Barbie celebrates 60 years of evolution
BENTONVILLE: Barbie, the fashion doll famous around the world, celebrates her 60th anniversary on Saturday with new collections honouring real-life role models and careers in which women remain under-represented.
It is part of Barbie’s evolution over the decades since her debut at the New York Toy Fair on 9 March 1959.
To mark the milestone, manufacturer Mattel Inc created Barbie versions of 20 inspirational women from Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka to British model and activist Adwoa Aboah.
The company also released six dolls representing the careers of astronaut, pilot, athlete, journalist, politician and firefighter, all fields in which Mattel said women are still underrepresented.
Barbie is a cultural icon celebrated by the likes of Andy Warhol, the Paris Louvre museum and the 1997 satirical song “Barbie Girl” by Scandinavian pop group Aqua.
She was named after the daughter of creator Ruth Handler. Barbie has taken on more than 200 careers from surgeon to video game developer since her debut, when she wore a blackand-white striped swimsuit. After criticism that Barbie’s curvy body promoted an unrealistic image for young girls, Mattel added a wider variety of skin tones, body shapes, hijab-wearing dolls and science kits to make Barbie more educational.
Barbie is also going glamorous for her six-decade milestone. A diamondanniversary doll wears a sparkly silver ball gown. Mattel has also announced announced the Barbie ‘Be Anything’ Tour to celebrate the 60 years. The tour, which is designed to inspire girls they can be anything will officially kick off this weekend at Walmart in Bentonville, Arkansas.
The tour will continue to 34 Walmart parking lots across the country to bring inspiring stories from local role models.
Kelsea Ballerini, two-time Grammy nominee will be honored at the Bentonville stop by sharing her story with fans and showcasing the one-of-a-kind Barbie doll in her likeness.
The Barbie role models programme honours women who have broken boundaries to inspire the next generation of girls.
At each stop, fans will have a chance to take photos inside a life-sized Barbie doll box, explore different careers in the You Can Be Anything dress-up zone, check out some of the original Barbie career dolls and learn more about the most iconic careers Barbie has held over the past 60 years.