Love Barbie? From her immodest beginnings to her presidential ambitions, these are some of the most interesting and fun Barbie facts.
20 Fun Facts About Barbie You Probably Didn’t Know
You know Barbie, right? No matter your age, you’ve likely owned the doll or known someone who has. Since debuting on March 9, 1959, Mattel’s iconic doll has been a global sensation. In fact, Barbie is so legendary that she has her own holiday—National Barbie Day on March 9—and multiple Barbie museums around the globe. But how much do you really know about the famous toy? That’s where these fascinating and surprising Barbie facts come in.
Over the years, she has starred in countless animated films and a blockbuster live-action movie (much love to Weird Barbie), all the while remaining one of the most popular dolls on the market. Below, we’re diving into some of the most interesting details about Barbie’s origins, her time as president (yes, really!), her more than 250 careers and so much more.
After reading these Barbie facts, you may be tempted to pull your old toy out of storage. So grab your Ken, and let’s go party!
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1. Only Barbie’s friends call her “Barbie”
If you were to look at her tax forms, you’d see her full name: Barbara Millicent Roberts. (Named after the Mattel founders’ daughter, Barbara Handler; their son, of course, is named Ken.)
2. Barbie’s fame is global, but she’s a small-town girl
According to brand lore, Barbie was officially born on March 9, 1959, in the fictional town of Willows, Wisconsin.
3. Barbie is just one of seven Roberts kids
Over the years, her siblings have included: Skipper, Stacie, Chelsea, Krissy, Kelly, Tutti and Todd.
4. One of Barbie’s siblings eventually went missing
Tutti and Todd are twins … or they were until Tutti mysteriously disappeared in 1971. Stacie, who was introduced in 1992, is also Todd’s twin, adding to the mystery. Who knows—maybe she is Tutti reincarnated.
5. The first celebrity addition to Barbie’s family…
… was a fashion doll modeled after teen icon Twiggy in 1967. M.C. Hammer joined the brand in 1991, bringing a cassette tape of his own music along with him.
6. She digs younger men
Her longtime boyfriend, Ken, is two years younger than Barbie, debuting in toy stores in 1961.
7. Barbie has the most impressive résumé in history
Barbie has had more than 200 careers, including paleontologist, Desert Storm medic, Canadian Mountie, McDonald’s cashier, zoo doctor, business executive, secretary, Catwoman and, regrettably, rapper.
8. She’s been to space three times
Astronaut Barbie debuted in 1965 (four years before the moon landing), then returned in 1986 and 1994.
9. Barbie ran for president seven times
Barbie ran her first campaign in 1992, but unfortunately, she has never won the nomination.
10. Barbie’s first-ever career was as a teen model
Yes, she might have held a lot of impressive titles, but her first job was as a teen model.
11. Barbie’s house is a zoo
Barbie has owned more than 40 pets, including 21 dogs, 14 horses, three ponies, six cats, a parrot, a chimpanzee, a panda, a lion cub, a giraffe and a zebra. No wonder she holds so many jobs … that’s a lot of mouths to feed.
12. She is very hard to shop for
If Barbie were a grown woman, her bust-waist-hip measurements would be an improbable 36-18-33.
13. Barbie has friends in the fashion industry
Gucci, Versace, Vera Wang, Dolce & Gabbana and Givenchy have all contributed designs to Barbie’s wardrobe.
14. Barbie has no shortage of outfits
Supposedly, more than 100 million yards of fabric have been devoted to Barbie clothes, making Mattel one of the biggest garment manufacturers in the world.
15. She is not picky about shoes
More than one billion pairs of shoes have been designed for the doll.
16. Barbie played coy for 12 years
The first Barbie sold in 1959 had one outfit: a black-and-white-striped one-piece swimsuit. Her hair came in blonde or brunette, but her eyes came in only one direction: glancing coyly to the side. Barbie didn’t look ahead until 1971.
17. Barbie is about as cheap as she’s ever been…
The original side-staring Barbie sold for $3, which equates to about $23.97 in today’s money. These days, you’ll pay around $10 to $30, depending on the specific Barbie you buy.
18. … but rare Barbies can be expensive
Limited-edition Barbies sell for upwards of $5,000—no small cost for avid collectors like Bettina Dorfmann. With more than 15,000 dolls, she owns the world’s largest Barbie collection.
19. The bestselling Barbie doll ever launched in 1992
Kids everywhere wanted to get their hands on the 1992 Totally Hair Barbie, which featured floor-length hair and sold more than any Barbie before or since.
20. Thankfully, there are plenty of Barbies to spare
Mattel claims that, somewhere in the world, there is one Barbie doll sold every three seconds.
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Source:
- Mental Floss: “12 Fascinating Facts About Barbie”
Originally Published in Reader's Digest
