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Looking back at six decades of Barbie

Ruth Handler created the Barbie doll in 1959 after she saw her daughter getting creative with paper dolls. Before Barbie—which was very similar to the High german adult doll Lilli—American girls mostly acted as caregivers to infant dolls. Handler, who co-founded Mattel with her married man, had the radical thought to create a doll that could show girls they could be caregivers, yes, just they could besides exist annihilation else they could imagine. Over the by six decades, the iconic doll has inverse hairstyles, facial expressions, and held more than than 200 jobs.

Though some say Barbie is a career-oriented feminist, the doll'south body size has ever been a source of controversy. If she was real, Barbie'southward original waist would have measured an impossibly small eighteen inches. While her midsection expanded and her chest shrank a couple of times over the decades, it wasn't until 2016 that Mattel introduced figures other than the original version. The Fashionista line at present features numerous body types, peel tones, and hairstyles. In the autumn of 2019, Barbies with prosthetic limbs and wheelchairs hit the market. In 2020, Mattel released a new line of Barbie Actress dolls that showcases a wide variety of personalities and styles.

Throughout Barbie's life as an architect, entrepreneur, presidential candidate, computer engineer, and Mars explorer, she has remained a successful toy for Mattel. It wasn't until 2014 that Elsa from "Frozen" exceeded Barbie'due south popularity on fiddling girls' Christmas wish lists.

To see how Barbie has changed over the years, Stacker combed through the famous doll's history. Nosotros've scoured news reports, checked Barbie'due south historical timeline, and read through "The Story of the Barbie Doll" by Kitturah B. Westenhouser and "Barbie: Four Decades of Fashion, Fantasy, and Fun" by Marco Tosa.

Keep reading to larn more near how Barbie'due south looks, jobs, and body have changed in the last six decades years, including the ways she has made history and inspired several generations and counting.

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1959: First Barbie introduced

Handler debuted the first Barbie—a teenage fashion model named after her daughter Barbara —at the 1959 American Toy Fair in New York City. Donning a blackness-and-white knit bathing accommodate and a sideways stare, the doll came with a ponytail, white sunglasses, and hoop earrings. More than 300,000 dolls sold in the first twelvemonth.

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1960: Barbie becomes a style designer

Barbie added new outfits in 1960, including ensembles for glamorous nights out and clothes she could wear to work. Fashion designer Barbie wore black-rimmed glasses and carried a portfolio with black-and-white sketches.

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1961: Ken is introduced

In 1961, Barbie became a registered nurse and a stewardess for American Airlines. She besides got a beau. A blonde or brunette Ken, a doll named after Handler's son, came with a closet total of clothes. His hair was originally molded and glued on, merely designers switched to painted-on plastic after the pilus came off besides hands.

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1962: Barbie gets a new hairstyle

Barbie ditched the ponytail in favor of a short "bubble cut" in 1962. The hairstyle came in several shades, including brunette and titian (another mode of saying red). Her fashion sense mirrored that of Jacqueline Kennedy, including a pillbox hat. Barbie was also prepare to entertain in her get-go Dreamhouse.

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Susan Evans // Getty Images

1963: Barbie the bodyguard

Barbie added babysitting to her list of jobs in 1963. The Barbie Baby-Sits kit included books on how to get a raise, travel, and even one chosen "How To Lose Weight." In addition to dieting tips, Barbie got a freckled best friend named Midge. The popular sidekick got her own boyfriend, Allan, the following year. This photo depicts Barbie doing real things and originally appeared in the book "Forever Barbie (Morrow)" by M.G. Lord.

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1964: Barbie gets a sister

Skipper, Barbie's sister, went to ballet class and water ice skated. Designers besides gave "Miss Barbie" bendable legs, molded hair with wig options, and eyes that could open and shut. Miss Barbie wasn't a huge hit at the time, but collectible versions can now sell for hundreds of dollars.

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Peter Bischoff // Getty Images

1965: Barbie goes to infinite

Two years after cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova became the first adult female in space, Miss Astronaut Barbie hit the marketplace. She dressed in a metallic space accommodate with zipper boots. 1965 also marked the controversial release of "Sleep Party Barbie," whose accessories included a diet book with tips like "don't eat" and a scale set to 110 pounds. The toy maker excluded the scale the following yr, only kept the book.

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1966: Colour Magic Barbie

Color Magic Barbie gave kids the power to change the doll's hair color from blonde to ruby flame and midnight to ruby cherry-red. When the doll's hair was treated with a solution of vinegar and water, the wigs would change color. A saline solution inverse them back to their original shade without a mess.

