The idea for Barbie

The idea for Barbie was sparked by the German doll called Bild Lilli, which served as its inspiration. Bild Lilli was originally a character in a well-known comic strip created by Reinhard Beuthien, featured in the German tabloid newspaper "Bild" from 1952 to 1961.

Bild Lilli, portrayed as an upscale call girl, employed her charisma and cleverness to charm wealthy men and was unafraid to challenge male authority. An example of this was shown in one comic strip where a policeman confronted Lilli for wearing a bikini on the sidewalk, and she confidently replied, "Oh, and in your opinion, what part should I take off?"

In 1956, Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, came across Bild Lilli during her trip to Europe. Intrigued by the adult-like, fashion-forward doll, she purchased a few Lilli dolls as souvenirs. Upon observing her daughter Barbara playing with them, Ruth Handler recognized the potential of creating a doll line that would appeal to young girls. This marked the genesis of the concept for Barbie. Interestingly, Ruth Handler's son, Kenneth, later became the inspiration for the creation of the Ken doll.

On March 9, 1959, Mattel officially introduced Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. The doll was marketed as a teenage fashion model, deviating from the traditional baby dolls prevalent during that era. As Barbie's popularity soared, Mattel acquired the rights to Bild Lilli in 1964, effectively discontinuing the production of the German doll.

Over time, Barbie emerged as an iconic and enduring toy, captivating generations of children worldwide. Remarkably, Barbie has taken on more than 200 different careers, including many in STEM fields, making her an inspiring role model for young minds.