Taking A Look At Barbie’s Evolution Through The Ages

It was March 1959 when a doll known as “Barbie” debuted in America’s toy scene. Barbie was an 11-inch plastic figure wearing a black-and-white striped bathing suit, sporting pouty red lips, and hair in a long, blonde ponytail.

March 9, 1959, is Barbie’s official birthday, and it was also the day that marked her official introduction to the world. The inspiration for Barbie grew from Handler watching her daughter play with paper dolls of adult females, so she wanted to create a toy that would inspire little girls.

Barbie has always been known for being a doll who wears many hats. She has had over 200 careers during her existence. In 1965, she went to the moon and broke the “plastic ceiling” four years before Neil Armstrong.

Ken Carson was the longtime, quintessential all-American boyfriend of Barbie, debuting in 1961 at the American International Toy Fair. At 12 inches tall, he was known for his classic good looks and “molded” plastic blond and brunette hair.

Barbie was often identified with her status as only a sex symbol. To counter that criticism, Mattel created her best friend, Midge Hadley, in 1963. One year later, Barbie got a little sister named Skipper Roberts.

The first version of Barbie which was a celebrity came in the form of British fashion supermodel Twiggy in 1967. The original doll wore a yellow, green, and blue vertical-striped mini dress and yellow boots. The Twiggy doll also donned the model’s classic makeup look.

Although the Barbie Collection boasted other African American dolls – like Barbie’s friend Christie, who debuted in 1968 – it wasn’t until 1980 that an official African American Barbie came out. The doll was put on the market with a Latina Barbie.

Legendary pop culture figure and pop artist Andy Warhol took an interest in depicting Barbie, just as he had done with Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley. The 1986 Barbie painting drew inspiration from Warhol’s enduring friendship with a jewelry designer who was a dedicated Barbie collector.

In 1990, American fashion designer Bob Mackie further made his mark with the Bob Mackie Gold Barbie, which featured his iconic glam style. With 5,000 hand-sewn golden sequin accents, Mackie was instrumental in starting the collectible Barbie phenomenon.

1992 was a big year for Barbie, seeing as though she ran for president! Since then, she has been at the forefront of other presidential campaigns at least seven times. She also launched a campaign team in 2020.

Not all good things last, seeing as Barbie and Ken called it quits in 2004 and decided they were better as friends. The breakup happened during a period of many other high-profile celebrity splits.

2009 was the year that Barbie walked her own runway show in celebration of her 50th anniversary. The show happened at the New York Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, where 50 famous designers showcased their unique and one-of-a-kind creations.

Phillipe and David Blond were the avant-garde design pair known for creating the glitzy Blonds Blond Diamond Barbie. The glam doll is considered the first “drag queen” Barbie, as she is dressed in sparkles, gems, and fur.

First manufactured in 2012, Mattel created Ella, Barbie’s bald friend who was dealing with cancer. The doll was produced to help young girls struggling with cancer and was distributed to hospitals directly.

Barbie’s iconic status was further cemented as she graced the cover of the 2014 Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition. She donned a black and white swimsuit which is a clear callback to her first 1959 outfit.

After continual criticism that Barbie dolls neglected to accurately represent the diversity of the modern female, Barbie Fashionistas came out in 2016 as a way of addressing that issue. These dolls had four body types, seven different skin tones, 22 eye colors, and 24 hairstyles.

Mattel released an “Inspiring Women” collection in 2018 which featured Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, and Katherine Johnson – all influential and extraordinary history-making women. Earhart made her mark as the first woman to ever fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean, and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland.

2019 was the year that Mattel released a new Barbie to honor Barbie’s 60th anniversary. The new doll had a smaller bust, less defined waist, and more defined arms.

In 2020, Mattel released a Holiday Barbie Doll wearing a golden gown. The gown dazzled with a glittering golden bodice, bow-detailed belt, and a tulle skirt with a glimmering snowflake-printed overlay.

2020 was also the year that Mattel released a Barbie Campaign Team, showcasing four diverse dolls in hopes of influencing girls to take on public leadership roles. The Campaign Team consisted of the candidate, the campaign manager, the fundraiser, and the voter.

In 2021, Barbie’s Inspiring Women collection featured a few significant female figures in history including Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, and Ella Fitzgerald.

Barbie celebrated Dia De Muertos (Day of the Dead) in 2021 by introducing a special Ken doll, honoring the traditions, symbols, and rituals of the time-honored holiday. The Dia De Muertos Ken doll wears a charro-inspired look with a serape and embroidered shirt.

In January 2022, a new historical female figure was added to the Inspiring Women Barbie collection. Ida B. Wells was an inspiring African American journalist and anti-lynching activist. Despite being born into slavery, Wells became a pioneer in the field of journalism and an advocate for women’s suffrage.

Mattel announced their 2022 Fashionista line which will feature dolls with previously-ignored features, such as hearing loss and vitiligo. Other characters will have prosthetic limbs and curvier, more realistic figures.

While the Fashionistas line from 2022 was a big step forward, the 2023 release of a Barbie doll with Down syndrome was a noticeable win for the disability community. The new doll was an exciting addition because it advocates for representation, awareness, and acceptance.

Barbie’s impact on pop culture is undeniable and, since her debut in 1959, is still a figure that people from all over the world love and cherish. After all, everybody knows Barbie! She has always been about making dreams come true.

Barbie is perhaps one of the only toys that have been globally recognized and continues to remain a popular doll for kids. Interestingly enough, only animated shows and movies have been made about her – and that’s because it took 64 years to actually make a live-action version.

In Gerwig’s film, Barbie is a doll living in Barbieland who has to leave to confront her “imperfections” and discover the real world. Barbie ventures to the Real World where she discovers herself and her place in the world.

As Robbie’s Barbie goes on a journey of growth and self-discovery, there are plenty of laughs and lighthearted moments. Gerwig made sure to include all different kinds of Barbies in the film and include a vast range of diversity.

For over six decades, the Barbie doll has evolved through countless iterations and has become more inclusive and representative of all types of people. Barbie is a symbol of hope and fulfilling one’s dreams.