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1967: The first celebrity Barbie

Twiggy was the first celebrity to get her own Barbie. Since then, Cher, Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, and many others have all been immortalized by Mattel. Barbie also started twisting at the waist, and designers gave her a more youthful face up with wide-open bluish eyes.

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1968: Barbie gets a Blackness friend she tin can share clothes with

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1969: New flip pilus

Twist 'north Turn Barbie came with a flip hairstyle as the '60s ended. Marlo Thomas sported the same wait in the pop show "That Girl," which aired from 1966 to 1971.

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1970: Dramatic New Living Barbie

Barbie became fully poseable in 1970. She didn't just bend at the knees and twist at the waist; she could do splits and bend her arms.

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Lawrence Lucier // Getty Images

1971: Malibu Barbie solidifies the modernistic expect

Malibu Barbie hit stores in 1971. This new version was tan with Barbie's iconic, long blonde hair. Instead of pursed lips, she showed off a white grin and started looking straight forrad instead of to the side.

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Mama Lita // Shutterstock

1972: Sales refuse for the first time

Barbie's breasts got bigger in 1972. That same yr, sales of the doll declined for the first time since they came to marketplace. Barbie'southward unrealistic figure was not a hit with second-wave feminists. "The motion confronting her began during the women'due south movement," said Andrea Nevins, director of "Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie."

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Eduardo Parra // Getty Images

1973: Barbie becomes a surgeon

For the start time since 1966 (when she became a Pan Am stewardess), Barbie got a new job. In 1964, Barbie went to hospitals every bit a candy striper, just her new chore every bit a surgeon led her to the operating room.

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1974: Barbie turns xvi

In 1974, Mattel released a promotional Barbie to gloat the doll's 16th birthday. Part of Times Square in New York City was renamed Barbie Boulevard for a week to marking the occasion. Barbie also became Miss America that year.

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1975: Skipper grows upwardly and out

Mattel advertised Growing Up Skipper equally "2-dolls-in-1" that users could make "grow from a young girl to a teenager in seconds." With a rotation of her arm, Skipper's waist extended and her breasts got bigger. After a public backfire, Mattel stopped selling the doll. She came dorsum four years later with breasts that stayed put. Barbie added Olympic athlete to her list of skills; she won golden in downhill skiing, effigy skating, and gymnastics.

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1976: Barbie and Ken in time sheathing

When the American Bicentennial Fourth dimension Sheathing was buried in 1976, Barbie and Ken were put inside. 1976 likewise saw the release of the first Hawaiian Barbie. Pictured hither is a newer Hawaiian Barbie.

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1977: Superstar Barbie sports friendlier look

Superstar Barbie featured sleek long blonde pilus, removable jewelry, and a "softer, friendlier wait." People who bought the doll—a fashion model—could get their own necklace and bracelet.

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ABC Television // Wikimedia Commons

1978: Barbie creates a Cheryl Ladd doll

Mattel gave Barbie some other famous friend in 1978 when they made a Cheryl Ladd doll in accolade of "Charlie's Angels." Barbie'due south fashion sense in the late '70s featured floral prints and jumpsuits.

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1979: Barbie gets tan lines

Every bit the '80s approached, Barbie wanted to relax in the sun and non worry virtually sunscreen. Sun Lovin' Malibu Barbie came with "a peek-a-boo tan" that showed underneath her two-slice turquoise bikini.

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1980: First Black and Hispanic Barbies

Barbie's friend Christie came out in 1968, but the first official African American Barbie didn't hit the shelves until 1980. Since designers used the Steffie face mold—Barbie'due south white friend released in 1972—the new Black Barbie withal had features similar to her white analogue. Mattel also released a Hispanic Barbie that year.

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1981: Barbie goes Western

In 1981, Barbie followed in the footsteps of Dolly Parton and became a Western star. With the printing of a button on her dorsum, she could wink while stamping her autograph. Barbie also put on some leg warmers and a pair of roller skates. A decade subsequently, she took up rollerblading.

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1982: Barbie works at McDonald'due south

Mattel released the Barbie Loves McDonald's play set up in 1982. Barbie could wearable a McDonald'southward uniform with a hat. In that location was even a tiny spatula for flipping tiny burgers.

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1983: First Spanish Barbie released

In 1983, the beginning Castilian Barbie was released. Mattel had previously fabricated an Eskimo, Scottish, Italian, and Indian doll. The Dolls of the World collection connected to aggrandize to other countries across the globe.

