SHE is turning 60 this year and still doesn’t have a single wrinkle. Blonde or brunette, slender or curvy, black or white, princess or president, Barbie is a forever favourite for young girls, even if she has caused controversy over the years. And despite fierce competition in the toy industry, 58 million Barbies are sold each year in more than 150 countries. “In an industry where success today is three to five years, 60 years is a huge deal!” said Nathan Baynard, director of global brand marketing for Barbie.

In all, more than one billion Barbie dolls have been sold since she made her debut at the American Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. She was invented by Ruth Handler, the co-founder of Mattel, who was inspired by her own children to create the doll. “Her daughter Barbara was limited in the choices of her toys — the only ones were baby dolls,” Baynard recounted. “The only role she could imagine through that play was caregiver, mother,” whereas Handler’s son “could imagine being an astronaut, cowboy, pilot, surgeon”. Barbie is, of course, a shortened version of Barbara. Barbie was an instant success. In the first year, 300,000 dolls were sold, he added.

From the start, Barbie’s pinup measurements didn’t immediately seem all that feminist, and would spark criticism for decades to come. “In 1959, her body structure was exaggerated to match the aesthetics of the time and the fabric available,” said Barbie designer Carlyle Nuera. Since the blonde beauty first hit stores, and after a torrent of complaints over what was seen as unrealistic proportions, Mattel has made many changes — introducing multiple body types and dozens of skin tones. In 1968, the first black Barbie doll, a friend named Christie, hit store shelves. Lisa McKnight, senior vice president and global general manager for the Barbie brand, said that today, 55 percent of the dolls sold around the world have neither blonde hair nor blue eyes. So, does Barbie have it all as she hits 60, but remains forever young, still single and without kids [so far]? “The narrative of the Barbie brand is that she’s a young woman and she’s independent and pursuing careers,” McKnight said.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2019