Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler and manufactured by the toy company Mattel. The doll debuted on March 9, 1959, at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. Handler was inspired to create a three-dimensional adult-bodied doll after observing her daughter Barbara playing with paper dolls and imagining them in grown-up roles. At the time, most dolls on the market were infants or babies, so Barbie represented a revolutionary concept: a doll that allowed girls to project themselves into aspirational adult lives and careers.

The first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white zebra-striped swimsuit and had a signature ponytail, available in blonde or brunette. Over the decades, Barbie has evolved to reflect changing fashion trends, cultural shifts, and expanding ideas about women's roles in society. She has held over 200 careers, from astronaut and surgeon to president and robotics engineer. The brand expanded to include a diverse range of dolls with different body types, skin tones, and abilities, as well as a cast of supporting characters including Ken, Skipper, and Midge.

Barbie became one of the most iconic and bestselling toys in history, sparking both admiration and controversy. Critics have debated her influence on body image and gender stereotypes, while supporters celebrate her as a symbol of empowerment and limitless possibility. The doll has inspired a vast multimedia franchise including animated films, television series, books, video games, and a major live-action feature film.