Barbie celebrates fiftieth anniversary
North America’s favourite plastic doll celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year. Happy 50th birthday Barbie! I swear, you don’t look a day older than 18.
Mattel’s Barbie doll has come a long way and has endured many physical alterations, life changes and additions to the family, yet remains one of the most popular toys for youngsters. The UK Telegraph recently announced that there are more dolls in United States than there are people. About three Barbies are sold every second in the country.
The first Barbie doll was introduced to the United States in 1959 at the American Toy Fair in New York City by Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel Company. Handler originally conceived the idea when she noticed that her daughter took more of an interest in adult paper dolls rather than those for children. Inspired by the German Lilli doll, Handler set out to create her own plastic, adult figurine named after her daughter, Barbara. And so Barbara Millicent Roberts, affectionately known as Barbie, was born.
She was 11½ inches tall, with long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail and bright red lips. Dressed in a striped black and white bathing suit, her occupation was a teenage model. This year, Mattel is releasing a replica of the original Barbie to celebrate her birthday and commemorate her success.
She is a trailblazer—the first toy doll in the United States to have an adult body.
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