50 Years of America’s top doll
Solo in the Spotlight
Registered Nurse
Sally Ride was the first
American woman space
in 1983. Barbie beat her
by 18 years!
Red Flare
Fashion Queen
Cheerleader
There have been nine
Olympic dolls including
ice skater, gymnast,
fan, and pin collector.
Astronaut
Pan American
Flight Attendant
Twist ‘n Turn
Sunflower
Red, White,
and Warm
Live Action
Sunset Malibu
Busy Barbie
Surgeon
Miss America
Free Moving
Gold Medal
Totally Hair Barbie is
the best selling model,
with over ten million
sold worldwide.
Superstar
Kissing Barbie
Pretty Changes
Black Barbie
Golden Dream
Dream Date
McDonald’s
Aerobics Instructor
Peaches ‘n Cream
Rocker
Pretty Perfune
Holiday
Russian
United Colors
of Benetton
All-American
Totally Hair
Surprisingly, the 1997
Harley Davidson
Barbie was the best
sellling of the year.
Stars ‘n Stripes
Baywatch
Fire Fighter
Olympic Gymnast
Harley Davidson
Barbie has made a run
for the White House
four times in 1992,
2000, 2004, and 2008.
NASCAR
Generation Girl
Millenium Princess
Coca-Cola
Star Skater
Fairytopia Pink
Sparkle
Presidential
Candidate
Video Girl has video
camera in her chest
and an LCD screen in
the back!
American Idol
Ballerina
Chef
Soccer Coach
Poop & Scoop
Video Girl
19601961196219631964196519661967196819691970 197119721973197419751976 197719781979198019811982 19831984198519861987 198819891990199119921993 199419951996199719981999 200020012002200320042005 20062007200820092010
Barbie’s boyfriend,
Ken Carson, debuted
March 11, 1961.
The first Barbie Dream House
came in 1962. It was made of
cardboard and doubled as
a carrying case. Barbie has
certainly moved up since 1962.
Recently, Barbie lived in a
3 story townhouse, complete
with private elevator.
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In 1965, American
Girl Barbie had
bendable legs for
the first time.
Barbie by the Numbers
Supermodel Twiggy was
the first celebrity Barbie
doll in 1966. There have
been iconic dolls of everyone from the Wizard of Oz
to Cyndi Lauper.
12
The average number of Barbies
owned by American girls aged
3-6 is steadily increasing.
7
Barbie’s first pet was a
horse named Dancer in
1970. She has since had
over 50 pets, including a
panda.
10
8
Doll collecting is the second only
to stamp collecting in popular U.S.
hobby collections. Ninety percent
of Barbie collectors are women,
averaging 40 years old.
Forty-five percent of collectors
spend at least $1000
each year.
Barbara Millicent Roberts (Barbie’s full
name) debuted March 9, 1959 at the
American International Toy Fair. Creator
Ruth Handler wanted to create an adult
doll for her daughter, Barbara.
Barbie’s eyes start looking
straight ahead in 1971.
Barbie got a whole new face
in 1977 with the Superstar
facemold. The toothy smile
helped Barbie’s popularity.
Barbie is 11.5’ tall and weighs 7.25 oz.
Again! Again!
Barbie has starred in 18 directto-DVD movies, each of which is
watched an average of 10 times.
5” bust
3.25” waist
5.1875” hips
Teresa
Since 1959, over a billion fashions
have been produced using over
105 million yards of fabric. That
weighs roughly the same as
21 space shuttles!
Teresa is Barbie’s current
“best friend” and is the most
frequently Barbie friend
featured. She debuted in 1988
as California Dream Teresa.
Barbie has any other friends
created in the toy line such as
Midge, Christie, and Nikki.
The first My Size Barbie was
introduced in 1992. The doll
was roughly 3 feet tall and
came with outfits that could be
worn by girls.
The 1992 Teen Talk Barbie
said a number of phrases,
including “Math class is
tough!” The American
Association of University
Women were upset with the
phrase, and Mattel removed
it from future releases.
In 1997, Danish pop group Aqua
released their single about
Barbie. Mattel sued for copyright infringement, but the case
was dismissed. Mattel later
used the song in promotions.
Math class
is tough!
In 1998, Barbie was remolded
to have a wider waist and
smaller bust.
Jewel Girl Barbie in 2000
was the first Barbie with a
bellybutton.
Barbie and Ken broke up on
Valentine’s Day 2004 after 43 years
of dating. It was an amicable
break-up though and the couple
reunited in February 2011.
90 percent of American
Roberts Family Tree
Over the years, Barbie has had 126
careers. Each box represents one
career and the shade of pink corresponds with the decade.
George
2000-2010
2000-2010
1990-1999
1990-1999
1980-1989
1980-1989
1970-1979
1970-1979
1959-1969
1959-1969
Barbie
1959
1
2000-2010
1990-1999
1980-1989
1970-1979
1959-1969
19651992199419982010
Sources: www.barbiemedia.com, barbiecollector.com, mattel.com, www.fashion-doll-guide.com, www.bicycl.eclipse.co.uk/mods.htm
Fashion
Music Medicine Dance Athlete Business Other
ScienceEducation Military Politics
Skipper
1964
Margaret
Stacie
1992
Barbie’s parents, George and
Margaret, have never been
produced as dolls, but they
have been referenced in
Barbie stories and on boxes.
Todd
1966
Barbie
Kelly
1995
The first Barbie doll sold for $3.00
in 1959. The same original doll
sold for $27,450 in a 2006 auction.
Krissy
1999
Stacie and Todd are twins.
Stacie was orginally
introduced as “Tutti.” For
a while, Todd was Ken’s
brother, but this hasn’t been
mentioned for decades.
girls aged 3-10 own at least
one Barbie doll.
Skipper
Stacie
Kelly
Sisters Skate
2010
Barbie and Ken were featured
prominently in Pixar’s Toy Story
3 in 2010. Barbie was voiced by
Jodi Benson, who also voiced
Ariel in The Little Mermaid.
A
Billion Barbies
More than one billion dolls have been sold.
Placed head-to-toe, all the dolls sold
would circle the earth 7 times.