Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler and manufactured by the toy company Mattel, Inc. Launched in March 1959, the doll was inspired by the German Bild Lilli doll and was designed to allow girls to imagine their futures as adult women. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, and over the decades she has been presented with a vast array of careers, outfits, friends, and family members.

The doll quickly became a cultural icon and a cornerstone of Mattel's success, expanding into a massive multimedia franchise. Barbie's world includes a wide range of friends, most notably her on-again, off-again boyfriend Ken, her sisters Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea, and a diverse group of peers. The brand has consistently evolved to reflect changing social values, introducing dolls of different ethnicities, body types, and abilities.

Beyond the physical toys, Barbie has been the central character in countless books, comics, video games, and a long-running series of direct-to-video animated films. The character's enduring presence has made her a subject of both admiration as a symbol of female empowerment and criticism regarding unrealistic body standards, cementing her status as one of the most recognizable and debated toys in history.