THE BIZARRE WORLD OF Barbie

Scandal and tragedy were the backdrops for creating the famous doll

- Emma Levett

Financial scandals, wild parties and sordid rumours, the real-life story behind the world's best-known doll could be the subject of a Hollywood movie itself.

But Barbie's official origin story was at least a wholesome one - one of the co-founders of toy company Mattel, Ruth Handler, wanted to create a grown-up doll for American children at a time when only baby dolls were offered.

Apparently inspired by the German doll Bild Lilli, she worked to create a similar fashion doll with Mattel engineer Jack Ryan, who would later become renowned for a life that was far more X-rated than their innocent creation. Jack invented the joints that allowed Barbie to bend at the waist and the knee, but it was Ruth who insisted the doll have more adult curves, arguing that "little girls want to play at being big girls".

Debuting at the American Toy Fair in 1959, Barbie was available as a blonde or brunette and had outfits including a bathing suit, tennis gear, a negligee, a ballgown and a wedding dress. She was an instant hit, with 300,000 Barbies sold in the first year.