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1984: Barbie gets in great shape

Jane Fonda released her offset do home video in 1982. Mattel followed the conditioning craze 2 years afterwards with Great Shape Barbie. She was an aerobics instructor who donned a sweatband, full-body leotard, and leg warmers. Commercials claimed that working out kept Barbie looking great for a date.

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1985: Barbie gets more than careers

Mattel introduced the "We Can Do Annihilation" campaign, and so Barbie became part-baron, part-party girl with her Day-to-Dark kit. She was dressed in a pink power suit and had a reckoner and briefcase. Her skirt flipped inside out to reveal evening vesture. In 1985, she also became a veterinarian and a instructor—getting a promotion from her 1965 role equally a student teacher.

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Eduardo Parra // Getty Images

1986: Andy Warhol paints Barbie

Oscar de La Renta created a line of clothes for Barbie in 1985. The post-obit twelvemonth, artist Andy Warhol painted Barbie's likeness. The piece, chosen "Barbie, Portrait of BillyBoy*," was painted in accolade of BillyBoy*, a designer who endemic tens of thousands of Barbies and too designed two of the dolls for Mattel.

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1987: Barbie becomes a medico

Barbie came out of the operating room and into full general practise in 1987. Later a day of checking on patients, she could chop-chop change for a glamourous date night with Ken since her kit came with evening habiliment.

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1988: Happy Holidays Barbie dresses up

Mattel released the first Happy Holidays Barbie in 1988. She wore a ruddy tulle gown spotted with glitter. In later on years, Barbie'south holiday gowns came in white, green, and black. In 1996, she donned a burgundy velvet coat trimmed in white imitation fur with a white hand warmer and lid to match. Vintage versions of the holiday dolls are collector's items.

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Ron Galella/Ron Galella Drove // Getty Images

1989: Barbie turns 30

When Barbie turned 30, Mattel celebrated at New York City's Lincoln Middle. Guests received a Pink Jubilee Barbie who wore a silverish lamé gown. Barbie also became a representative for UNICEF when she started her third decade. Hither, actresses Jane Curtin and Susan Saint James are seen property a special edition Barbie Doll Benefiting UNICEF.

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1990: Barbie becomes a bridesmaid

In 1990, Barbie was a bridesmaid for her best friend Midge. Collectors could also become a special edition Party Sensation Barbie, who came dressed in head-to-toe pink.

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1991: Barbie joins the Navy and Air Force

Navy Barbie, who was a petty officer first course and quartermaster, was dressed in a replica of a U.S. Navy women's uniform. When she wasn't on the ship, she spent fourth dimension as a music video star or every bit an Air Forcefulness airplane pilot.

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1992: Barbie tells girls math is hard

The 1992 version of Teen Talk Barbie voiced her disdain for arithmetics when she said, "math class is tough." The American Association of University Women didn't like the message this sent to young girls. Mattel didn't recall the doll, simply parents could switch their doll for ane that wouldn't say the phrase. Mattel's president at the time, Jill East. Barad, admitted to the fault. "In retrospect, the phrase 'math class is tough,' while correct for many students both male and female, should not have been included," said Barad. Totally Pilus Barbie hit stores the same year, becoming the best selling Barbie of all time. She was re-released in 2017.

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1993: Barbie becomes a law officer

Equally part of The Career Collection, Barbie got her police bluecoat in 1993. The limited-edition doll came with a uniform and lid, merely Barbie too had a white and gold wearing apparel to alter into after work. She also became a U.S. Regular army medic.

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1994: Barbie goes back to space

Barbie went back to infinite in a NASA-style helmet and spacesuit. Also, in another release, Dr. Barbie used her medical degree to become a pediatrician in 1994. The doll came with small-scale babies and a pressure-activated stethoscope that would mimic a real heartbeat.

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1995: Barbie becomes a Baywatch lifeguard

Barbie put on a Baywatch bathing suit in 1995. Her chore title says she'south a lifeguard, just she seems to only relieve her dolphin companion—at to the lowest degree co-ordinate to the commercials that ran in the mid-90s. The television show (1989–2001) wasn't marketed toward children, but the Baywatch Barbie was.

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1996: Shaving Fun Ken loses his bristles

In a time when beards were less mainstream, Mattel released Shaving Fun Ken. Kids could lather up Ken's face up and utilise a toy razor that would remove his scruff with warm water. Barbie and Ken also went into space for the 30th Anniversary of "Star Expedition." Unlike Ken, Barbie did non have her ain phaser.

