Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll franchise created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler and manufactured by the toy company Mattel. The doll was introduced to the world on March 9, 1959, at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. Handler was inspired to create the doll after watching her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls and imagining a three-dimensional adult-bodied doll that would allow girls to project their future aspirations.

The first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white zebra-striped swimsuit and was available as either a blonde or brunette. Over the decades, Barbie has evolved to reflect changing fashion trends, careers, and cultural diversity, expanding into a massive multimedia franchise. The doll has held over 200 careers, from astronaut to president, and has been accompanied by a wide cast of friends and family, most notably her on-again, off-again boyfriend Ken, introduced in 1961.

Barbie has become a global cultural icon, sparking both admiration for its aspirational play patterns and criticism regarding body image and consumerism. The brand has expanded far beyond the toy aisle into films, television series, video games, and a vast range of licensed merchandise, making it one of the most recognizable and enduring toy brands in history.