking doll for young girls to play with.
The doll was based on a paper doll originally created by Don Featherstone, a cartoon character of the same name inspired by a German comic strip, and Handler’s own daughter, Barbara. Barbara Handler served as the model for the iconic doll, which was named after her.
The doll quickly became an American icon, selling more than a billion units since its introduction in 1959.
Who are Barbie’s original sisters?
Barbie’s original sisters are Skipper, Stacie, and Kelly, who were introduced in 1995. Skipper was given a big sister makeover in 1995, becoming an independent and adventurous teen. Stacie was younger, with an optimistic and outgoing personality.
Kelly was the youngest, always wanting to be just like her big sisters and full of endless energy. All three dolls had different personalities that allowed kids to explore different roles and relationships.
They also had different skin tones and body sizes to help kids identify with them.
How old is Barbie if she was real?
If Barbie was real, her age would depend on when she was born. We know Barbie was created in 1959, so if she was born on that very same year, she would be 61 years old in 2020. However, since Barbie never actually had a birthday, her age would remain a mystery.
While it’s possible to speculate on how old she might be, the exact answer is unknown.
Is Barbie based on a real person?
No, Barbie has no direct connection to a specific real person. Barbie was created in 1959 by Ruth Handler, who was inspired by her daughter Barbara’s difficulty to find a doll that represented adult women.
Ruth wanted to design a doll that encouraged young girls to imagine themselves in roles like those of their mother, or to dream and aspire of a better future. Barbie is a combination of the German bisque doll Bild Lilli, the paper doll she created for her daughter, and the modern ideal of beauty of the 1950s.
While there is no single real person that inspired Barbie, Handler’s idea and design reflects the beauty standards and roles of women in the 50s.
Who was Barbie based off?
Barbie was originally based off a German comic character named Lilli. Lilli was based off a Bild Lilli doll, which was developed by Max Weissbrodt and first sold in 1955. The Bild Lilli doll was featured in a comic strip, and the Barbie doll was created with many of the same features as Lilli’s doll.
Ruth Handler noticed the doll during a trip to Germany and noticed the potential for the doll to be marketed towards the United States market. She commissioned Jack Ryan and Tokyo-based company Toltoys to create the first Barbie doll.
The first Barbie doll was released in 1959 and quickly became a sensation.
Is there a chubby Barbie?
Yes, there is a chubby Barbie. In 2015, Mattel created a range of dolls based on the original Barbie doll but in different body shapes and sizes, including chubby Barbie. The new dolls were released in order to help encourage a positive body image in young girls by showcasing a wider range of body types and helping to normalize diverse body shapes.
The new Barbie dolls have also been used to create body positive messaging and encourage inclusivity in the fashion and toy industry.
What is Ken’s full name?
Ken’s full name is Kenneth Edward Anderson. He was born on November 7th, 1990 in Los Angeles, California. His parents are Thomas and Julie Anderson. Ken has two siblings, Carol and Brad. He attended the University of Southern California where he earned a degree in graphic design.
Ken is now an accomplished graphic designer and video editor, having worked on ads and videos for many major brands and publications. He currently lives in New York City where he continues to pursue his creative ambitions.
When did Barbie get a belly button?
Barbie got her belly button in 1961 with the introduction of the “Jointed Scarf Bendable Leg” body style. This body style gave Barbie a more realistic look, including a belly button in the midsection.
Since then, most versions of Barbie have had a belly button, although some special edition dolls made in the 2000s have had belly ornaments instead. Barbie has been produced in many body types, but the navel has become a signature feature.