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1997: Barbie's waist gets bigger

Mattel decided to give Barbie a more realistic figure in 1997, making her waist bigger and breasts smaller. In a marketing move that acquired controversy, the company partnered with Nabisco and released both a white and Black Oreo-branded Barbie. The term Oreo tin exist used as a derogatory term toward women of color, and Barbie eventually recalled the unsold dolls. Mattel also released Share-a-Grin Becky, a friend of Barbie's who used a wheelchair. Unfortunately, the Dreamhouse elevator proved not to be handicap accessible.

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1998: Barbie joins NASCAR

Barbie was very active in the late '90s. She entered the male-dominated sports of Major League Baseball and NASCAR. Plus, she joined a soccer squad. A version of Barbie also got a body makeover. The Really Rad Barbie came with flat feet and a bigger waist simply smaller hips and breasts.

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1999: Barbie appears in 'Toy Story ii'

On her 40th birthday, Barbie got a role in "Toy Story 2." She played a tour guide in the flick. De Beers created a special edition 40th Anniversary Barbie with a diamond-encrusted belt. The doll sold for $85,000.

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MATTHIEU ALEXANDRE // Getty Images

2000: Barbie runs for president...again

Barbie made her second run for president in 2000. Her hair was cut into a brusque style reminiscent of Hillary Clinton, who was the first lady at the time. Barbie also ran for the highest elected office in 2004, 2008, and 2012, when she ran the "I Can Be...President" campaign.

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2001: Barbie's first feature film

Barbie appeared in her first animated feature film when she starred in "Barbie in the Nutcracker." The serial went on to produce more than 30 movies. Filmmakers are currently working on the first live-activity Barbie movie.

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2002: Pregnant Midge causes controversy

Midge and her husband Alan (then on the third spelling of his beginning proper name) welcomed a babe daughter with the Happy Family set. The infant—who went to Dr. Barbie for check-ups—was tucked inside a meaning Midge's removable womb. The doll sold well, but some parents felt that Midge was too young to have a child and feared the doll could correspond teen pregnancy. Retail behemothic Walmart wouldn't sell it, and Pregnant Midge was discontinued in 2005.

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Laboo Studio // Shutterstock

2003: Kingdom of saudi arabia declares Barbie a moral threat

In 2003, religious police in Saudi arabia claimed Barbie was immoral. "Jewish Barbie dolls, with their revealing clothes and shameful postures, accessories, and tools are a symbol of decadence to the perverted West. Let us beware of her dangers and exist careful," said the Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The claim didn't injure sales a bit: Barbie had already been banned in Saudi Arabia for a decade.

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2004: Barbie and Ken intermission up

In heartbreak news, Barbie and Ken bankrupt up in 2004. Presently later on, a new human named Blaine came into her life. In 2006, a re-styled Ken was released. The couple got back together in 2011 and Mattel released new hymeneals versions to honor the reunion. Mattel may have inverse up the storyline and added new dolls and products to compete with the popular line of Bratz dolls, which came out in 2001.

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Patrick McMullan // Getty Images

2005: Barbie wins 'American Idol'

A year into her new single life—and a year afterward another bid for president—Barbie competed in and won "American Idol." She channeled her inner Britney Spears and sang "Oops!... I Did It Once again."

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2006: Barbie may lower self esteem

Mattel says Barbie'south dimensions were created then kids could easily modify the doll'due south clothes, not to mimic the real measurements of an adult adult female. However, a 2006 study showed that immature girls who played with Barbie—or saw images of the thin doll—scored lower on a cocky-esteem scale.

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2007: Barbie and Tanner recalled

In 2006, Barbie could use a magnetic "scooper" to choice up poop from her dog Tanner. A few people complained that the magnets came loose, so in 2007 Mattel issued a recall. While no injuries were reported, swallowing magnets can exist dangerous.

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2008: Barbie coaches sports

Not merely did Barbie run for president in 2008, but she also started coaching soccer and swimming in her spare time. She also took her professional cooking skills—which she learned the year earlier—and became a Television set chef.

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2009: Barbie turns l and gets tattoos

U.S. designers paid tribute to a fifty-year-old Barbie by hosting a runway bear witness at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, and Diane von Furstenberg—just to name a few—created fashions in the style of Barbie through the ages. Barbie too got tattoos when she entered her fifth decade. The Totally Stylin' Tattoos Barbie came with washable stickers kids could identify on themselves, the doll, or her clothes. Some parents were upset, but the doll was a success in stores.

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2010: Barbie becomes a reckoner engineer

In 2010, Barbie became a reckoner engineer. Along with her new chore came a book called "Barbie: I Can Be A Computer Engineer." The volume caused controversy in 2014 when it was uncovered that the story portrayed Barbie every bit less than tech-savvy. "I'm but creating the design ideas," Barbie says in the volume, laughing. "I'll need Steven's and Brian's help to turn it into a real game." Mattel apologized for the content and later discontinued the print and digital book and pulled it from Amazon.

