She's a Barbie girl in the Barbie world

As Barbie hits the big screen, we take a look at how the doll – who launched in 1959 – has evolved with changing times to become the most popular, and sometimes controversial, fashion doll ever

- LUCY ROBINSON

If Barbie had a CV, hers would shine like no other. Three years before Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, she was an astronaut. In a time when men dominated boardrooms, she smashed the glass ceiling and became a CEO. And now, in 2023, she’s the main attraction in a live action film starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken.

“Most toy brands last three to five years but Barbie is going to be 65 next year. It’s like she’s a celebrity,” says Kim Culmone, Mattel senior vice president and head of design for fashion dolls. “Barbie is both timely and timeless. I think that’s the secret to her success.”

Despite her Hollywood status, the famous doll comes from humble beginnings. Created in 1959, Barbara Millicent Roberts – yes, that’s Barbie’s real name – was the brainchild of mum Ruth Handler, who noticed that there were no adult figurines on the market for her daughter to play with.

Inspired by the German doll Bild Lilli, the first Barbie, sporting a black and white swimsuit, was an immediate hit and 350,000 dolls were sold in the first year.

“Every generation has a deep connection to the brand. It doesn’t feel like she was a doll for your mother or grandmother,” says Kim. “She’s a blank canvas for storytelling, meaning she can be anything. That ability for the user to project their dreams onto her makes her an incredible canvas.”