65 Years of Barbie
Barbie celebrates its 65th anniversary, as Mattel introduces two new limited-edition commemorative dolls – the Barbie 65th Blue Sapphire Anniversary Dolls.
The glamorous anniversary dolls pay homage to Barbie’s 9th March 1959 New York Toy Fair debut. A celebration of the icon’s heritage, her look has head-to-toe details that nod to the original Barbie doll. The dolls black and white gown harkens back to Barbie’s original swimsuit, while sparkling “sapphire” earrings pay tribute to the gemstone associated with this remarkable milestone. Further details include cat-eye sunglasses, blue eyeshadow and red lips inspired by the first ever Barbie!
Barbie first entered the toy scene at the 1959 Toy Fair in New York City with inventor Ruth Handler. As the first mainstream doll made in the likeness of an adult, Barbie defied all odds and broke the mold of how children played with and thought about their role with dolls. Handler believed that playing with dolls modeled after adult women would help girls imagine what they could be, which is a mission the brand upholds to this day. Her revolutionary take on dolls created a path for Barbie to become the most recognizable toy in the world. Of her invention, Ruth said: “My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be. Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.”
Since its inception, the Barbie brand purpose has been to inspire the limitless potential in every girl, inspiring three generations of kids and highlighting over 250 careers. For 65 years, Barbie has been breaking down barriers and inspiring generations through storytelling. As the most inclusive doll line on the market, Barbie is continuing to teach young children to be confident, daring, brave and legendary – shaping their own future.
Marking the anniversary, this March Barbie will share stories of empowerment and impact across generations, highlighting the brand’s purpose of inspiring the next generation to reach their full potential. Earlier this week, Barbie kicked off celebrations by unveiling the 2024 Role Model lineup, celebrating ‘female storytellers’ worldwide with the highest award honour from the Barbie brand – their own one-of-a-kind Barbie doll. New global Role Model honourees include acclaimed actresses Dame Helen Mirren and Viola Davis, superstar singer Kylie Minogue, and singer-songwriter Shania Twain.