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MATTHIEU ALEXANDRE // Getty Images

2011: Prince William and Kate become dolls

To mark the first anniversary of the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton, Barbie made a plastic version of the purple couple. The toys were sold in 2012 and later went on display at an art gallery in Madrid. Barbie also released another tattooed version that aforementioned year. The TokiDoki Barbie was meant for adult collectors and not marketed to children, simply some parents weren't excited nigh the prospect of a doll with permanent ink.

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2012: Drag queen Barbie strikes a pose

Designing duo The Blonds created their eponymous Barbie to mimic the mode of a drag queen. The Blonds Barbie wasn't meant for children. Instead, the stylish doll was a collector'south particular for adults.

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2013: Barbie-themed eatery opens in Taiwan

The same year Barbie became a Mars explorer, Barbie Café—licensed by Mattel—opened in Taipei, Taiwan. The company said information technology hoped the eatery would show off the fashion backside the Barbie brand. The restaurant has since closed. A Barbie-themed eatery opened in China in 2009 and closed two years afterward.

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Motion-picture show Alliance // Getty Images

2014: Barbie's friend Ella goes through chemotherapy

Mattel partnered with CureSearch for Children's Cancer to provide young cancer patients with Ella, a bald doll, to help them during chemotherapy treatments. Melissa Bumstead, whose daughter had leukemia, successfully petitioned the toy company to make more of the dolls after they were a hit with her daughter.

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Mike Windle // Gettle Images

2015: Barbie Sheroes debut

As part of the "Yous Can Be Anything" campaign—which encouraged young girls to explore a multifariousness of professions—Mattel introduced the Shero line. One popular doll was inspired by managing director Ava DuVernay; it sold out inside hours. Since so, the line of dolls has honored women including Olympic gold medalist Chloe Kim, plus-size model Ashley Graham (pictured), and ballerina Misty Copeland. Barbie as well took to YouTube to get a vlogger in 2015. She encouraged girls to stop apologizing so much and too brought upwards topics like depression and bullying.

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Photograph by Kenji Aoki for Time

2016: Barbie's new body makes the cover of Time

Barbie's curvier figure made the cover of Time magazine the year Mattel introduced three new body types: tall, curvy, and petite. The Barbie STEM kit also came out in 2016, striking the market with some criticism. While the kit did encourage immature girls to trouble-solve, people were non pleased that the experiments focused on gender stereotypes such as creating cupboard racks and washing machines.

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Ilya Due south. Savenok // Getty Images

2017: More various torso types resonate

Barbie sales increased at the end of 2017, with a curvy redhead wearing a "Daughter Ability" T-shirt becoming the best seller in the Fashionistas line. Calculation more diverse body types and skin tones are part of Barbie'southward mission going forward, because "information technology's what the world looks like," co-ordinate to Kim Culmone, vice president of Barbie pattern. As part of the Shero line, Mattel created a Barbie inspired by Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, the beginning Barbie to wear a hijab.

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Kristy Sparow // Getty Images

2018: Inspiring women line released

Later Mattel surveyed 8,000 moms, they constitute that the bulk of mothers said they were worried their daughters didn't have enough female role models. In response, the company released the Inspiring Women line. The series features 17 function models, including artist Frida Kahlo, mathematician Katherine Johnson, and aviator Amelia Earhart. Barbie sales in the fourth quarter of 2018 reached a v-twelvemonth high.

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2019: Dream Gap Project Fund launched for 60th anniversary

Mattel announced the Dream Gap Projection in 2018 to address findings that, by age five, girls normally develop self-doubt and "brainstorm to think they're not every bit smart and capable as boys." In 2019, in conjunction with Barbie'due south 60th anniversary, the company launched the Barbie Dream Gap Project Fund to go along this global attempt to inspire girls and "raise awareness around limiting factors that forbid girls from reaching their total potential. The initiative includes dollar-for-dollar matching contributions upwardly to $250,000 for every doll sold in America, hosting worldwide "inspiring events," and launching a various line of personalized dolls in the likeness of bulwark-breaking function models ("more than than xx women across multiple countries and continents ranging from 19 to 85 years erstwhile and speaking 13 languages").

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2020: Barbie Actress

In 2020, Mattel released a new line of Barbie dolls showcasing a wide variety of personalities and styles. Each of the five new dolls comes with its own pet and mode accessories. Barbie Extra is all nearly exploring and celebrating individuality and self-expression.

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