Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler and manufactured by the American toy and entertainment company Mattel. Launched in March 1959, the doll was inspired by the German Bild Lilli doll, which Handler had encountered during a trip to Europe. Barbie debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York and quickly became a cultural icon, revolutionizing the toy industry by offering girls a three-dimensional adult figure with a vast array of fashions, careers, and accessories.

Over the decades, Barbie has evolved from a teenage fashion model into a global brand encompassing over 200 careers, from astronaut to president, reflecting and sometimes shaping societal aspirations for women. The doll's universe expanded to include a diverse range of friends, family members like her sisters Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea, and her long-term boyfriend Ken. Despite facing criticism over the years for promoting unrealistic body images, Mattel has introduced more inclusive body types, skin tones, and abilities in recent years.

Beyond the physical dolls, Barbie has become a transmedia franchise, starring in numerous animated films, web series, video games, and a live-action feature film. The character's signature color is pink, and her aesthetic has influenced fashion, art, and popular culture worldwide, making her one of the most recognizable and enduring toy brands in history.